Remove FunSearchToday (Removal Guide)

FunSearchToday is a browser extension that inserts ads into your searches

FunSearchToday

FunSearchToday is a browse hijacker that typically comes installed as a browser extension on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another web browser. In most cases, users download potentially unwanted programs like this one, along with freeware from third-party websites due to a marketing practice known as software bundling. As a result, users find the app installed on their browsers seemingly out of nowhere.

Nonetheless, the FunSearchToday hijack can be spotted as soon as the browser is opened, as the homepage and new tab URL is instantaneously set to portal.funsearchtoday.com or feed.funsearchtoday.com. Additionally, the PUP applies a customized search engine to the main page – redirects all search results to search.yahoo.com, and they are often filled with sponsored links.

The invisible activity of FunSearchToday includes user data tracking practices in order to cater to them personalized ads. This data can often be shared with certain third-parties, which can cause serious privacy risks.

Name	FunSearchToday
Type	Browser hijacker
Infiltration	Potentially unwanted programs are spread through software bundles, deceptive advertisements or are installed by users intentionally
Symptoms	FunSearchToday browser extension on application installed on the system; homepage and new tab address set to portal.funsearchtoday.com or feed.funsearchtoday.com; all searches redirected to Yahoo; search results filled with sponsored links and ads
Risks	Installation of other potentially unwanted programs/malware, personal data disclosure to unknown parties, monetary loss
Elimination	You can uninstall the extension by right-clicking on it or by accessing the settings of your browser. If the unwanted app is installed on your Windows or Mac computer, follow the instructions below
Additional steps	To ensure your computer safety, we highly recommend scanning the device with powerful anti-malware software, such as SpyHunter Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes Malwarebytes. Additionally, to fix computer problems if such arise, use Fortect Intego

FunSearchToday is your typical browser hijacker that incorporates multiple features on its main page (currency converter, calculator, etc.). Visually, it is identical to many other similar programs, such as SearchConverterHD, AllConvertersSearch, SearchConverterz, and many others. It is evident that the developer simply rebrands the same app and begins its distribution repeatedly. The only visual difference that can be seen between these apps is that the icon presented at the top-left corner is different.

FunSearchToday developers simply want to retain the maximum amount of profits by showing users sponsored links and ads. By using pay-per-click scheme,^[1] app authors can monetize each click that is made, regardless if it was accidental. In mean the meantime, users can suffer from various inconveniences, even though they might not be that apparent straight away.

Since Google Chrome is the most popular browser by far, users who have the so-called FunSearchToday virus installed on their systems will be surprised by a sudden change of their preferences – their browsers suddenly begin to redirect to Yahoo when they attempt to browse the web.

In many cases, users believe that their browser changes are related to Yahoo itself, although it is not true. FunSearchToday developers simply participate in its affiliate program, as it can not provide its own search engine. Thus, all the sponsored links and ads that users see at the top of search results are not the doing of Yahoo, but rather the hijacker.

The ads are typically not dangerous, although they are not coincidental – they are personalized. Targeted advertisement can sometimes be useful for users, although most commonly it is associated with privacy risks, as it requires third-parties gathering data. In most cases, it includes anonymous information, although some personal data, such as IP address or a device identifier, is also commonly used to track user location and other details.

FunSearchToday hijack

FunSearchToday uses various tracking technologies for the purpose:^[2]

Non-Personal Information may be automatically transmitted by the user's device. When using our Service, we assign your device with a log file, a cookie (session or persistent), web beacons or other related technologies, to collect Non-Personal Information with respect to your activity in connection with our Service.

Thus, while the app is not inherently malicious, it can seriously alter the web browser experience by injecting ads everywhere and tracking your online activities in the background. Besides, apps that are spread via deceptive methods should not be trusted – experts recommend FunSearchToday removal.

To remove FunSearchToday, you need to uninstall the extension that is clipped to the web browser. Nonetheless, since the hijack might be related to an application installed on your machine, you can follow the detailed instructions below. If for some reason, you keep seeing ads and experience other inconveniences, you should reset the web browser and perform a scan with an anti-malware program. In case malicious programs were found, Fortect Intego could serve you as a great tool to fix potential virus damage done to the system.

Tips for browser hijacker prevention

Potentially unwanted programs are typically spread via software bundles, where several apps are compiled into a single installer. While offering optional applications to users is not wrong, disguising them by using various deception tricks sure is. Thus, while software bundling is not an illegal tactic, it is most certainly unfair in some cases, as it attempts to exploit users' carelessness.

In essence, you do not need to be an expert to protect yourself from the stealthy installation of potentially unwanted programs. Here are some tips from novirus.uk^[3] security experts:

Download applications from official sources, if possible;
During the installation process, always opt for Advanced/Custom mode when prompted – this will allow you to stay in control of the entire process;
Watch out for deception: remove ticks from checkboxes, read fine print, decline all the offers, etc.
Install a powerful anti-malware program and enable PUP detection feature.

In some cases, however, users install potentially unwanted programs themselves, as they are unaware of their functionality. To avoid such a scenario, you should always read up on such apps online, e.g., you can check blogs, community forums, and reviews.

Eliminate FunSearchToday and check for other potentially malicious software

FunSearchToday removal should not be difficult – at least for most users. All you have to do is right-click on the extension and uninstall it that way. In case it is not visible, you can access your browser settings (for example, go to Menu > More tools > Extensions on Chrome) and delete all the unwanted extensions from there.

It is known some browser hijackers can set the “Managed by your organization” feature on the web browser – this would not allow you to remove FunSearchToday easily. In such a case, you should simply reset the browser, as we explain below.

If these actions still did not help you to get rid of the FunSearchToday hijack, you should check the installed app folder and uninstall everything that you find suspicious. Alternatively, you can scan the machine with powerful anti-malware software and remove not only PUPs but invisible malware as well.

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 FunSearchToday

FunSearchToday is a browser extension that inserts ads into your searches

Tips for browser hijacker prevention