Findinfo.us: what it is and how to remove it
Once a browser hijacker is installed on your computer, your browsing experience is not going to be the same. These potentially unwanted programs change the settings of Google Chrome or another web browser in order to modify the way users perceive website discovery and exploration.
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 findinfo.us returns after you change the search engine back, a free scan can find the program that keeps setting it.
Do it yourself · free Remove Findinfo.us yourself 5 steps, about 15 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Findinfo.us: summary
| Distribution | Freeware bundles, deceptive ads |
|---|---|
| Damage | Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, privacy risks due to information gathering practices, financial losses |
| Name | Findinfo.us |
| Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program |
| IP address | 104.21.17.195 |
| Symptoms | Search results are filled with sponsored links and ads; homepage and new tab address is set to Findinfo.us; overall increased amount of advertisements |
| 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 | findinfo.us |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 22 September 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What Findinfo.us changes in your browser
The best results from the entire Internet
Is Findinfo.us dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
Findinfo.us - a browser hijacker that fails to perform basic search functions
Once a browser hijacker is installed on your computer, your browsing experience is not going to be the same.
These potentially unwanted programs change the settings of Google Chrome or another web browser in order to modify the way users perceive website discovery and exploration. To be precise, once the unwanted app is installed, your homepage, new tab address as well as search bar change; in this case, you would see Findinfo.us as your starting page once you open the browser.
One of the main reasons why this app is considered a potentially unwanted program is its distribution methods. In most cases, users find it installed on their systems seemingly out of nowhere, and they claim that they never install it on purpose. This can be attributed to a deceptive scheme known as software bundling - many freeware websites employ it.
Another reason to remove Findinfo.us is its operation, as it changes the way you browse the web - not in a good way. Not only does it change your browser preferences but also hijacks the search function, which you have to use to look for something online. You would quickly notice that your searches do redirect to Google or other preferred provider but rather
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
Why is Findinfo.us not worth your time
First of all, it is worth mentioning that many people download browser hijackers inadvertently; less experienced PC users might not even realize that their homepages have been hijacked.
Nonetheless, there is a reason why this distribution method is so widely used - people don't want to have their browser hijacked.
To compensate, PUP creators often use fancy words and slogans to attract users. They often boast about the "enhanced search results" or "improved web browsing experience." In some cases, the hijackers even include some type of function or a theme that should be useful in their name, e.g., MovieSearchOnline, ProSportSearch, BestADSBlock, or Rick Tab.
In reality, all these promises are fake, and the allegedly "improved" search function is nothing more butt sponsored content that helps the developers to monetize user clicks. This is why search results are commonly inserted with ads; some users might not even realize that they
If we look at Findinfo.us, the pattern prevails. According to the main page's "About Us" section, this app is capable of the incredible:
This is a rather bold statement - something that almost every browser hijacker maker tends to state. According to the statement, "Findinfo.us searches multiple types of information from multiple sources to generate optimal results." This sounds very promising, although the results are very disappointing.
After entering a search query "browser hijacker," no results were found. Even such a simple keyword as "boots" returned a total of two results. Even Alta Vista (an ancient search provider used in the 90s) was able to provide hundreds of thousands of hits, and we are getting two links for "boots"?
Besides this useless "search" function, it is important to note that the hijacker collects various non-personal information about users. For example, IP addresses or search queries might be recorded. This is done in order to optimize the targeted advertising practice, which retains revenue from user clicks on ads.
All in all, we strongly recommend you remove the app from your device. Not only does it changes the settings of your browser but also fails to provide any relevant information via its search.
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Findinfo.us
- To get rid of the unwanted browser extension, you should access the settings section of your browser.
- You should also check for other PUPs or malware with or another powerful security tool
- Cleaning your browsers is just as important as removing the extension that caused the unwanted activities.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
findinfo.us
How to remove Findinfo.us
How to remove Findinfo.us 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 findinfo.us
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
findinfo.usfrom 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 findinfo.us 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
Findinfo.us 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 Findinfo.us 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
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
Eliminate Findinfo.us correctly
There could be two ways a browser hijacker is installed on your device - either on the system level (as an application) or on the browser (as an extension).
In most recent years, most PUP producers tend to use the latter option, as it is much cheaper and convenient.
If you have previously used browser extensions, you should have no problems with deleting this one. It might be hiding under different names, however, so it might be difficult to determine which app is causing the unwanted browser behavior. Well, if you see something you never installed - this is your culprit. If you need help in doing this, proceed with the following steps:
MS Edge (Chromium)
Alternatively, the app could be installed on your system rather than a browser. In this case, you need to access the Control Panel (Windows) or Applications (Mac) sections to eliminate the unwanted app for good. Here's how it's done:
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
If you have not installed the app yourself, there is a good chance that more PUPs are present on your device. In worst cases, there could even be malware lurking in the background. Security software can take care of all of it automatically so you won't have to worry about anything.
- 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.
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the window's top-right).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted plugin and click Remove.
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
- Click Safari > Preferences...
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
From our report of Sep 2021 · not reviewed since
Why is it important to clean your browser
As an overall precautionary measure, security experts strongly recommend users clean their browsers from time to time.
There are many components and elements that are saved on your computer (known as caches); they allow previously visited websites to be loaded faster. At the same time, these caches might also include some malicious content (whatever is present on the page).
Besides, browsers also store cookies and similar tracking mechanisms. These can remain on the system until they are deleted, providing the cookie owner to continue tracking activities on your device.
You can clean your browsers via browser settings, although using is a much quicker option. It can also serve as a complementary tool for anti-malware, as it is great for dealing with problems that might arise due to the aftermath of malware or adware infections.
- 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.
- Click Menu and pick Options.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
- Click Safari > Clear History...
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Questions about Findinfo.us
How do I change my search engine back from findinfo.us?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove findinfo.us 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 findinfo.us back.
Did findinfo.us come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as findinfo.us 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.
What is findinfo.us?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Findinfo.us. 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 findinfo.us 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 Findinfo.us, 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, Findinfo.us 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 findinfo.us 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 findinfo.us 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 Findinfo.us
- clear cookies and site data for findinfo.us
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
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.
Can I just block findinfo.us?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
Will Fortect remove Findinfo.us?
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 Findinfo.us, 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
- Findinfo: About us (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)