Findmeta.com. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Findmeta.com hijacks web browsers. What is the reason for that?
Findmeta.com is a search engine developed by Find Meta. This company boasts being a “global leader in search engine marketing and web traffic generation.” It is based in Asia, but serves customers globally, which is true. Unfortunately, but we cannot say that this search engine is reliable, so it’s doubtful whether its global service is a good deal. According to the malware studies, Findmeta.com belongs to the group of browser hijackers. It means that it can change web browser’s settings without any permission asked. Consequently, you can find this search set as your default start page, search provider, and a new tab window. If this is what has recently happened to you, you should think about a system check with a reputable anti-malware (e.g.Reimage). That’s because Findmeta.com hijacks web browsers with an intention to generate web traffic and make people visit websites of the sponsors. This way, it earns the money and seeks to improve affiliate marketing.
Why should people not ignore this hijacker?
Questions about Findmeta.com
As we have already noted, Findmeta.com hijacks web browsers, what means that it tends to corrupt DNS settings without asking for a permission appropriately. People are commonly furious due to such unwanted modifications since it’s a tendency these days to create personalized homepages, which cannot be restored after browser hijack. However, that’s just a trifle if compared to the serious consequences that Findmeta.com redirect virus can cause. As noted above, this search collaborates with third parties and gets paid for boosting traffic to sponsors’ websites. How does it do that? In fact, it displays altered search results and flood websites that people visit with sponsored advertisements. Thus, if you use Findmeta.com hijacker for your searches, you will undoubtedly experience redirects to sponsored websites. Unfortunately, but third parties may misuse this search for suspicious activities, including PUP distribution or promotion of remote technical support services. Therefore, unauthorized browser’s modifications should not be ignored.
What privacy-related issues it can cause?
While it is stated that “Find Meta respects the privacy of all those who use the services we provide on this site. We have a simple policy that we will not willfully disclose any personal information regarding our users without first obtaining their permission unless required by law.” Unfortunately, by regardless the promises, this company using Findmeta.com search engine installs tracking cookies on web browsers and tracks what websites users visit, what search terms they type in the search bar, what ads they click on, what kind of software they install, all technical details of web browsers and so on. Unfortunately, but Findmeta.com hijacker can also gather users’ IP address, PC’s location, email address, and similar information that is usually not willingly disclosed to suspicious third parties due to a high-risk of email spamming or misleading advertising.
Can I protect my PC from Findmeta.com hijack?
Findmeta.com is usually spread bundled with freewares and sharewares. In other words, its developers prefer ‘bundling’ distribution method. Unfortunately, but from the PC users’ viewpoint, such tactics is very unfair. To put it simpler, ‘bundling’ can be explained as a composition of freeware and third-party apps, such as toolbars, extensions or plug-ins. The free program is indicated as the main installer while all the other apps are free additions that can either be confirmed or deselected. Unfortunately, but software packages disclose ‘optional downloads’ in a very misleading manner, and the only way to see them is to select Advanced or Custom installation mode. If you perform the installation using Quick or Basic installation option, you can unconsciously give permission to Findmeta.com redirect virus. In case you have already installed it via a software package, and then you are strongly advised to initiate its removal. Otherwise, you can start receiving altered search results, experience browser’s redirects, receiving sponsored ads, and so on. To make Findmeta.com removal easier for you, we provide detailed instructions that can be found down below:
You can remove Findmeta.com automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareWebroot SecureAnywhere AntiVirus, Malwarebytes Anti Malware. We recommend these applications because they can easily delete potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Manual Findmeta.com Removal Guide:
Uninstall Findmeta.com from Windows systems
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall Findmeta.com and related programs
Here, look for Findmeta.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Findmeta.com from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariGet rid of Findmeta.com from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Findmeta.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Eliminate Findmeta.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Findmeta.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Findmeta.com removal.
Erase Findmeta.com from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
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Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Findmeta.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariRemove Findmeta.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Findmeta.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Findmeta.com removal.
Delete Findmeta.com from Google Chrome
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Findmeta.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Findmeta.com removal.
Uninstall Findmeta.com from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Findmeta.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Findmeta.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Findmeta.com removal process.