Isearch123.com virus: what it is and how to remove it

Isearch123.com search engine should not be trusted. You should not think that the search results it brings are safe.

Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.

Automatic

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Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.

Not sure what changed your search to isearch123.com? An automatic scan checks extensions, programs and browser settings in one pass.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.

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Isearch123.com virus: isearch123 com redirects website and example of isearch123 com ads
Isearch123.com virus as our 2015 report showed it.

Isearch123.com virus: summary

Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DistributionNot recorded in the old report
DamageNot recorded in the old report
NameIsearch123.com virus
TypeFake search engine
SymptomsA changed search engine
Removal

Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.
Show 5 more facts
EvidenceOne write-up by a security site; details still limited
Search pageisearch123.com
BrowsersChrome, Edge and Firefox
First seen10 December 2015
Facts checked7 October 2026

From our report of Dec 2015 · not reviewed since

What Isearch123.com virus is

Isearch123.com search engine should not be trusted.

You should not think that the search results it brings are safe. The point is, third-party companies sponsor Isearch123.com, and these parties are interesting in developing their websites.

To achieve that, they ask the developers of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) like Isearch123.com to advertise them. In exchange for every visitor that gets redirected to third-party websites, Isearch123.com gains revenue. Now, we are going to explain how this pay-per-click advertising system works.

Is Isearch123.com virus dangerous? What it collects

From our report of Dec 2015 · not reviewed since

How does Isearch123.com promote affiliate marketing?

Isearch123.com is a program that belongs to the category of browser hijackers.

This program is known for silent installation and other unpleasant and unacceptable arbitrary activities on the victixmized PC. Once Isearch123.com browser hijacker enters your computer system, it immediately extracts and places its files in your Windows Registry.

Then it starts to affect each of your Internet browsers - Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and others. Isearch123.com installs its extensions to these browsers in order to adjust browser's settings and track your browsing activity. Here's a list of data that Isearch123.com might gather:

We cannot firmly claim why Isearch123.com hijacker needs such information, but there is no hesitation that is better not to share such information with unreliable sources because even the listed information is not considered to be personally identifiable, it may still contain some personal details about you.

Isearch123.com page parasite alters browser settings and sets itself as your default homepage and search engine. Be careful and do not use it for your search queries! There is a huge possibility Isearch123.com can deliver modified search results that might be injected with various hyperlinks that might lead you to third-party websites.

This is how Isearch123.com gets money; however, you should not be fooled that easily. In case you believe there is a chance your computer has already been affected by Isearch123.com hijack, you might want to install a reliable anti-spyware software (for example, ) and check your computer with it.

  • Browsing history;
  • List of favorite websites;
  • List of your saved bookmarks;
  • List of the files you have downloaded from the Internet;
  • Your search queries;
  • IP address;
  • Computer geolocation.
Isearch123.com virus: isearch123 com redirects website and example of isearch123 com ads
Isearch123.com virus in our 2015 report.

From our report of Dec 2015 · not reviewed since

How can Isearch123.com hijack my computer without my approval to install it?

Surprisingly, Isearch123.com enters the computer system WITH your permission.

To be more precise, the permission is obtained in an unfair way. You see, Isearch123.com is spread together with freeware and shareware as an attachment. Sadly, the installation setup of a program that carries such attachments almost never reveals the information about such attachments in a direct way.

Such software pack is called software bundle, and it conceals the statements about the promotion of additional software in the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy documents. It is not a secret that the majority of computer users tend to ignore and skip these docs.

Well, you should read them if you do not want to expose your computer to severe risks. Then you are going to see another setup window with a list of optional apps that are suggested to install. Deselect these suggestions. To find out how to remove Isearch123.com PUP, continue to page 2.

Check your browser and PC

  • Address: isearch123.com

How to remove Isearch123.com virus

How to stop Isearch123.com virus from opening

The search page is only the end point.

These steps remove what sends the browser there, then put the search engine back.

  1. Step 1: Put the search engine back and delete isearch123.com

    In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete isearch123.com from the list.

    In Edge type search engine into the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.

    If isearch123.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome Settings with the Search engine and On startup sections
    Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  2. Step 2: Remove extensions you did not add

    In Chrome open chrome://extensions, in Edge edge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.

    Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.

    If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  3. Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install

    Isearch123.com virus rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.

    Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.

    Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix

  4. Step 4: Reset the browser

    A reset removes what the steps above could miss:

    • changed start pages
    • site permissions
    • hidden settings

    In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.

    Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.

    Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  5. Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan

    A scan finds the parts of Isearch123.com virus that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.

    Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.

    It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

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
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
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
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
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.

Do not let government spy on you

The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices.

Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.

You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using VPN.

Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.

Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack

Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings.

Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact - you can set this process to be performed automatically.

When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use for the data restoration process.

From our report of Dec 2015 · not reviewed since

How to eliminate this annoying program from your computer

If you are concerned about Isearch123.com redirects, you should remove this low-level computer parasite as soon as possible.

This can be done in two ways. The first method is the automatic removal option, which we have already suggested for you. It is the safest and easiest way to remove Isearch123.com virus. Another option to uninstall Isearch123.com is to remove it manually.

We have prepared removal instructions for you; you can find them below this article. If you have any questions, do not hesitate and contact us by sending a question via 'Ask us' form. Good luck!

Questions about Isearch123.com virus

How do I change my search engine back from isearch123.com?

Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove isearch123.com from the list.

If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.

When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put isearch123.com back.

Did isearch123.com come with a program I installed?

Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as isearch123.com usually arrive with free software, where an extra offer is pre-ticked in the installer, or as an extension that promises something useful, such as file conversion, maps, recipes or streaming.

Look at Settings, Apps, Installed apps sorted by install date: whatever was installed just before the search engine changed is the main suspect. Uninstall it, then remove any extension you do not recognise. In future, choose the custom or advanced option in installers and untick extra offers, and install extensions only from the official store pages of publishers you know.

What is isearch123.com?

It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Isearch123.com virus. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.

People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.

Is isearch123.com dangerous?

It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.

Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove Isearch123.com virus, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.

Do I have to fix every browser?

Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, Isearch123.com virus affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.

Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:

  • remove the extension
  • check the policies
  • restore the search engine
  • start page

If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.

Did isearch123.com record my searches?

Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.

The operators of isearch123.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:

  • remove Isearch123.com virus
  • clear cookies and site data for isearch123.com
  • treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party

Can I just block isearch123.com?

You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.

Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.

What do I lose if I reset Chrome or Edge?

Less than you might think. A reset turns off all extensions, which you can turn back on one by one, restores the default search engine, home page, new tab and pinned tabs, and clears cookies, so you are signed out of most sites.

Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and autofill data stay. Firefox's equivalent, Refresh Firefox, keeps the same essentials but removes add-ons completely. Before you reset, make sure you know your main passwords or have them saved, since you will need to sign in again.

Is only one browser affected?

Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.

If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.

Will Fortect remove Isearch123.com virus?

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For Isearch123.com virus, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.

Sources

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