Custom Search Bar browser hijacker (virus) - Free Instructions

What is Custom Search Bar browser hijacker?

Custom Search Bar is a bogus browser extension that manipulates the main settings

Custom Search Bar can completely change the browsing experience

Custom Search Bar is a browser hijacker, which means it can change the main settings, like the homepage, new tab address, and search engine. It forces people to use only selected channels for browsing which raises many user privacy and security concerns.

The main purpose of browser hijackers is to monetize user activity. This can be done in various ways. Crooks can inject ads in the form of pop-ups, banners, and redirects. They can also track users' browsing activities. They may also use rogue advertising networks that place ads leading to dangerous websites.

As a result, people can end up on scam pages that try to trick them into providing personal information, downloading PUPs (potentially unwanted programs),^[1] and even malware. Users might see ads promoting bogus antivirus offers, fake surveys, and giveaways.

Distribution methods

There are many ways that fraudsters spread hijackers online. Most of the time, plugins such as Custom Search Bar are found through fake download pages and deceptive ads. People rarely stumble on these sites through search results. Users get redirected to them from other shady websites.

Avoid visiting pages that engage in illegal activities, like illegal streaming platforms. They are unregulated, so they are full of deceptive ads, and sneaky redirects. Try not to visit sites that you do not know, or click on random advertisements. Especially be careful of fake “Download” and “Play” buttons.^[2]

You should always use official web stores if you want to download browser extensions. Apps that get listed there, go through an extensive review process. However, you should still do your research – read the reviews, look at the ratings, and the number of users.

Avoid freeware installations

PUPs are most often installed from freeware distribution sites. They earn money with bundled software.^[3] Additional programs are included in the installers without disclosing it clearly on the page. Crooks hope that most people will not notice. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happens most of the time. People rush through the installation process and skip important steps.

If you want to avoid this happening in the future, you should always choose the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation method, read the Privacy Policy, and Terms of Use. The most important part is to inspect the file list and uncheck the boxes next to any unrelated programs that you do not need.

Remove the unwanted plugin

Custom Search Bar can be found in the browser settings

First, locate Custom Search Bar in your browser settings, remove it and see if that helps. You can do it via browser settings:

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.

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 on Uninstall at the bottom.

MS Edge (Chromium)

• Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
• Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Mozilla Firefox

• 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.

Safari

• Click Safari > Preferences…
• In the new window, pick Extensions.
• Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.

Clear your browsers

The next thing you should do is endure that your browsing data is safe. You can do that by deleting cookies^[4] – small data files that contain information, like your IP address, geolocation, websites you visit, links you click on, and things you purchase online. By deleting cookies, you will stop the tracking and eliminate any already collected information.

For this task, it is best to use a maintenance tool like FortectIntego. It can do all this automatically with a click of a button. Besides, this powerful software can fix various system errors, corrupted files, registry issues, which is especially helpful after a virus infection.

Scan your machine with professional security software

If you tried the first removal method, but it did not help and the settings changed back again, this is definitely a sign of a PUA hiding in your system. In that case, the application will keep messing up your browser until you completely remove it from your PC. 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 you do not want to risk deleting the wrong files, we suggest using SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes professional security tools that will scan your machine, eliminate it, and prevent such infections in the future by giving you a warning before a PUP can make any changes. If manual removal is what you still prefer, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:

Windows 10/8:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

Windows 7/XP:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Mac:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. 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:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.