CapitaSearch: what it is and how to remove it
CapitaSearch is an intrusive browser hijacker that triggers redirects to sponsored content on the Yahoo engine after making multiple setting changes on the web browser. As a potentially unwanted program (PUP) , it spreads in the disguise of other free programs and manages to infiltrate the default web browser without being noticed.
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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CapitaSearch: summary
| Distribution | This misleading search engine takes advantage of the infamous software bundling distribution strategies. It spreads hidden under freeware Quick installation set up as a pre-selected item and expects the user to fail to recognize it |
|---|---|
| Name | CapitaSearch |
| Type | Browser hijacker, Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) |
| Related | search.capita.space search engine, 'Managed by your organization' Chrome settings enabled |
| Compatibility | Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari, etc. |
| Symptoms | The main symptom is related to changes in the web browser: modified start page, search engine, new tab window, etc. Besides, it may trigger sponsored links within search results, commercial pop-up ads, browser's redirects, and similar side effects |
| 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
| Task | The virus seeks to promote affiliate websites, spread malware, distort visitors' traffic, collect browsing-related information about people, and similar. |
|---|---|
| Danger | The browser-based plug-ins is not dangerous. Its functionality and goals are marketing oriented, though there is a potential risk of downloading malware |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | search.capita.space |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 10 June 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is CapitaSearch dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
CapitaSearch is a particular search engine that generates deceiving material
CapitaSearch is an intrusive browser hijacker that triggers redirects to sponsored content on the Yahoo engine after making multiple setting changes on the web browser.
As a potentially unwanted program (PUP) , it spreads in the disguise of other free programs and manages to infiltrate the default web browser without being noticed. It exhibits compatibility with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari, and other web browsers. In other words, it may set search.capita.space search engine, the start window, drop various toolbars, change the new tab window, and initiate other unapproved modifications.
To ensure the prevalence, the virus can set "Managed by your organization" policies on Chrome. The alteration of management policies allows third-party tools like this one to take full control over the web browser's settings. Consequently, Chrome is set to launch the search.capita.space search engine by default and prevent its removal. Moreover, these settings may automatically download unwanted third-party extensions that may subsequently display popups or trigger redirects.
The CapitaSearch hijacker exhibits the typical behavior of a browser hijacker. It replaces the start page, search site, new tab window, and generates other web browser modifications without explicitly asking for a user's consent. Besides, it stealthily uses tracking cookies to spy on a user's web browsing activities.
If you have a suspicion that a search engine virus infected your PC, the most typical symptoms you should be encountering are the following:
Although posing a minimal risk, CapitaSearch is closely related to adware and other malware, meaning that its purpose is to gain profit from advertisements and web traffic. This browser hijacker has an in-built database of domains to promote; therefore, your web browser will continuously redirect to websites that you are not willing to visit.
Moreover, it may generate various ads, pop-ups, banners, and hyperlinks on random websites, which not only cover the content that you want to see but also redirect to dubious third-party websites. Keep in mind that the redirect virus may be involved in PUP distribution and regularly reroute your web browser to malware download websites.
Data harvesting is yet another reason for the proper unwanted program removal. The plug-in that it drops is accompanied by tracking cookies , which settle within each browser installed on the system and start collecting the following entries:
Although data collected is non-personally identifiable, sharing it with third parties is not advisable as they may use it for improving advertising strategies and providing users with more appealing content. Unfortunately, those ads and promoted websites are of no use to the user.
In addition to the aforementioned browser changes, CapitaSearch enables the 'Managed by your organization' Chrome feature. Due to this, the web browser generates a pop-up window stating that Google Chrome is managed by the organization and prevents the user from modifying settings manually.
This setting is established to enable certain Chrome parameters on workplace PC. However, third-party apps, including browser hijackers, can take control over various policies and start managing Chrome in the disguise of an organization.
It is possible to disable 'Managed by your organization' feature by accessing Chrome's settings, clicking on the dots at the bottom of the drop-down menu, and selecting disable. However, the parameters will be restored once you restart the web browser. Therefore, it's important to remove CapitaSearch virus in the first place.
Proper CapitaSearch removal requires a full system scan with a reliable anti-malware program. Since this ad-supported application spreads by bundling, usually it gets installed along with adware or PUPs.
According to NoVirus.uk experts, malware can significantly decrease the web browser's performance, affect download speed, corrupt boot-up processes injected addition Windows registry entries. The virus removal can fix almost all web browsing-related issues. However, malware elimination is not sufficient to restore the system to the pre-malware state. Thus, it is also advisable to perform PC's recovery with a tool like .
- The default search engine was replaced by search.capita.space
- New tab URL and the start page replaced by this domain or other unknown website
- New web browser plug-ins added
- Suspicious links positioned within search results
- Sponsored Yahoo search results displayed
- Web browser's redirects keep disrupting activities
- Misleading ads positioned on any website that you visit, etc.
- Search queries
- Websites visited
- IP address
- Technical details of the web browser
- E-mail address
- Geolocation
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on CapitaSearch
- Manual removal of a browser hijacker is possible, though not recommended.
- Due to the distribution of bundling, there's a high probability that there are many PUPs on the system.
- Therefore, a scan with a reputable anti-virus is recommended
- PUPs initiate various changes within web browsers.
- However, they are also capable of distorting the system's settings and files, which is why experts recommend optimizing the system's performance after malware removal.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
search.capita.space
How to remove CapitaSearch
How to remove CapitaSearch 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
CapitaSearch often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
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 search.capita.space
Searches that pass through
search.capita.spacemean the browser's default search engine was replaced. Chrome: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then Make default on Google, Bing or another engine you chose, and Delete on search.capita.space.Edge has the same list under Manage search engines (search the Settings page for it), and Firefox under Settings > Search.
Look at On startup and the homepage settings too and remove the hijacker's address there. Nothing in this step differs between 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
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of CapitaSearch. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
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
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
- 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, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
CapitaSearch removal can stop the unwanted behavior completely
Upon the release of the Chrome 73 version, users started reporting an unseen statement "Managed by your organization" within the drop-down settings menu.
This notification means that the organization that owns the machine you are working with is managing Chrome's settings. That's a common policy management feature used by many Enterprise admins.
However, the same "Managed by your organization" notification can occur on home PCs and Macs leaving the users confused. The problem is not the message itself, but rather the behavior of the Chrome browser as it may display unwanted search engine, start page, new tab window, prevent the elimination of unwanted extensions, and similar.
The problem is that malware can also use Chrome policies to force install malicious extensions, disable safe browsing, Incognito mode, and other behavior. The virus is misusing the "Managed by your organization" policy management feature as well, which is why people are not able to delete related extensions or the search itself.
People keep reporting on Reddit and Chrome support websites that their accounts are managed by Capita Search extension, which cannot be removed. Those who have fallen in this situation should follow these steps to disable the "Managed by your organization" feature and eliminate malware:
- Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
- Navigate to the following directory: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome
- If you see an Extensions tab, force the process to open and delete it.
- Eliminate all non-default entries installed by third parties.
- Scan the machine with an anti-malware tool to delete PUPs.
- Reset Chrome's settings.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Freeware installations lead to problems with the security
We must admit that some freeware turns out to be handy tools for improving web browsing performance and everyday activities.
However, downloading them recklessly just for trying is dangerous because those free programs are frequently used for PUP dissemination.
Freeware developers earn a commission fee for every add-on, plug-in, toolbar, or whatnot that is installed to users' PCs as an additional component. Thus, it may be presumed that every third free app on third-party download websites contains additional pre-checked items.
Luckily, unpacking the bundle is not difficult. All you have to do is to opt for the Advanced or Custom installation option and monitor the process carefully.
When a setup window stating that you agree with the installation of browser-based plug-ins emerges, untick the checkbox before clicking the Next button. That's it. The freeware will be installed PUP-free.
In addition, you should be cautious when browsing the net, especially when some ads redirect you to unknown websites. Third-party domains may be involved in PUP distribution and contain click-to-download ads.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
CapitaSearch hijacking can be stopped with anti-malware tools
Seeing that the web browser's settings have been altered without your permission is an indication of a browser hijacker's attack.
Do not underestimate the capabilities of a reliable-looking third-party search engine or new tab window. They may be set to promote dangerous content, display links to phishing websites, or initiate other campaigns to gain whatever profit they need. Having this in mind, the virus removal should not be postponed.
Upon that, delete suspicious plug-ins from a web browser or, at best, reset the browser's settings. If, however, you prefer manual removal, rely on a guide submitted by our security experts.
Questions about CapitaSearch
How do I change my search engine back from search.capita.space?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove search.capita.space from the list.
If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.
When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put search.capita.space back.
Did search.capita.space come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as search.capita.space 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.
Why do my searches go to search.capita.space?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. CapitaSearch did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to search.capita.space.
The page then passes your query to a real search provider, so the results look almost normal, with extra sponsored links on top. Changing the search engine back on its own does not last, because the source resets it. Remove the extension or program first, then the policies if any, then set your own search engine.
Is it safe to keep searching with search.capita.space?
We would not. Every query you type is logged by its operators and shared with their advertising partners, and the sponsored links at the top are chosen for payment, not relevance. Results that look like a download page or a support site may lead to scams.
The page will not damage Windows by itself, but there is no benefit in keeping it: the results come from another search engine anyway. Remove CapitaSearch and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does CapitaSearch affect?
We saw it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not mean the other browsers on your PC are safe: hijacker installers usually change every browser they find, and browser sync can carry an extension to other computers signed in to the same account.
Check the search engine, home page, new tab, extensions and policies in each browser you have, including ones you rarely open. Chrome and Edge profiles count separately, so switch to each profile and check it as well before you call the job done.
What does search.capita.space know about me?
It knows what you searched for while it was your search engine, when, from which IP address and with which browser, and usually which results you opened. Tracking cookies let it connect those searches into a profile. It does not see your saved passwords or files.
After removing CapitaSearch, delete the cookies and site data for search.capita.space so the profile cannot be continued, and remove it from the browser's list of saved search engines. Signing out of important sites and back in also replaces session cookies.
Should I just switch to another browser?
It may not help. Installers that add hijackers usually target every browser on the PC, and system-level changes such as the hosts file, DNS or proxy affect all browsers at once. A new browser also leaves the hijacker's program and extension in place, collecting data in the old one.
Remove CapitaSearch properly first. After that, use whichever browser you prefer; Chrome, Edge and Firefox all let you set and protect your own search engine. Import your bookmarks only after the old browser is clean.
Would an ad blocker stop CapitaSearch?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on search.capita.space, but it does not change your search engine back or remove the extension that set it. Your searches would still pass through the hijacker's servers and be logged.
Some ad blockers include tracking filters that block parts of the redirect chain, which can break searches altogether. Remove CapitaSearch with the plan above; an ad blocker is a reasonable extra afterwards, from the official store only and from a developer with a long track record.
I changed the search engine, but it switched back. Why?
The hijacker is still installed, and it rewrites the setting whenever the browser starts or the extension updates. Changing the setting is the last step, not the first. Find what controls it: the search settings page usually names the extension, and a greyed-out field means a policy.
Remove that source, restart the browser, then pick your search engine and delete the hijacker's entry from the list of saved search engines so it cannot be chosen by accident. Check again after a day, when extensions have had a chance to update.
Will Fortect remove CapitaSearch?
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 CapitaSearch, 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
- Google Support: "PUPs" - Potentially Unwanted Programs FAQ (no longer online) (read October 6, 2026)
- Reddit: Has anyone heard of CapitaSearch? (read October 6, 2026)
- Google: My account has been hijacked by Capita Search and It won't let me get rid of the extension (no longer online) (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)