Kibo Web: what it is and how to remove it
Kibo Web is a potentially unwanted application that might be installed behind users' backs, as it usually spreads via software bundle packages or fake updates. Once installed, it would change the settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, MS Edge, or another browser secretly and redirect all searches via tailsearch.com, my-search.com, and a few other domains, finally lading on Bing search.
Facts checked October 6, 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.
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Kibo Web: summary
| Distribution | Software bundle packages, deceptive ads, fake update prompts |
|---|---|
| Damage | Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, privacy risks due to information gathering practices, financial losses |
| Name | Kibo Web |
| Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program |
| IP address | 104.27.146.124 |
| Symptoms | Unknown extension or application is installed on the system; homepage and new tab address are set to something else; a customized search engine is appended to the homepage; search results are filled with sponsored links and ads |
| 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 6 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | tailsearch.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 28 September 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Kibo Web dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
Kibo Web - yet another app that hijacks your searches
Kibo Web is a potentially unwanted application that might be installed behind users' backs, as it usually spreads via software bundle packages or fake updates.
Once installed, it would change the settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, MS Edge, or another browser secretly and redirect all searches via tailsearch.com, my-search.com, and a few other domains, finally lading on Bing search.
While the search provider is legitimate, users will notice multiple sponsored links presented at the top. These are designed to generate revenue for the Kibo Web browser hijacker developers. Besides dealing with intrusive ads, infected users will also be subjected to information tracking practices that could lead to serious privacy issues.
There are thousands of browser hijackers that spread around via various means, including legitimate channels such as the Chrome web store. Examples of such potentially unwanted programs include Charmsearching, HDSportSearchs, FlixSearch, My Mail Finder, and many others.
Thee is a fundamental difference between the above-mentioned browser hijackers and Kibo Web - the latter attempts to imitate Google or another provider that was originally chosen by users. This way, they are less likely yo notice the significant differences that are usually caused by a PUP of this type.
However, to notice the presence of the PUP, all one has to do is simply observe how the browser behaves during the web search procedure. Here are a few differences that are relatively easy to spot (although these symptoms might vary, depending on app version, user location, and other factors):
Kibo Web hijack can spread as a browser extension, as well as an application that is installed on the system without permission. While add-ons are typically easy to eliminate, there are several different tricks that can be used by the developers in order to prevent an easy app uninstallation.
For example, other hijackers often employ "Managed by your organization" setting or insert malicious components into users' Google account. Since this data is kept on the tech giant's servers, users might struggle with a complete Kibo Web removal.
Nonetheless, there are several steps that one can take to get rid of a potentially unwanted program, regardless of how persistent they are. For example, scanning the device with anti-malware such as or can often eliminate all the unwanted components automatically. After that, security experts also recommend using to remediate the machine after the infection is terminated.
If the annoying ads are not enough of a reason to remove Kibo Web from your machine, you should also keep in mind that deceptive apps such as browser hijackers use cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies to harvest user information.
The data, which can sometimes include personal information such as unique device identifiers and the IP addresses, might be sold and shred without unknown parties, resulting in major privacy risks. Thus, if you value your privacy, uninstall Kibo Web from your computer and clean your web browsers as explained below.
- An unknown extension installed on the web browser;
- All the searches are delivered via via tailsearch.com, my-search.com, or other URLs;
- Search provider is changed to Bing, Yahoo, or another one;
- Sponsored links are injected into the results;
- Overall increased amount of advertising and other intrusive behavior.
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
Pick Advanced/Custom installation settings to stop potentially unwanted programs
Computer users are more or less familiar with techniques used to deliver malware such as ransomware, trojans, or viruses.
They are mostly aware that opening suspicious emails or downloading software cracks is unsafe (even though some users continue risky behavior despite the known security issues). Still, they often forget that there is a category of potentially dangerous software lurking on almost all third-party websites.
One of the most prevalent PUP distribution technique is software bundles, where several applications are offered in a single package. Initially, the practice is not evil, and both parties can benefit from it; freeware authors and distributors are keen on using deception for larger pay-per-install profits.
Nonetheless, careful users can always avoid the installation of unwanted programs such as adware or browser hijackers. If you do not wish to fall victim of deception, and prevent the installation of PUPs, follow these tips:
- Before installing a new app, ensure that it is not adware itself (read forums, blogs, and similar);
- During the installation process, always opt for Advanced/Custom settings instead of Recommended/Quick ones;
- Remove all the ticks from pre-ticked checkboxes;
- Read the fine print;
- Watch out for misplaced buttons;
- Decline all the deals or offers;
- Employ powerful anti-malware.
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Kibo Web
- Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
tailsearch.com
How to remove Kibo Web
How to remove Kibo Web and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
Kibo Web often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete tailsearch.com
Searches that pass through
tailsearch.commean the browser's default search engine was replaced. Chrome: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then Make default on Google, Bing or another engine you chose, and Delete on tailsearch.com.Edge has the same list under Manage search engines (search the Settings page for it), and Firefox under Settings > Search.
Look at On startup and the homepage settings too and remove the hijacker's address there. Nothing in this step differs between Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of Kibo Web. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
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
If you have never uninstalled a program from a Windows machine, please proceed with the following instructions:
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.
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.
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.
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)
Don't forget to clear Firefox data and cache:
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.
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.
Delete from macOS
macOS users should remove Kibo Web as explained below:
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.
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
From our report of Sep 2020 · not reviewed since
You can delete Kibo Web virus in several ways
Essentially, you can choose manual or automatic Kibo Web removal - it all depends on your preferences.
If you would like to find the potentially unwanted program manually but are not sure how you can follow the step-by-step guide we provide below. Alternatively, you can employ powerful anti-malware software and perform a full system scan to eliminate all the unwanted apps and malicious components quickly. Uninstalling the application from the computer is just the first step of fully cleaning your machine, however.
Once you remove Kibo Web, you should also clean your web browser, especially if the hijack was related to an extension. You should clean web data and cache to ensure that search redirects would not continue after eliminating the PUP.
Questions about Kibo Web
Is it safe to keep tailsearch.com as my search engine?
It is not recommended. Searches through tailsearch.com usually still return results, but the operator sees every query, often stores it with an identifier for your browser and shows extra ads or paid links. Some hijacked results lead to fake downloads or scam pages.
You also did not choose it, which means something changed your settings without asking and may still be installed. Set your own search engine back, remove the extension or program that set tailsearch.com, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.
Did tailsearch.com come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as tailsearch.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.
Why do my searches go to tailsearch.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Kibo Web did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to tailsearch.com.
The page then passes your query to a real search provider, so the results look almost normal, with extra sponsored links on top. Changing the search engine back on its own does not last, because the source resets it. Remove the extension or program first, then the policies if any, then set your own search engine.
Is it safe to keep searching with tailsearch.com?
We would not. Every query you type is logged by its operators and shared with their advertising partners, and the sponsored links at the top are chosen for payment, not relevance. Results that look like a download page or a support site may lead to scams.
The page will not damage Windows by itself, but there is no benefit in keeping it: the results come from another search engine anyway. Remove Kibo Web and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Kibo Web affect?
We saw it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not mean the other browsers on your PC are safe: hijacker installers usually change every browser they find, and browser sync can carry an extension to other computers signed in to the same account.
Check the search engine, home page, new tab, extensions and policies in each browser you have, including ones you rarely open. Chrome and Edge profiles count separately, so switch to each profile and check it as well before you call the job done.
What does tailsearch.com know about me?
It knows what you searched for while it was your search engine, when, from which IP address and with which browser, and usually which results you opened. Tracking cookies let it connect those searches into a profile. It does not see your saved passwords or files.
After removing Kibo Web, delete the cookies and site data for tailsearch.com so the profile cannot be continued, and remove it from the browser's list of saved search engines. Signing out of important sites and back in also replaces session cookies.
Will resetting the browser remove Kibo Web?
A reset disables extensions, restores the default search engine, start page and new tab, and clears temporary data and cookies. It keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords. For many hijackers that is enough.
It does not remove a program installed in Windows, policies in the registry, changes to the hosts file or DNS, or edited shortcuts, so Kibo Web can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.
The results look like Google or Bing. Is that real?
Partly. Many hijacker search pages pass your query to a real search engine and show its results, so the list looks familiar. What changes is the frame around it:
- extra sponsored links at the top
- the hijacker's own tracking
- sometimes a design that copies a known search engine
You can tell by the address bar. If it shows tailsearch.com or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove Kibo Web and search directly.
Would an ad blocker stop Kibo Web?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on tailsearch.com, but it does not change your search engine back or remove the extension that set it. Your searches would still pass through the hijacker's servers and be logged.
Some ad blockers include tracking filters that block parts of the redirect chain, which can break searches altogether. Remove Kibo Web with the plan above; an ad blocker is a reasonable extra afterwards, from the official store only and from a developer with a long track record.
Will Fortect remove Kibo Web?
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 Kibo Web, 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
- Dieviren: Dieviren (read October 6, 2026)
- ZDNet: What is ransomware? Everything you need to know about one of the biggest menaces on the web (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)