Gensearch.co (Removal Guide) - Free Instructions
Gensearch.co Removal Guide
What is Gensearch.co?
Gensearch.co is a program that diminishes your web browsing experience
Gensearch.co is a browser hijacker[1] that displays ads instead of improving search results, as it initially promises. Program developers promote this it as a legitimate search engine that helps users find what they are looking for faster. But the truth is that it is a potentially unwanted program that has no positives when it comes to the browsing experience. This browser hijacker modifies settings of Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome and sets hxxp://gensearch.co as a homepage and the new tab address. Additionally, this dubious application may lead users to sponsors' or potentially dangerous websites.
| Name | Gensearch.co |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker, PUP |
| Affected browsers | Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox |
| Main dangers | Can potentially lead to malware; collected information might be shared with third parties |
| Symptoms | Changed browser, new tab settings, redirects, an increased amount of pop-up ads |
| Distribution | Software bundling |
| Elimination | Use FortectIntego for virus removal |
Potentially unwanted programs are similar because most of them infiltrate the computer without your consent. However, unsuspecting people might get tricked into downloading these programs themselves. If you got conned into downloading a browser hijacker, do not wait and immediately remove Gen Search. We explain how in the last paragraph – so keep reading.
Gensearch.co hijack firstly focuses on browser settings modification. Soon after that, you may notice the following symptoms:
- you can't set your preferred homepage;
- new tab directs to Gensearch.co by default;
- unknown bookmarks, extensions or toolbars added to your browser;
- search queries are automatically redirected to http://gensearch.co/search/?q=;
- search results are altered and lead to affiliated websites;
- increased amount of advertisements;
- most ads that pop-up on legitimate sites include “Powered by Gen Search,” “Ads by Gen Search,” or similar written in the corner of the window;
- browser operation becomes sluggish.
Although initially not malicious, a browser hijacker could potentially lead you suspicious or even dangerous sites. Besides porn and gambling ads, you may be redirected to hacked or malicious websites, where malware (such as a keylogger, crypto-miner, or even ransomware) can be injected into your computer. Therefore, close down all suspicious tabs, or even the browser itself immediately. Because of such deceptive behavior, some users tend to call this program Gensearch.co virus.
Additionally, in Privacy Policy located on the official website of the hijacker, we found information about data tracking. The collected information does not identify you as an individual (i.e., anonymous information). However, if you decide to provide any personal data, it may be stored on company's server, as it is clear from this statement:
Gen Search does not collect any personal information about you (such as your name or email address) except when you specifically and knowingly provide that information. We do keep a record of the IP addresses from which users access our site.
Avirus.hu[2] team notes that this information later can be used by advertisers. This makes advertisements more attractive when based on your preferences. You should remove Gensearch.co immediately, and the quickest way to do that is by employing FortectIntego or other security software. Alternatively, you can get rid of the PUP by following our manual instructions below. 
PUP developers employ bundling technique to spread their software
Bundling is a widely used technique in product marketing world, but PUP developers also take advantage of this method. People tend to rush the installation processes and skip important steps or rely on p2p networks[3] for downloading software. This behavior can lead to the installation of additional pieces when installing free software from the internet.
Freeware and PUP developers often collaborate, as both of parties gain the benefit – unwanted program authors get a chance to increase the popularity of their product, and free software creators get paid for every install made by the user. However, the user is a victim here. If you are not paying attention and choose Recommended or Quick settings you might end up with browser hijackers and other useless software.
The only way to see a complete list of the programs included in the installer is by selecting Advanced/Custom installation settings. Remember, when it comes to internet safety – knowledge and caution is the key.
Gensearch.co elimination procedure
To permanently remove Gen Search from your browser you should rely on anti-malware software that is trustworthy. Security tools are programs that are capable of detecting deceptive programs and eliminating them in just a few minutes. Remember, the PUP might have installed other components without your knowledge, so as a precaution we recommend performing a full system scan regardless.
Gensearch.co removal might be difficult and time-consuming if your computer skills are not the best. However, if you are familiar with computers and their operation, you can use our step-by-step guide below. Make sure you dot rush these steps, as incorrect removal might result in the re-installation of the Gen Search virus.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Gensearch.co. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
Eliminate Gensearch.co from Windows OS and search online safely again:
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- 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:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
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.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Browser hijacker elimination needs to be finallized by refreshing Firefox browser:
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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 unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Gensearch.co registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting stealing programs
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important – recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
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- ^ Margaret Rouse. What is browser hijacker?. Tech target. Search security education.
- ^ Avirus. Avirus. Spyware news.
- ^ James Cope. What's a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network?. Computerworld. Information and business technology .