Browserquest.com virus (Simple Removal Guide) - Free Guide
Browserquest.com virus Removal Guide
What is Browserquest.com virus?
Browserquest.com suggests using bogus search engine only to serve ads in a form of search results
Browserquest.com virus is a potentially unwanted software that spreads in a bundle with freeware or shareware. Once installed, this browser hijacker compromises web browsers and sets hxxp://Browserquest.com/ as default start page and primary search provider in them.
At first sight, the Browserquest search site looks completely legitimate – there are no annoying ads, and the simplistic design of the site can give an impression of a reliable search tool. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
This suspicious search engine is promoted with a highly untrustworthy spyware-type program also known as Browserquest.com redirect virus.
The aim of the redirect virus is to force the victim to search the web using Browser Quest search engine. This is done in order to integrate ads into results’ pages and make the victim click on them. As a consequence, the victim explores ads instead of organic search results[1].
Although many search engines display ads, the ones provided by the described one are highly untrustworthy. The fact that the search engine is linked to potentially unwanted programs shows that its developers are willing to collaborate with developers of possibly dangerous software[2]. Therefore, it is possible that similar software will be promoted via domains added to the search results.
However, it would be wrong to say that each search result brought by the described search engine is untrustworthy. In fact, the majority of them are entirely legitimate, but a small percentage of the remaining ones can pose a serious threat to your computer system.
While the search engine isn’t malicious itself, it can show you a path to dangerous websites, and that is the reason why security experts advise replacing it with a different one.
Sadly, it is not that easy to remove Browserquest.com. The hijacker sneaks into the system as BorsweQuest Desktop, which might also add optional browser extensions to Chrome, Firefox and other browsers you have on your computer.
To delete all of the components associated with this browser hijacker, we recommend using Browserquest.com removal instructions we prepared. If you’re not willing to waste your time on browser hijackers, you can opt for automatic removal method and use a reliable spyware and malware removal software like FortectIntego.
Avoid installing shady browser parasites with a simple trick
There is a trick that can help you avoid installing potentially unwanted software like browser hijackers or adware. You simply need to get to know the technique used for their distribution, and ways to outsmart the developers of these spyware programs. VirusActivity[3] provides a solution.
In the majority of cases, the developers of spyware use software bundling as a primary technique for distribution of their programs. Software bundling simply allows hiding suggestions to install additional programs alongside popular freeware. To find these suggestions and deselect the ticks next to them, you need to choose Custom or Advanced settings during software installation.
No matter what program you decided to download to your computer, do not rely on Standard/Default/Express or Basic installation option! These won’t let you decompose the software bundle the same way we just described.
Remove Browserquest.com redirect virus from the system
You can quickly remove Browserquest.com virus from your computer on your own – it is not a malicious program, and therefore it doesn’t attempt to hide somewhere deep in the computer system. To find its components, use the tutorial we provide below the article.
If you decided to opt for automatic Browserquest.com removal method, make sure you install a reliable anti-spyware or anti-malware software first. We highly recommend programs listed below this article. If you have questions about them, do not hesitate to ask us. These programs were tested by our team which confirmed them to be trustworthy spyware and malware removal tools.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Browserquest.com virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
Find and uninstall BrowserQuest Desktop. You can look for this program in Control Panel > Programs and Features panel. If you do not know how to find it, use the instructions provided below.
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- 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.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- 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.
Delete from macOS
Get rid of Browser Quest Desktop from Mac. Use the tutorial given down below.
Remove items from Applications folder:
- 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)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- 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.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
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.
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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
Open chrome://extensions page to find extensions associated with the browser hijacker. Delete each of them without any hesitations.
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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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 unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Browserquest.com registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting stealing programs
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features. However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN – it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable. Family photos, work documents, school projects – these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur: power cuts, Blue Screen of Death errors, hardware failures, crypto-malware attack, or even accidental deletion.
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
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- ^ The Difference Between Organic and Paid Search Engine Results. Dummies. How-Tos and Tutorials.
- ^ Viruses, Spyware, and Malware. MIT IST. Information Systems & Technology Resources.
- ^ VirusActivity. Virus Activity. The Latest News about Virus Activity.