Can I trust Bnsearch.utop.it? We have already received lots of similar questions. Therefore, our security experts have started investigating what why the search engine is rising questions and suspicious. During a week of investigations, it has been found that Bnsearch.utop.it is yet another potentially unwanted program (PUP) that is spread along with various media players, download managers, and similar free software. Besides, all the performances that it initiates on a target computer make evidence that it’s a genuine browser hijacker.
How can Bnsearch.utop.it hijack my computer?
Bnsearch.utop.it is powered by utop.it. It is closely related to wow.utop.it redirect virus. The latter search engine has already been found spreading on the Internet since 2012. The distribution of this search engine reached a peak in 2014. However, tit seems that developer of this search engine has decided to develop and spread another dubious search engine, namely Bnsearch.utop.it.

Usually, it is attached to free software, for example, media players, PDF creators, download managers, and similar software. Such software bundles are usually spread on third-party download websites, for example, Cnet, Softonic, Soft32, Download, and so on. The main reason people fall for installing this search engine is related to people’s inattentiveness while installing free programs. Usually, they rely on quick/basic installation option, which is a very big mistake because this installation option seldom discloses ‘optional download.’ Consequently, quick or basic installation may lead to the automatic Bnsearch.utop.it installation.
To prevent this from happening, you should always check Advanced or Custom installation option and untick check boxes saying that you agree to set Bnsearch.utop.it as a default start page and search provider. Besides, you should also never agree to install a browser add-on, plug-in, toolbar or extension. If you have just agreed to install Bnsearch.utop.it redirect virus, run FortectIntego and remove it without a delay.
How does Bnsearch.utop.it work?
Bnsearch.utop.it spreads in a form of a browser plug-in. It is compatible with IE, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari web browsers. However, it is assumed that it can hijack other web browsers as well. Once installed, it replaces a default start page, search provider, and a new tab window. Besides, it prevents users from resetting previous browser’s settings. Even though Bnsearch.utop.it is promoted as “an innovative web search aggregation tool that provides results from all major search engines with a single search,” it’s hardly possible that Bnsearch.utop.it redirect virus would properly pick out the links from Google, Bing or Yahoo. In contrast, it can provide you with sponsored search results that can be filled with the links to third-party websites and advertisements. Thus, unless you are familiar with the parties that this search engine collaborates with, you should not trust this application under any circumstances.
By the way, keeping this search engine poses a risk to your virtual security. Bnsearch.utop.it redirect virus uses tracking cookies and collects personally non-identifiable information about people’s browsing habits and preferences. Unfortunately, gathered data (search terms, pages viewed, data typed while visiting them, clicks, IP address, PC’s location, email address, etc.) can be used against you, for example, for spamming your email. Therefore, do not wait long and remove Bnsearch.utop.it hijacker right away.
What can I do to stop this hijacker from redirecting me to unsafe websites?
If virtual security is an important matter to you, Bnsearch.utop.it removal is highly recommended. This search engine is blamed for spying on its users, slowing dow the system, causing browser’s redirects to suspicious websites, displaying ads, and so on. All this can lead to inconveniences during browsing or even infiltration of other cyber threats. Thus, if you have just found Bnsearch.utop.it search set by default, you should follow the guide that is provided down below and remove it either manually or with the help of anti-malware.
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.
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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