Flash-Search browser hijacker (virus) - Free Instructions

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.

PUP elimination process

Occasionally, removing only the extension is ineffective, and users continue to experience unwanted symptoms. In that case, you'll need to scan your machine for adware, which is a program that runs in the background and generates commercial content. If you have it, simply removing the add-on will not suffice; the settings will continue to change until you completely remove it from your machine.

One of the most common ways for these PUAs to spread is via freeware installation sites. Software bundling^[3] is a very effective method because most people rush through the installation process and skip all of the steps. It is critical to be present during the installation if you want to avoid this in the future.

Always use “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods, and read the privacy policy and terms of use to determine what information will be collected and what the application will be permitted to do in your system. The most important step is to go through the file list and untick any items that appear suspicious or unrelated.

The program causing the browser's erratic behavior could have any name or icon, as crooks frequently disguise them as “helpful” programs. If you are unsure what to do and do not want to risk deleting the wrong files, we recommend using SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes anti-malware tools that will scan your machine, remove it, and prevent future infections by warning you before a PUP can make any changes. If you still prefer manual removal, we have instructions for both 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.