Browser Guard: what it is and how to remove it
Browser Guard is classified as a browser hijacker because it takes over it. Researchers have found that this extension changes the settings of the browser and might track users' browsing activities.
Facts checked October 7, 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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Browser Guard: summary
| Distribution | Shady websites, deceptive ads, freeware installations |
|---|---|
| NAME | Browser Guard |
| TYPE | Browser hijacker; potentially unwanted program |
| SYMPTOMS | The main settings of the browser get changed like the homepage, new tab address, and search engine |
| DANGERS | The app can lead to dangerous pages by manipulating the search results |
| 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 8 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Browser Guard |
| Type | Search hijacker extension |
| Symptoms | An unknown program in Installed apps |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Program | Browser Guard |
| First seen | 26 November 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Browser Guard dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
Browser Guard claims to protect users from malware and phishing websites
Browser Guard is classified as a browser hijacker because it takes over it.
Researchers have found that this extension changes the settings of the browser and might track users' browsing activities. Add-ons can collect data with the help of cookies which are small files of data. Later, that information can be sold to advertising networks that can use it to target people with more advertisements.
Otherwise called potentially unwanted programs, they perform various tasks in the background without the users' knowledge. Over the past few years, their numbers have significantly increased because it is hard for web stores to determine what is an unwanted application.
A particular plugin could be very useful for one person, and the other one could consider it to be a virus. That is why people get their browsers hijacked even with apps from official web stores.
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
Take back control of your browser
Hijacker infections are quite common because people cannot distinguish them from legitimate apps.
Luckily, you can remove it the same way as any other browser extension via settings:
MS Edge (Chromium)
- 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 Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
PUAs are the secret invaders
Potentially unwanted applications infiltrate the system by disguising as "handy" tools or as bundled software - they come attached as a package in the installer together with the intended program.
Identifying the program responsible for hijacking your browser might be difficult if you have never done this before. The program could be disguised as antivirus, video, or image editing software.
If manual removal is what you still prefer, 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:
- 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.
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
Keep your PC free from PUPs
From now on, you can implement specific habits into your routine to protect yourself from cybersecurity threats.
Clean your browsers' cookies and cache regularly to delete information websites have collected about your browsing behavior. You can do this by using a maintenance tool that will do this automatically - . Also, do not forget to update your browsers as developers often release patches after certain vulnerabilities get exposed to protect their customers. If you are not using the latest versions, you might be at risk.
Do not click on random links and advertisements; read through the text, and look for grammar or spelling mistakes. Decide if the imaging and branding look professional. Ask yourself what the ad is trying to say. If the message feels too good to be true, scammers might be using clickbait to get your attention.
Avoid downloading free versions of software from unofficial websites as they can be bundled with potentially unwanted programs. Always choose the "Custom" or "Advanced" installation method. We know it might be boring, but you should not skip through the steps.
Read The Licence Agreement and Privacy Policy to find out what information will be gathered. Look through the files that are up for installation. If you see unneeded items, untick the boxes next to them - this will exclude them from installation.
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Browser Guard
- Remove the extension in the browser settings
- Use a maintenance tool like to fix any remaining damage and optimize the machine
How Browser Guard got into your browser
From our report of Nov 2021 · not reviewed since
Many of these extensions have their own promotional websites that are placed all around the Internet.
The most common places where users can encounter them are on unregulated pages, for example, illegal streaming platforms. They are full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. You should not download anything from sites that open randomly.
Browser Guard's developers also have created a website for it. On that website, it is said that the extension protects from malware and phishing websites. It is unknown if these claims are true. Most hijackers are promoted as amazing applications that give a lot of benefits but in reality, they do not do anything useful.
Another way that PUAs are spread is through freeware installations. Platforms that let users download software for free that is usually paid, include additional programs in the installers. They do not disclose that in the hopes that most people will not notice. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happens most of the time.
It is very important to do your own research and choose your apps wisely. Fraudsters improve their methods as time goes by and people have to adapt. The most important thing is to know what to do if something goes wrong. So if you install a plugin, software, or anything into your system, you should learn how to remove it.
How to remove Browser Guard
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
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete entries you did not add.
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 the wrong engine 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 Browser Guard
Browser Guard is removed like any other program, from the list of installed apps. In Windows 11 that is Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and in both you can also use Control Panel > Programs and Features.
Select Browser Guard, click Uninstall and follow the uninstaller to the end. Then look at the entries just above and below it when the list is sorted by date: bundled programs install at the same minute.
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 Browser Guard 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
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
Questions about Browser Guard
Can I safely uninstall Browser Guard?
If you did not install Browser Guard yourself and it is not part of your hardware or a program you rely on, yes. Uninstalling an unwanted program does not harm Windows. Before you do, search the exact name and publisher to be sure it is not a driver tool, a printer utility or a game launcher with an odd name.
Then remove it from Settings, Apps, Installed apps. Ignore any offers or warnings in its uninstaller about losing protection or performance. Afterwards check Startup apps and your browsers for leftovers, and restart once to confirm that it does not reinstall itself.
Browser Guard came back after I uninstalled it. Why?
Something else is reinstalling it. Common causes are a second program from the same publisher, a scheduled task that downloads it again, or a browser extension that keeps prompting for it. Sort Installed apps by install date and uninstall each entry from the same day that you did not choose.
Then open Task Scheduler and look in the Task Scheduler Library for tasks with updater-style names that you do not recognise. Check Startup apps in Task Manager too. If Browser Guard still returns, start Windows in Safe Mode, uninstall it there and run a Microsoft Defender offline scan, which looks for loaders that ordinary scans can miss.
Why can't I change my search engine back?
Because something keeps setting it. If an extension controls the search engine, Chrome and Edge show a note that an extension is controlling this setting, and your change is reverted. If a policy controls it, the field is greyed out and the browser shows Managed by your organization.
Remove the extension first, then the policies, and only then change the search engine; the change will stay. If it still reverts, look for a program in Installed apps or a scheduled task that reinstalls the extension.
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.
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.
What is Browser Guard?
Browser Guard is classified as a browser hijacker because it takes over it. Researchers have found that this extension changes the settings of the browser and might track users' browsing activities.
The summary table at the top of this guide lists the type, the detection names, the symptoms and the damage of Browser Guard. Reading it first helps you decide whether your computer shows the same signs. The removal plan below it works in order, from the safest step to the more thorough ones.
How did Browser Guard get on my computer?
Our report lists the distribution as shady websites, deceptive ads, freeware installations. Software of this kind often comes bundled with free programs, fake updates or downloads from unofficial sites.
It can also arrive through a browser extension or a notification you allowed on a spam page. Think back to what you installed or allowed just before the first ad or redirect appeared.
Will my antivirus detect Browser Guard?
Not always, because our check found no Microsoft Defender detection name for it. Our check found no Microsoft Defender detection name for it, so a scan may not name it. Update the security program first, then run a full scan instead of a quick one.
Also scan with a second on-demand scanner, because one program can miss what another finds. A clean scan does not prove the signs are gone, so check the browser extensions and installed programs by hand too.
Will Fortect remove Browser Guard?
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 Browser Guard, 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
- Cisco: What Is Malware? (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Freeware (read October 7, 2026)
- Kaspersky: What are Cookies? (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)