NetGameSearch: what it is and how to remove it
NetGameSearch is a browser hijacker that changes the settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, MS Edge, or another browser to begin its operation. To begin with, the app sets the homepage and the new tab address to portal.netgamesearch.com and appends a customized search engine.
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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NetGameSearch: summary
| Distribution | Software bundles, deceptive ads, fake updates |
|---|---|
| Damage | While browser hijackers rarely pose danger to users in terms of security point of view, unwanted consequences can occur, including installation of other suspicious or unwanted software, monetary losses due to extensive ads, as well as privacy risks due to the information-sharing practices |
| Name | NetGameSearch |
| Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program |
| IP address | 172.67.171.62 |
| Symptoms | Homepage and new tab address is set to portal.netgamesearch.com; all search results are redirected to search.yahoo.com; search results are filled with sponsored links; an unknown browser extension installed without permission |
| 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 | portal.netgamesearch.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 18 December 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is NetGameSearch dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
NetGameSearch - a potentially unwanted program that shows ads and provides little benefits
NetGameSearch is a browser hijacker that changes the settings of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, MS Edge, or another browser to begin its operation.
To begin with, the app sets the homepage and the new tab address to portal.netgamesearch.com and appends a customized search engine. Consequently, all the search results are forwarded to the Yahoo provider, although the top links are inserted by the hijacker and are not genuine (in other words, ads are promoted as the search results).
Besides the browser changes and unwanted ads, potentially unwanted programs are known to gather information about users' web browsing practices and use that data for marketing, providing more targeted ads. If you are looking to return your browser to its previous states and stop the ads, you need to uninstall NetGameSearch extension or a program installed on your device.
As the name implies, NetGameSearch is supposed to promote various games online and help you find them quickly. However, this browser hijacker is not the first and the last one created by an unknown developer - other examples include UltimateStreamSearch, LoveSportsSearch, VideoSearchNet, and many others.
These apps do not differ much in terms of distribution and functionality and are presumably there to help users with easy searches of videos, games, sports, etc.
However, the functionality of such apps is relatively basic. The hijacker uses Yahoo's affiliate program to display results, although they are filled with sponsored links and ads, clicks on which directly benefit the developers financially.
In the meantime, users might struggle to find relevant information on the internet and be mislead into buying services or products that are not that useful/valuable. In essence, NetGameSearch hijack can fundamentally change the way you browse the web - not in a good way.
When it comes to other features that the app offers, they are also very basic and can be reached by using Google or another reliable search provider. These include (as evident, there are no functions that would be associated with games, despite what the name of the app implies):
Another deceptive feature of browser hijackers is their distribution methods. It is not uncommon for users to find a new browser extension or an app installed on the system right after installing freeware downloaded from third-party websites.
Thus, some people might not even know that they need to remove NetGameSearch extension from their web browser to stop all the redirects to different providers and ads inserted at the top of search results.
Just as with many other browser hijackers, this app is determined to gather as much information about you as possible, and it is done automatically. Even if you did not install the PUP intentionally, you gave permission (agreed to ToS and Privacy Policy) for this practice, and it will continue until you perform NetGameSearch removal. Gathered data includes IP, ISP, visited sites, timestamps, technical device information, installed apps, etc.
Harvested with the help of cookies and other technologies, this information might later be shared with third parties that would feed you ads catered to your preferences (otherwise known as targeted advertising). Thus, if you value your privacy, you should eliminate browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs that could be installed on your system.
After that, experts also advise scanning the machine with security software, such as or , to check for malware infections. If something was found, a scan with could attempt to fix virus damage automatically, preventing a full OS reinstallation.
- Crypto converter
- PDF converter
- Calculator
- Currency converter.


From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on NetGameSearch
- Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
portal.netgamesearch.com
How to remove NetGameSearch
How to remove NetGameSearch 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
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://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 on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete portal.netgamesearch.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
portal.netgamesearch.comfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto 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 portal.netgamesearch.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 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
NetGameSearch 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
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 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
A scan finds the parts of NetGameSearch 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 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
You can easily uninstall unwanted programs from a Windows computer by following these steps:
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
To uninstall NetGameSearch from Chrome, you need to access the settings section of the browser:
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)
Firefox should be cleaned after you eliminate PUPs from the 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 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
If your Mac is showing infection symptoms, make an effort to clean the system as follows:
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.

Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Unintentional software installation and how to prevent it
Since potentially unwanted programs typically travel within software bundles downloaded from third-party sites, users believe that they simply showed up out of nowhere.
However, they grant permission for PUPs to be installed, even though it is not done intentionally. The practice is quite unfair, although since users agree to terms and conditions during the installation, they allow optional components in. In the meantime, app developers are glad that their creations were popularized, increasing the profits.
Therefore, it is important to be vigilant during the installation of freeware, especially if it comes from third-party software distribution sites. Here are a few tips that might help you:
- If possible, download apps from official sources only;
- Before installing a new program you have never heard of, check its reviews online;
- During the installation, always pick Advanced/Custom settings if available;
- Remove all the ticks from pre-ticked checkboxes that would otherwise allow the installation of optional apps;
- Watch out for misplaced buttons, deceptive offers, fine print text, and other tricks;
- Employ security software capable of warning you about potentially unwanted programs.

From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
NetGameSearch removal guide
As previously mentioned, the hijack of your browser is likely to be related to a browser extension that is installed without your permission.
In order to remove NetGameSearch from your machine, you would have to access the settings section of your web browser and eliminate the extension from there. If you are not sure how to do that, you can follow the detailed guide we provided below. We also included steps to clean web data and cookies to prevent further tracking.
In case you still spotted suspicious activities on your web browser after NetGameSearch removal, you should check your system for other PUPs. Additionally, most modern security applications would be able to find the root cause of the problem automatically, so we strongly advise you to try this method instead.
Questions about NetGameSearch
Why does my search engine keep changing to portal.netgamesearch.com?
Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.
Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time portal.netgamesearch.com first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.
Did portal.netgamesearch.com come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as portal.netgamesearch.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 portal.netgamesearch.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker NetGameSearch. 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 portal.netgamesearch.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 NetGameSearch, 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, NetGameSearch 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 portal.netgamesearch.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 portal.netgamesearch.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 NetGameSearch
- clear cookies and site data for portal.netgamesearch.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Why can't I change my search engine back?
Because something keeps setting it. If an extension controls the search engine, Chrome and Edge show a note that an extension is controlling this setting, and your change is reverted. If a policy controls it, the field is greyed out and the browser shows Managed by your organization.
Remove the extension first, then the policies, and only then change the search engine; the change will stay. If it still reverts, look for a program in Installed apps or a scheduled task that reinstalls the extension.
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.
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.
Will Fortect remove NetGameSearch?
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 NetGameSearch, 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
- How-To Geek: PUPs Explained: What is a "Potentially Unwanted Program"? (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)