Skip to content
  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Dec 2020

How to remove Findsearchresults.info

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

Findsearchresults.info – an URL that might indicate a browser infection

Findsearchresults.info

Findsearchresults.info is a web address that users might encounter when browsing the web on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another browser. In most cases, the redirect occurs when performing a search via the browser, although some users might also encounter it randomly while browsing the internet. The culprit of such behavior is typically related to a browser hijacker[1] – a type of a potentially unwanted program that can either come in the form of an extension or a standalone application installed on Windows or Mac systems.

Browser hijackers typically gain access to users' computers without asking for direct permission during the installation of freeware. Once inside, the PUP changes web browser settings, sets homepage and new tab address to Findsearchresults.info, and redirects searches to Yahoo or another provider. Additionally, search results are littered with sponsored links and ads. If you are looking for ways to eliminate this unwanted browser behavior, you need to find and uninstall the related program from your computer.

Name Findsearchresults.info 
Type Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program
IP address 193.70.47.128 
Distribution PUPs are mostly distributed via software bundles downloaded from third-party websites
Symptoms Unknown extension or application is installed on the system; homepage and new tab address are set to something else; a customized search engine redirects all search results to Yahoo or another provider; overall slower browser speed
Risks Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, privacy issues, financial losses
Similar Opti-page.comSearchmarquis.comSearchnets.xyz
Removal You can uninstall potentially unwanted programs by following the manual guide below or by scanning the computer with powerful anti-malware
Optional steps Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings. To revert these changes and remediate the OS, perform a full system scan with FortectIntego repair software

Browser hijackers are particularly common infections that users can come across via various sources. For example, some browser extensions can work without exhibiting any suspicious activities for a very long time and then suddenly go rogue. The more common scenario is when users install the app unintentionally along with freeware downloaded from a third-party website, which makes many unaware that a PUP resides on their systems.

Despite this, Findsearchresults.info redirects can be quite noticeable right away. In general, none of the unexpected browser changes should be ignored, as they can also indicate a far more serious problem of a malware infection. Thus, security researchers[2] always advise scanning the device with MalwarebytesMalwarebytes, SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, or another reputable anti-malware as a precautionary measure, regardless if a browser hijacker is relatively harmless.

The browser hijack can come in two different forms – it can either be related to a browser extension or a program installed on your system. For this reason, Findsearchresults.info removal may vary, especially if manual elimination is performed. For more details, please check the bottom section of the article.

As long as a potentially unwanted program is installed on your device, you might be experiencing the following symptoms:

  • Homepage and new tab address is set to something else;
  • Search queries are redirected to Yahoo or another provider;
  • Unknown browser extensions installed;
  • Redirects to unknown websites occur, etc.

While ads can be annoying, it is also important to remove Findsearchresults.info virus for its information-tracking practices. Although it is unlikely that the PUP collects personal information such as emails or passwords, limited data is transferred to the developers' of the app automatically. It typically includes the IP address, browsing history, search queries, timestamps, cookies,[3] and other non-personally identifiable information.

Findsearchresults.info hijack

To conclude, if you don't want the hijacker to continue its activities, follow the instructions below to uninstall it. If you find that your machine was also affected by other PUPs or malware, you should also take care of the system's health with repair software such as FortectIntego.

You can prevent unwanted app installation easily

As previously mentioned, browser hijackers are not considered dangerous as various malware, including Trojans or backdoors. However, the presence of potentially unwanted applications can cause certain inconveniences – prevent finding relevant information quickly, inserting unwanted ads, or even contain some privacy risks. Besides, PUPs typically have very limited functionality that is usually deceptive in how useful it is to the user (for example, changing the homepage picture). Therefore, it is best to avoid browser hijackers altogether, and it is not that difficult.

Since potentially unwanted applications are usually distributed via software bundles, you should always pay close attention to the installation process of freeware you download from third-party sites. Keep in mind that even the most popular distributors such as Softpedia or File Hippo are bundling software, so you must stay alert at all times.

During the installation, never skip through steps and always pick Advanced/Custom settings instead of Recommended/Quick ones if such an option is provided. Also, watch out for pre-ticked boxes, misplaced buttons, fine print text, and other tricks used by clever component placements within the installer.

Uninstall a potentially unwanted program to stop Findsearchresults.info redirects

It should not be difficult to remove Findsearchresults.info from your web browser, although it might take some investigation time. As already mentioned, the hijack could be related to either a browser extension or a program installed on your computer. If the culprit is the former, you should access the settings section of the browser and delete all the attachments you do not recognize.

Findsearchresults.info virus detection

Findsearchresults.info removal differs a bit if it is not related to an extension/add-on. In such a case, you should navigate to the Applications folder (Mac) or Programs & Features section (Windows) and look for unknown programs there. If you are not completely sure, you should instead allow anti-malware software to do the job for you, although keep in mind that not all security tools are capable of detecting PUPs.

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.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

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

Did this guide help?

Be the first to comment

Spyware News
Privacy preferences

We use cookies to improve your experience and analyze traffic. Some cookies enable embedded content like videos and social posts. Choose what you allow — you can change this anytime.