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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · May 2022

How to remove Clear Search browser hijacker

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Julie Splinters · Anti-malware specialist

Clear Search browser hijacker is the program manipulating the browser settings

Clear Search browser hijacker

Clear Search browser hijacker is a potentially unwanted program that tries to control what content users see and get exposed to. The browser-based programs alter various settings and preferences to particularly inject advertisements and other shady content on the pages people browse constantly. These settings include homepage, new tab, and default search engine changes.

By altering those settings, the Clear Search browser hijacker ensures that all searches go through the particular engine, and results can be injected with ads, filled with sponsored content, links and banners. These results are heavily controlled by the PUP[1] developers, so you may be exposed to advertising pages instead of accessing needed material online.

Clear Search browser hijacker is a rogue browser extension that can operate on the browser and cause redirects to other pages besides the particular clear-search.com search engine. The application can also install toolbars, other applications, and browser extensions. It triggers various performance and speed issues, so you should remove it ASAP.

Browser hijacker overview

Name Clear Search browser hijacker
Type Redirect, shady search engine
Category Potentially unwanted program
Issues Searches go through the clear-search.com engine, redirects show advertisements
Ip address 104.21.93.70
Distribution Freeware installations, other PUPs, deceptive pages, pirating services
Removal AV tools can find and remove various applications like this PUP
Repair Run FortectIntego and fix issues related to the virus damage

Clear Search browser hijacker or any browser-based program like adware or the shady tool can infiltrate the machine silently. Experts[2] note that silent infiltration methods and stealthily distribution techniques that these PUPs rely on. You might install the browser application yourself if you fall for the tricks and deceptive claims on ads.

Those promotional advertisements can offer various deals and fake the legitimacy, and usefulness of these browser tools and Clear Search browser extension. However, downloading anything from the internet can cause issues. These promotional ads and other free sites, and torrent pages[3] can spread PUPs.

The fake search engine is a program that should never be used because all the redirects and sponsored materials lead to dangerous content online. These programs are based on ad-supported services, and the particular Clear Search browser hijacker can trigger speed, privacy, and financial issues. Remove the useless application right away.

Eliminate the PUP from the machine

Clear Search browser hijacker can be removed with the help of SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes and other security or anti-malware programs. These applications can run the full system scan and check the machine for any possibly damaging programs or files and viruses. These apps fully clear the machine and help you avoid serious damage.

The removal process is important because these intruders can control various processes and trigger changes in the machine. Various files and settings altered by the Clear Search browser hijacker can trigger issues with the machine and the performance of other programs. It is important to restore the machine, so there are no vulnerable parts that can lead to PUP infiltrations again.

These applications like Clear Search browser hijacker sometimes can add various other applications, so these browsing experiences are affected, and the experience diminished. The removal of PUPs might not fix these issues that are controlled by the browser-based applications, so you might want to manually remove them from there.

Clear Search browser extension

How do you deal with the altered preferences?

The potentially unwanted program can run in the background and cause issues with the machine because all the issues created are intrusive and annoying while surfing the internet. Clear Search browser hijacker can damage the machine with these changes, so you should reset the browser fully to restore all these settings.

The particular browser plugin is mainly affecting Google Chrome browsers because this is the most popular application. However, resetting the browser means all of the settings get changed back. Homepage and search engine alterations are the most annoying because this is how the PUP controls users' habits. Make sure to clear the settings.

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. 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.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Manipulated internet browser settings like a default search engine, homepage, and new tab settings can trigger additional processes and issues with the performance. Clear Search browser hijacker needs to be removed and cleared off of the machine with all the related applications, browser-based programs, or malicious files.

The existence of these programs that expose you to particular advertising material can lead to issues with the machine and performance, but there is third-party involvement that triggers privacy issues. Data tracking issues can lead to identity theft and security problems with your computer. Avoid keeping the PUP on the system for a long time.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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