AVG SafeGuard Toolbar: what it is and how to remove it

This is how the PUP generates visits on the pages supported by the same provider. These are some major reasons to call it a potentially unwanted program.

Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.

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AVG SafeGuard Toolbar: browser hijack
AVG SafeGuard Toolbar as our 2019 report showed it.

AVG SafeGuard Toolbar: summary

DistributionSoftware bundling, freeware installations, deceptive promotional sites
TypeBrowser hijacker
Main dangerTracks details about users browsing preferences, exposes to possibly malicious content, alters startup settings
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DamageNot recorded in the old report
NameAVG SafeGuard Toolbar
Removal

Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.
Show 6 more facts
SymptomsA changed search engine
Evidence5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
Search pagemysearch.avg.com
BrowsersChrome, Edge and Firefox
First seen30 July 2019
Facts checked6 October 2026

Is AVG SafeGuard Toolbar dangerous? What it collects

From our report of Jul 2019 · not reviewed since

AVG SafeGuard Toolbar is the browser hijacker that redirects all search attempts to mysearch.avg.com engine

This is how the PUP generates visits on the pages supported by the same provider.

These are some major reasons to call it a potentially unwanted program.

Unfortunately, when the homepage and search engine gets changed, your online searches get injected with useless results and questionable content.

All that activity causes redirects to various sites possibly affiliated to the sponsor or advertiser that focuses on distributing such programs and collecting information about users.

Data including your address, location, most viewed items, searched pages, or visited sites gets tracked and collected, so third-party companies can make personalized advertisements and trick you into visiting their sites or purchasing products.

Unfortunately, this browser add-on has been recently categorized as a potentially unwanted program and is closely related to browser hijacking.

It was mainly encountered on Internet Explorer but this PUP and any other hijacker can modify Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or any other browsers.

You can get exposed to similar sites that deliver browser hijackers or adware.

Programs that travel along with popular free software and infiltrates random computer are categorized as potentially unwanted programs and are not recommended using.

The program tracks your web browsing activities, delivers commercial advertisements and implement other suspicious activities with an intention to create traffic to sponsored websites and earn money from affiliate marketing.

If such hijacker, rogue tool or toolbar has already appeared on your computer, the easiest way to get rid of this hijacker is to run a full system scan with or another reputable anti-spyware.

Even though it is stated that these issues are fixed, this toolbar still travels along with popular free software and hijacks all most popular web browsers.

AVG SafeGuard Toolbar: browser hijack
AVG SafeGuard Toolbar in our 2019 report.
AVG SafeGuard Toolbar: virus
AVG SafeGuard Toolbar in our 2019 report.

From our report of Jul 2019 · not reviewed since

More from our earlier report on AVG SafeGuard Toolbar

  • AVG SafeGuard Toolbar is the software developed primarily to cause redirects and show content not originating from the website on your commonly visited pages.
  • The intruder starts by changing your default search engine to its mysearch.avg.com, adding the same domain as your homepage and new tab, and adding the toolbar on the browser.
  • Although AVG SafeGuard Toolbar virus is not malicious, it alters results of searches, collects various information about users and can even change parts in the system, interfere with programs and computer settings.
  • Installs the toolbar, changes browser settings, makes mysearch.avg.com a default search engine, shows questionable results and causes redirects to commercial pages
  • Anti-malware tools can help remove AVG SafeGuard Toolbar
  • AVG SafeGuard Toolbar is based on browser hijacking that means all the activity happens in the browser when you try to find things online and find all the needed things on the internet.
  • AVG SafeGuard Toolbar shows results filled with commercial pop-ups, banners or even hyperlinks hidden in the text directly.
  • This issue of privacy should raise your attention and note how important is AVG SafeGuard Toolbar removal.
  • AVG SafeGuard Toolbar is a misleading program that is supposed to protect users from malicious websites, based on the name of security software.
  • It was treated as a reliable search provider until it was found out that AVG Secure Search version for some browsers may be affected by cybercriminals who can insert shady codes on user's computers who have installed a version of the toolbar.
  • If you have started seeing mysearch.avg.com as your homepage and AVG Secure Search as your default search engine out of nowhere, it means that you have installed the PUP and this is why we still do not recommend using this search site.
  • After getting inside via freeware, AVG SafeGuard Toolbar virus may hijack each of your web browsers, deliver altered search results.
  • This way your machine gets thoroughly cleaned, and you can remove AVG SafeGuard Toolbar automatically.
  • As we have already mentioned, AVG SafeGuard Toolbar is a legitimate application that has had some problems with security vulnerabilities.
  • AVG SafeGuard Toolbar is not a malicious search provider, but if it gets inside in a bundle with other software, you should not rely on it.
  • AVG SafeGuard Toolbar removal requires attention to details and professional anti-malware tools that can check the system fully not only for malware but for suspicious files and apps too.
  • Then you can follow the suggested steps when the program gets indicated as dangerous and remove AVG SafeGuard Toolbar from the machine alongside other questionable programs or corrupted files.

How AVG SafeGuard Toolbar got into your browser

From our report of Jul 2019 · not reviewed since

Even though it is not malicious, you should bear in mind that such and similar browser hijackers that are spread using misleading distribution method which is called 'bundling' have some suspicious intentions. In most cases, they seek to build traffic to affiliate websites, generate pay-per-click revenue, increase page rank or sales, and so on.

Therefore, if your search engine and the homepage has been changed and you are experiencing redirects, you should not ignore this because no one knows if it promoted safe websites or not.

If you want to prevent such and similar installers in the future make sure that you always select Advanced or Custom installation option and unmark the check near shady applications like other add-ons, plug-ins or extensions set by default.

Otherwise, you may experience various inconveniences that potentially unwanted programs are capable of causing. This is highly advisable by many international cybersecurity experts.

Check your browser and PC

  • Address: mysearch.avg.com

How to remove AVG SafeGuard Toolbar

How to remove AVG SafeGuard Toolbar and get your search engine back

Remove the extension first.

The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.

  1. Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add

    In Chrome open chrome://extensions, in Edge edge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.

    Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.

    If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete mysearch.avg.com

    In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete mysearch.avg.com from the list.

    In Edge type search engine into the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.

    If mysearch.avg.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome Settings with the Search engine and On startup sections
    Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  3. Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install

    AVG SafeGuard Toolbar rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.

    Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.

    Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix

  4. Step 4: Reset the browser

    A reset removes what the steps above could miss:

    • changed start pages
    • site permissions
    • hidden settings

    In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.

    Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.

    Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  5. Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan

    A scan finds the parts of AVG SafeGuard Toolbar that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.

    Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.

    It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

Uninstall from Windows

Get rid of AVG SafeGuard Toolbar from your PC, so there is no risk to your machine

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows
Remove from Google Chrome

Follow the guide to eliminate other contents installed by the PUP

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 suspicious extensions 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
Remove from Microsoft Edge

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 Remove.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 Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (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 Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

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
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.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

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 the unwanted extension 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 Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

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 and Temporary cached files and pages, then click 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
Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari
Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer

You may notice extensions or add-ons added by AVG SafeGuard Toolbar behind your back

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Do not let government spy on you

The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.

Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.

You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.

Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.

Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack

Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.

Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.

When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.

From our report of Jul 2019 · not reviewed since

Get rid of AVG SafeGuard Toolbar virus completely

That's because it may try to promote questionable websites, track your online activities, and do other suspicious operations.

In order to get rid of it, you need to pay more attention than those freeware installations.

Get anti-malware tool, preferably from a legitimate source and scan the machine.

Questions about AVG SafeGuard Toolbar

Is it safe to keep mysearch.avg.com as my search engine?

It is not recommended. Searches through mysearch.avg.com usually still return results, but the operator sees every query, often stores it with an identifier for your browser and shows extra ads or paid links. Some hijacked results lead to fake downloads or scam pages.

You also did not choose it, which means something changed your settings without asking and may still be installed. Set your own search engine back, remove the extension or program that set mysearch.avg.com, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.

Can mysearch.avg.com see my searches?

Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to mysearch.avg.com first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.

The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.

What is mysearch.avg.com?

It is the search page used by the browser hijacker AVG SafeGuard Toolbar. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.

People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.

Is mysearch.avg.com dangerous?

It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.

Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove AVG SafeGuard Toolbar, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.

Do I have to fix every browser?

Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, AVG SafeGuard Toolbar affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.

Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:

  • remove the extension
  • check the policies
  • restore the search engine
  • start page

If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.

Did mysearch.avg.com record my searches?

Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.

The operators of mysearch.avg.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:

  • remove AVG SafeGuard Toolbar
  • clear cookies and site data for mysearch.avg.com
  • treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party

What do I lose if I reset Chrome or Edge?

Less than you might think. A reset turns off all extensions, which you can turn back on one by one, restores the default search engine, home page, new tab and pinned tabs, and clears cookies, so you are signed out of most sites.

Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and autofill data stay. Firefox's equivalent, Refresh Firefox, keeps the same essentials but removes add-ons completely. Before you reset, make sure you know your main passwords or have them saved, since you will need to sign in again.

Is only one browser affected?

Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.

If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.

Can I just block mysearch.avg.com?

You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.

Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.

Will Fortect remove AVG SafeGuard Toolbar?

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For AVG SafeGuard Toolbar, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.

Sources

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