Best-Secure: what it is and how to remove it
Best-Secure is a browser hijacker that messes up users' browser settings. It changes the homepage, new tab address to best-secure.xyz, and implements a different search engine.
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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Best-Secure: summary
| Distribution | Questionable sites, deceptive ads, freeware installations |
|---|---|
| NAME | Best-Secure |
| TYPE | Browser hijacker; potentially unwanted program |
| SYMPTOMS | Changed homepage, new tab address, redirects to a different search engine |
| DANGERS | Data gathering about users' browsing activity |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 9 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Best-Secure |
| Type | Search hijacker extension |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | best-secure.xyz |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 16 September 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Best-Secure dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
Best-Secure is a useless extension that redirects search queries
Best-Secure is a browser hijacker that messes up users' browser settings.
It changes the homepage, new tab address to best-secure.xyz, and implements a different search engine. It can affect Google Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, and other browsers that have the ability to use add-ons.
People use browser extensions because they add some type of value, like block ads and suspicious websites, change the geolocation, or automatically add coupon codes for the biggest discounts when shopping online. This one is different; usually, it takes over the browser suddenly and unexpectedly and does not provide any benefits.
That is not the only reason why people should not want to have this app. The individuals behind this created it to monetize users' browsing activity. They do this by collecting data about the sites you visit, links you click on, purchases you make, and so on, which raises many privacy concerns.
People almost never add hijackers on their own accord because under the permissions section, they would see that it can:
But that is not all. Best-Secure also shows search results from Bing.com every time you type something in the search box. Although Bing is a well-known engine, and there is nothing shady about it, it still causes inconveniences for users because it displays different results. Hijackers rarely have their own unique search engine; they use existing ones to make them functional and serve their purpose.
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
Ways you could have got the hijacker
Most of the time, users get in this kind of trouble because of their own carelessness or not having basic knowledge about security threats.
People think that the internet is a safe place and viruses are a thing of the past, and that is true for the most part if you just use it for social media or YouTube videos.
But there are many ways to encounter uninvited guests in your digital bubble. If you visit questionable sites a lot, like illegal streaming platforms to watch movies and TV shows for free, they are filled with deceptive ads and sneaky redirects.
That is because usually, they are not regulated. On some of those pages, when you want to start the movie, you have to click the play button about 5 times until it stops opening ads in a new tab.
Another possibility is that you have a PUP installed in your system that has hijacking capabilities. If you recently downloaded freeware from unofficial sources, there is a good chance that it was bundled with additional software you did not know about. Software bundling is very commonly used by sites that provide free versions of programs because they still need to monetize their activities somehow.
Because they offer free programs, they include additional ones in the installer that perform various unwanted tasks in the background. They usually sneak in unnoticed because people ignore the installation process and just trust the sources.
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Best-Secure
- You can remove an unwanted extension via browser settings or by scanning your system with anti-malware tools
- Read your browsing history Change your search settings to best-secure.xyz
- Change your search settings to best-secure.xyz
- Take back control of your browser
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
best-secure.xyz
How to remove Best-Secure
How to remove Best-Secure 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.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://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 on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete best-secure.xyz
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
best-secure.xyzfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto 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 best-secure.xyz 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 on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Best-Secure 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
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 on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Best-Secure 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 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
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 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 can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
Remove the extension affecting your experience
You can remove Best-Secure manually the same way as any other browser extension via settings:
MS Edge (Chromium)
Because the add-on is known to gather various information about user's browsing activity, it is a good idea to take care of your browsers after elimination. You can let do the job for you automatically.
- 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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
- 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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
- 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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
- Click Safari > Preferences...
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
- 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.
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
Additional removal option
If you installed a program via bundled software, the previous removal method might not have worked for you.
It can have any name and icon, so if you do not have experience, we strongly suggest letting security software take care of it. What is more, it can prevent such infections in the future by warning you about suspicious programs.
If you still prefer the manual removal method, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
PUP prevention tips
To avoid this happening in the future, we recommended using only official and trusted sources for software installations. But you should still implement these habits in your routine:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
- Always choose the "Custom" or "Advanced" installation method
- Go through all the steps and do not rush
- Read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
- Check the list of programs up for the installation and untick the boxes next to ones you do not need
Questions about Best-Secure
Why does my search engine keep changing to best-secure.xyz?
Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.
Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time best-secure.xyz first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.
Did best-secure.xyz come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as best-secure.xyz usually arrive with free software, where an extra offer is pre-ticked in the installer, or as an extension that promises something useful, such as file conversion, maps, recipes or streaming.
Look at Settings, Apps, Installed apps sorted by install date: whatever was installed just before the search engine changed is the main suspect. Uninstall it, then remove any extension you do not recognise. In future, choose the custom or advanced option in installers and untick extra offers, and install extensions only from the official store pages of publishers you know.
What is best-secure.xyz?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Best-Secure. 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 best-secure.xyz 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 Best-Secure, 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, Best-Secure 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 best-secure.xyz 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 best-secure.xyz 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 Best-Secure
- clear cookies and site data for best-secure.xyz
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Why does my search page look slightly different?
Because it is not your search engine's own page. Best-Secure sends searches to best-secure.xyz, which may copy the colours and layout of a known search engine while adding its own ads and tracking. Small differences give it away:
- an unfamiliar address
- more ads than usual
- a different logo
- a search box with a brand name you do not recognise
Remove the hijacker and set your search engine again from the browser's settings to get the real page back. Then delete the hijacker's entry from the saved search engines list.
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 best-secure.xyz?
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 Best-Secure?
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 Best-Secure, 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
- MakeUseOf: Why Should You Avoid Illegal Streaming Sites? (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Wikipedia:Deceptive advertising (read October 6, 2026)
- Insights: Bundled Software and Attack Surface (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)