Easy Searching App: what it is and how to remove it
Easy Searching App is a potentially unwanted program with plenty of browser-hijacking qualities and can usually be found as an extension on Google Chrome. While some users might install the app after accessing a suspicious site promoting it, most people find it on their browsers unexpectedly.
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.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
If keysearchs.com returns after you change the search engine back, a free scan can find the program that keeps setting it.
Do it yourself · free Remove Easy Searching App yourself 5 steps, about 15 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Easy Searching App: summary
| Distribution | Software bundle packages, deceptive ads, fake update prompts |
|---|---|
| Damage | While browser hijackers pose minimum security risks, under certain circumstances, users might infect their devices with other PUPs, disclose their personal information to unknown parties, or suffer financial losses |
| Name | Easy Searching App |
| Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program |
| IP address | 104.18.37.162 |
| Symptoms | Homepage and new tab address is set to something else; searches are rerouted through keysearchs.com, my-sreach.com, or search-checker.com; search results are filled with sponsored links, etc. |
| 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 6 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | keysearchs.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 17 December 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Easy Searching App dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Easy Searching App - a redirect virus that inserts ads into your searches
Easy Searching App is a potentially unwanted program with plenty of browser-hijacking qualities and can usually be found as an extension on Google Chrome.
While some users might install the app after accessing a suspicious site promoting it, most people find it on their browsers unexpectedly. This happens due to a prominent software distribution technique known as bundling, where several applications are compiled into a single installer, typically downloaded from third-party websites.
Most browser hijackers change the homepage and new tab address of the browser upon installation. The so-called Easy Searching App virus is sneakier in this regard, as it makes invisible changes in the background.
Despite this, users' searches are altered - they are injected with ads and sponsored links, which can be quite a frustrating experience. Thus, if your homepage is set to Google and your browser's address bar is briefly showing keysearchs.com or other URLs, you are likely dealing with a browser hijacker.
Due to deceptive distribution techniques, some users might not even be aware of the Easy Searching App hijack. In other words, those who use google.com as their main search provider might not spot major differences post-infection, as the homepage URL remains the same. Nonetheless, research has shown that some users experience extensive browser hijacking symptoms, which include:
There are thousands of browser hijackers on the market (for example, UltimateStreamSearch, DailyLocalGuide, Dosearch Lite, and others), and most of them have a lot in common.
Security experts generally do not consider such apps as malware, hence anti-virus tools such as or often detect them as potentially unwanted programs or do not detect them at all. That being said, it does not mean that they can not negatively impact users' web browsing experience.
Once installed, Easy Searching App changes the browser settings to feed users with promotional offers and ads. Typically, an already established search provider is used, such as Yahoo, Google, or Bing, but the provided results are not genuine, as they go through special filters/redirects. Since sponsored ads are shown at the top, users are more likely to click on these links.
In the meantime, users might struggle to find relevant information they have been looking for or be persuaded to install particular software or buy promoted products online. These offers are not necessarily always beneficial for users, hence they might lose their money buying items or programs that do not satisfy their needs.
Besides the meddling of search results, Easy Searching App removal is also warranted due to the information gathering practices. Most potentially unwanted programs gather data for marketing purposes - IP address, ISP, geo-location, visited sites, history, timestamps, cookies, and other details are harvested and then used for personalized advertisements. This increases the profits of the developers.
To remove Easy Searching App, all you have to do is find the extension and uninstall it from your web browser. If you need more details, check the bottom section of this post. Experts also advise performing a full system scan with anti-malware software and then fixing potential virus damage with repair tools such as .
- Unknown browser extension(s) installed without permission;
- All searches are redirected to Bing, Yahoo, or another provider;
- Search results are littered with sponsored links;
- Suspicious URLs, such as keysearchs.com, my-sreach.com, or search-checker.com can be seen when searches are performed;
- Decreased overall browsing experience.
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Culprit of the unintentional PUP installation - software bundling
There is a reason why potentially unwanted programs are called that way - they are mostly unwanted.
Users would typically not install them on purpose; PUPs often include questionable functionality that often brings no benefits for the end-users. To make these apps viable, developers often distribute them via software bundles, widely available on third-party software hosting sites. In these situations, the pay-per-install technique is often used, as it allows to spread these questionable apps easier and benefit both parties - distributors and developers.
While bundling is not quite fair, it is a legitimate marketing practice, so each time you visit a third-party site to download apps, you are at risk of bringing in browser hijackers or other programs. For that reason, you should be vigilant when dealing with such situations and always scrutinize the installation process of the desired program.
You should never rush through steps, read the installation instructions carefully, decline all the offers, read the fine print, and, most importantly, always pick Advanced/Custom settings rather than Recommended/Quick ones if prompted. You then would be able to remove all the ticks from the checkboxes that would otherwise grant permission for optional components to be installed.
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Easy Searching App
- Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
keysearchs.com
How to remove Easy Searching App
How to remove Easy Searching App 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
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 and delete keysearchs.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
keysearchs.comfrom the list.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 keysearchs.com 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 programs you did not mean to install
Easy Searching App rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
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 Easy Searching App 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
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
You can look for potentially unwanted programs via Windows' Control Panel > Programs & Features section:
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
You can uninstall Easy Searching App extension by visiting Google Chrome's settings section as explained below:
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)
To uninstall unwanted browser extensions on Firefox, please do the following:
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
If you think that your Mac is affected by PUAs, proceed with the following steps to get rid of them for good:
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.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- 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.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.
Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.
Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Delete Easy Searching App from your browser with ease
One of the good things about browser hijackers is that they are typically easy to get rid of - especially if the symptoms are caused by an extension.
In such a case, all you have to do is access the settings section of your browser and remove Easy Searching App from the list. While you are there, it is also worth checking for other unwanted apps, as they often travel in bulks, so it might be that you also permitted other PUPs to be installed without realizing it.
Keep in mind that other potentially unwanted applications might be installed on your operating system, so you can follow the steps we provide below to eliminate them correctly. Likewise, for more sneakier infections or malware, you can employ security software that would find and eliminate all the PUPs automatically for you (Easy Searching App removal in such a way could also be possible, so you can try that as well).
Questions about Easy Searching App
How do I change my search engine back from keysearchs.com?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove keysearchs.com 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 keysearchs.com back.
Is keysearchs.com a virus?
It is a browser hijacker, not a virus in the classic sense. keysearchs.com is a search page that an extension or program set as your default without a clear choice from you.
It does not destroy files or spread to other PCs, but it takes control of your searches, collects them and shows ads, and the software behind it is often bundled with other unwanted programs.
Many antivirus products flag such software as potentially unwanted. Removing the extension or program and resetting the search engine is enough in most cases. A full scan afterwards checks for anything else that came with it.
What is keysearchs.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Easy Searching App. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is keysearchs.com dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove Easy Searching App, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, Easy Searching App affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did keysearchs.com record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of keysearchs.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove Easy Searching App
- clear cookies and site data for keysearchs.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
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.
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.
Will Fortect remove Easy Searching App?
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 Easy Searching App, 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
- Wikipedia: Browser hijacking (read October 6, 2026)
- Dieviren: Dieviren (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)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)