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Astralsearch.com virus (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge) - Virus Removal Instructions

by Alice Woods - - | Type: Stealing programs

Astralsearch.com virus Removal Guide

What is Astralsearch.com virus?

Astralsearch.com – a search engine that might redirect to potentially dangerous websites

The image of Astralsearch.com

Astralsearch.com is a suspicious search engine that might appear on Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or another browser’s homepage after the installation of Famous Search is On browser extension or another freeware.[1]

On the affected device, the browser hijacker initiates various changes on the system. It might alter browser’s settings, Windows Registry, and shortcuts. These modifications prevent users from quick and simple Astralsearch.com removal. Thus, opening browser’s settings and setting another URL as your homepage or search engine won’t work.

Once Astralsearch.com virus strengthens its presence, it might also:

  • set its domain with default search engine/homepage,
  • alter search results,
  • deliver misleading advertisements,
  • collect information about user’s browsing habits.

The first sign of the Astralsearch.com hijack is changed browser’s startup page. It includes a suspicious search engine that might alter search results. It means that instead of organic links, the results page might be flooded with sponsored search results.

Ads and organic links might barely differ from each other. This tricky feature makes people click on sponsored links and generates pay-per-click revenue. Developers of the Astralsearch.com make incomes from online advertising by driving traffic to websites that want to boost the amount of visitors or sales.

However, the research revealed negative side of the Astralsearch.com redirects. The virus might also redirect users to potentially dangerous or even infected websites. It might happen because developers of this shady tool do not pay attention with whom they have business. Thus, their partners might be evil-minded people, scammers or cyber criminals.

Therefore, we highly recommend getting rid of this cyber infection as soon as it steps in your browser. The best way to remove Astralsearch.com is to use a professional anti-malware, for instance, ReimageIntego. Once you scan the system with an updated tool, the hijacker will be gone for good. Then you will be able to reset the browser and access your preferred search engine directly from the homepage.

The picture of Astralsearch.com virusAstralsearch.com is a questionable search engine that might hijack your browser after incorrect installation of freeware.

Freeware and shareware might be spreading browser hijacker

Browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)[2] travel in software packages. It might be attached as an optional component in various freeware or shareware. Thus, when you need to install some program, you should be aware of these tips:

  • Always choose reliable download sources and avoid torrents, P2P networks, and suspicious file-sharing sites.
  • Read EULA and Privacy Policy before installing software.
  • Use Advanced/Custom settings instead of Quick/Recommended options.
  • Monitor installation and unmark third-party programs offered to install as well.


Do not agree to make Astralsearch.com or another unknown search engine as your default one. No matter how great it is described, most likely it will cause you problems.

The research revealed that this search engine might be set as your default one after the installation of the Famous Search is On browser extension which is also known as a browser hijacker. Thus, you should be aware of questionable tools and avoid installing them.

Deletion of the Astralsearch.com virus

If you are interested in manual Astralsearch.com removal options, you can find illustrated instructions at the end of the article. The first step requires checking the system and eliminating suspicious programs. The second step includes uninstallation of unknown browser extensions. The last step asks to reset each of the web browsers.

Researchers from the FaraVirus[3] note that browser hijackers might install helper objects and other components that are nearly impossible to get rid of manually. Thus, if you still suffer from unwanted activities on the browser, you should opt for the automatic elimination option.

In order to remove Astralsearch.com automatically, you need to obtain reputable anti-malware or anti-spyware program. Once you install it, you need to update it and then run a full system scan. Within several minutes the security tool will do the job for you.

You may remove virus damage with a help of ReimageIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.

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Getting rid of Astralsearch.com virus. Follow these steps

Uninstall from Windows

You can find manual Astralsearch.com removal instructions below.

Instructions for Windows 10/8  machines:

  1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 1
  3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
  4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
  5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
  6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK. Uninstall from Windows 2

If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 7/XP
  3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
  4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
  5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
  6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Delete from macOS

Follow the steps below to remove the hijacker manually.

Remove items from Applications folder:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
  3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash) Uninstall from Mac 1

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
  3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
  4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files. Uninstall from Mac 2

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Recover Microsoft Edge after the hijack by following these instructions:

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click on Uninstall at the bottom. Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear. Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running. Reset MS Edge

If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.

  1. Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
  2. Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
  3. Right-click on them and pick Delete Advanced MS Edge reset 1
  4. Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  5. When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:

    Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose Advanced MS Edge reset 2

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove. Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now. Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset. Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Look up for Famous Search is On and other suspicious browser extensions installed to Firefox. Remove them and reset the browser.

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove. Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Options.
  3. Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data…
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear. Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information. Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox. Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Uninstall Famous Search is On browser extension, as well as other unknown entries. Then reset Google Chrome.

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove. Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data. Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings. Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

These instructions will show you how to get rid of the virus entirely.

Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. In the new window, pick Extensions.
  3. Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall. Remove extensions from Safari

Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Clear History…
  2. From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
  3. Confirm with Clear History. Clear cookies and website data from Safari

Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. Go to Advanced tab.
  3. Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  4. From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches. Reset Safari

After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Astralsearch.com registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: ReimageIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.

How to prevent from getting stealing programs

Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are

There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.

Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.

Data backups are important – recover your lost files

Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.

While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.

About the author
Alice Woods
Alice Woods - Likes to teach users about virus prevention

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