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  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Stealing programs
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Dec 2015

How to remove Iqasearch.com virus

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Jake Doevan · Computer technology expert

Iqasearch.com hijacked my web browser. My PC is running Windows 10, and I prefer using Microsoft Edge web browser the start page of which is usually Google. For some reason, Google has been replaced by Iqasearch.comm, which presents me with the Yahoo-based search results. I’ve installed Firefox and Google Chrome web browsers believing that the doubtful Iqasearch.com URL will not be present on them. Unfortunately, it’s still there and can’t be replaced. Why these things are happening? I don’t understand anything…

Iqasearch.com – another search engine sponsored by Yahoo?

It seems that Iqasearch.com has rooted from the same family as thecoolestmoviesearch.com and others search engines. If you would check these two, you would immediately notice the likeness of their homepage, icons, search results, and the overall performance. In fact, Iqasearch.com is yet another browser hijacker and potentially unwanted program (PUP) that is actively spreading around the Internet bundled with freewares/sharewares. It is programmed to display search results by Yahoo. This fact can mislead people and make them believe that this search engine is reliable. However, although Iqasearch.com redirect virus seems to be an ordinary search with a search box that presents search results by Yahoo, which, in fact, is an absolutely legitimate search engine, nothing related to Iqasearch.com URL can be trusted. This search engine can cause:

  • Information leakage;
  • Infiltration of malware;
  • Slowdowns.

Iqasearch.com is a cross-browser search engine, so it can easily settle down on each web browser, including Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, etc. Right after that, it may corrupt a default start page and search provider by setting Iqasearch.com by default. If that’s what already happened to you, the only thing that can put everything into places is a complete Iqasearch.com removal. For this purpose, you should either follow the instructions that are provided in the Page2 or perform a scan with FortectIntego.

Iqasearch.com virus redirects to Yahoo and displays sponsored search results

How can Iqasearch.com search harm my computer? According to security vendors, it’s not malicious.

Indeed, Iqasearch.com redirect virus is NOT malicious on its own. Technically, it cannot affect operating system or corrupt crucial settings of the operating system. However, once installed and injected into web browsers, this fake search can start monitoring your web browsing activities and transmitting some of the details to third-party advertisers. Unfortunately, but disclosure of IP address, PC’s location, email address, and similar data may have some severe consequences for your PC’s security and your privacy. Besides, even though it supposedly delivers search results powered by Yahoo, they are sponsored, what means that the majority of the links and pop-up are sponsored and can lead you to questionable web domains. Lastly, the longer you keep Iqasearch.com virus installed, the slower your web browser may work.

By what means do this browser hijacker spread?

Iqasearch.com is spread using other freewares. In other words, it is typically promoted via software packages as an optional installer. It means that all its users have the chance to deselect it. However, to do that, it’s a must to choose Advanced or Custom installation mode. It is expanded if compared to quick or basic installation and disclose all the counterparts of the bundle. After selecting this mode, your task is to check each freeware and unmark ticks claiming that you agree with the installation of browser add-ons, toolbars, plug-ins, extensions, and other unfamiliar tools.

Removal tips:

Iqasearch.com is an ordinary browser hijacker, what means that you can remove it either manually or automatically. If you opt for manual removal, the guide below should help you. However, we want to remind one important thing. Software bundles seldom consist of the main installer and one additional component. Usually, they are composed out of several third-party apps. Thus, to remove them all and restore your PC’s stability, we would recommend running a full system scan with a powerful anti-malware. Hope that you will have no problems with Iqasearch.com removal. Good luck!

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.

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?

1 comment

  1. Maxima

    It helps! Really professional and well-written! Thank you.

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