Remove Flip-search.com (Easy Removal Guide)

Flip-search.com – a fake search engine causing the browser hijacking

Flip-search.com is a fake search engine that might have been changed as your default search engine due to installed browser hijacker – type PUP. This kind of software is considered as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) due to its stealthy installation and distribution methods. Usually, the users are puzzled about how the browser hijacking software ended up on their devices.

Commonly, browser hijackers change the default search engine, new tab, and home page preferences so all the searches the user makes go through some sponsored website that shows promotional sites in the search results. These PUPs also are known to gather browsing data, such as visited sites, IP addresses, geolocations, and so on. This data might be sold to third parties whose intentions might be not only for advertisement but also for malicious purposes.

name	Flip-search.com
type	Fake search engine, browser hijacker
Distribution	Fake update prompts. software bundles
Symptoms	Search engine changes to flip-search.com, additional commercial content appears out of nowhere
risks	Browser hijackers might collect personal browsing data and then sell it to third-parties with unknown intentions
Removal	Remove Flip-search.com by either following our detailed guide below this article or with the help of professional anti-malware software
system fix	Full system scan should be performed with the Fortect Intego app to undo any changes done to the system settings and files

Flip-search.com is deemed as a fake search engine because it doesn't provide search results on its own. It shows the results generated by opti-page.com. This dubious website could promote other treacherous pages that could lead to more PUP installations or worse – malware infections.

Cybercriminals don't care where their money comes from as long as the flow is steady. Flip-search.com virus could redirect you to malicious sites. Furthermore, the collected browsing data might be sold to hackers that will exploit it. It's unsafe to have any malware on your computer because it could lead to a terrible nightmare.

Typically, browser hijackers can be removed easily without extensive computer knowledge. But just to make that no more malicious content was downloaded onto a computer while the fake search engine was operational, we advise you to remove Flip-search.com as soon as possible and with the help of a powerful anti-malware program like SpyHunter Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes Malwarebytes.

Browser hijackers are known to modify system registry and other system settings to help them achieve their goals. If unattended, these modifications could lead to malware renewal, system crashes, etc. Hence experts^[1] highly recommend using the Fortect Intego system tune-up tool after Flip-search.com removal to undo all the alterations.

Distribution methods of potentially unwanted programs

Nowadays, the internet is crawling with various malware kinds,^[2] just sitting and waiting there to be clicked on. Different malware is distributed using different methods. For example, ransomware is usually spread with spam emails and on file-sharing platforms, whereas PUPs, like Flip-search.com, are mostly spread with freeware bundles and deceptive ads.

These days, everybody's in a rush, but that can't happen when things come to software bundle installation. Usually, these packages contain at least two non-related applications. If users choose the Easy or Quick installation option, then all software in the bundle will be installed automatically because all boxes opting-in are preselected. And that's how browser hijackers and adware get into everyday computer users' devices.

To evade such malware, always choose Advanced or Custom install options when installing your desired software and carefully, step by step, look what's in store for you. Remove the checkmarks from pre-ticked boxes of the offered software that you don't need, or you didn't even think it will be installed along with the one you wanted.

Guidelines for Flip-search.com removal and system tune-up

All malware doesn't matter what type it is, should be removed from an infected device ASAP. The longer any kind of malicious application like Flip-search.com virus stays in a computer system, the higher the chances that a more severe virus will end up in it, and the user will become a victim of a devastating cyberattack.^[3]

Manual malware removal could be a tall task even for highly experienced computer users. So we advise leaving this dirty business to professional anti-malware software that will remove Flip-search.com browser hijacker along with all its components.

Every type of malware does at least some damage to system files and settings, so after Flip-search.com removal, it is highly recommended to perform a system tune-up with a powerful system repair app that is able to find and repair any damage that might have been done.

Uninstall from Windows

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.

Delete from macOS

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.

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.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

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)

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.

Remove from Google Chrome

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.

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.

How to remove Flip-search.com

Flip-search.com – a fake search engine causing the browser hijacking

Distribution methods of potentially unwanted programs