Barquery.com might include shady sponsored links into search results page

Barquery.com is a dubious search engine that spreads in software bundles as “BarQuery Desktop Search.” Security experts categorized it as a potentially unwanted program (PUP)[1] and a browser hijacker.[2] After the installation it might:
- turn the browser address bar into an Internet search box;
- set Barquery.com as your default search engine and homepage;
- deliver sponsored search results;
- track non-personally identifiable information about users.
According to the Terms of Use, the program might spread together with other applications or offer additional downloads to the users. However, these offers are usually indirect. Thus, so-called Barquery.com virus usually appears on the computer suddenly.
One of the first things the hijacker does on the computer is an alteration of browser’s settings. It might replace the homepage and default search engine. In this way, it forces people to use its shady search service. In order to ban users from accessing other search providers, the PUP might modify Windows registry and shortcuts.
Developers of the Barquery.com generate pay-per-click revenue. Thus, if you click on the sponsored results and visit affiliates’ websites, they make incomes. Besides, this cyber parasite might also display various online ads and profit from clicks on them too.
However, the main problems here are related with Barquery.com redirect tendencies. Some of the sponsored content might lead to potentially dangerous websites that are created for spreading malware or other cyber crimes. Therefore, you might be tricked into downloading rough security software or reveal some personal information about you.
Talking about information about you, you should check the Privacy Policy of the browser hijacker. This document claims that the search tool does not collect personally identifiable information. However, non-personal details are interesting. After the Barquery.com hijack, it starts collecting these details:
- IP address;
- type of the browser;
- type of operating system;
- unique software ID;
- a version of the BarQuery Software and other details about it;
- search queries.
Data tracking should be one of the most important reasons why you should remove Barquery.com from the device. Nevertheless, developers say that this activity is necessary for providing the best services; aggregated details might also be shared with unknown partners.
We highly recommend FortectIntego for Barquery.com removal. This anti-malware/anti-spyware will help to get rid of the virus quickly and safely. However, if you are looking for manual removal guidelines, you can find them below the article.

Software bundles allows infiltrating the system silently
As we have already mentioned, the authors of the bogus search tool tell that it might be spread bundled or include additional components itself. The hijacker is noticed spreading in the United States; however, it might spread to the European countries, such as the United Kingdom.[3]
Therefore, in order to avoid undesired programs, you should be careful with freeware and shareware installation. When you have to install a program, always opt for the Advanced/Custom setup and check each of the steps carefully. If you are offered to install additional programs, unmark ticks from then and stop their entrance.
Keep in mind that Quick/Basic settings do not have this option. Thus, if you use them, you may not be informed about additional software. As a result, PUPs get indirect permission to enter the system.
It’s not hard to get rid of Barquery.com virus
Barquery.com removal requires investigating computer’s system. If you decide to do this task manually, you will have to find and uninstall the hijacker from the Add/Remove programs in the Control Panel. Also, you should check Chrome, Explorer, Firefox and other browsers that are installed on your PC. You will have to remove suspicious extensions and reset them.
In order to simplify the task, you can choose to remove Barquery.com automatically. This method allows eliminating the hijacker using updated anti-malware program. Thus, you have to choose the software, install it and run the system scan.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

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

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

Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.

- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.

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

Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.

Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

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

Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.

Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.

- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.

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

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

Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.

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

Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

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