Nuesearch.com: what it is and how to remove it
NueSearch is a widely-known browser hijacker which was spotted by 2-spyware security experts in the end on May 2016. This potentially unwanted program (PUP) presents itself as a legitimate search engine but a full research has revealed that it has nothing in common with trustworthy search results.
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.
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Nuesearch.com: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Nuesearch.com |
| Type | Fake search engine |
| Symptoms | A 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
| Evidence | One write-up by a security site; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Search page | amisites.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 30 August 2016 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Nuesearch.com dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Aug 2016 · not reviewed since
How can nuesearch sneak into my PC?
This browser hijacker can easily infiltrate your PC without an appropriate permission asked because it has been using a distribution technology called "bundling."
With the help of this method, its developers can hide this suspicious search engine among "optional downloads" that are hardly checked by users. If you don't tend to monitor installation process of the freeware, you may be tricked into installing NueSearch as a bonus applications. However, we highly recommend you to reject it because it is an ad-supported software that can lead you to malware infiltration.
To prevent optional downloads, you have to select particular installation settings and configure them. Remember that the right options are Advanced and Custom ones, but not Default or Standard ones.
Once you open Advanced/Custom settings, look through all suggested items and deselect all of them. It is also advisable to look through Privacy Policy and Terms of Use documents because they also provide relevant information about your selected software that you may want to know.
How Nuesearch.com got into your browser
From our report of Aug 2016 · not reviewed since
NueSearch is a widely-known browser hijacker which was spotted by 2-spyware security experts in the end on May 2016.
This potentially unwanted program (PUP) presents itself as a legitimate search engine but a full research has revealed that it has nothing in common with trustworthy search results. Apart from being a PUP, this malware is also put into the category of browser hijackers, along with other suspicious search engines like Amisites.com.
Luckily, you can eliminate it with almost every reputable anti-spyware, so don't waste your time dealing with it. Besides its ability to infiltrate computers without users' knowledge, Nuesearch hijack every web browser that it is installed on them. As a result, it starts appearing instead of the start page and the default search engine each time you launch the browser. Be sure not to use Nuesearch.com while searching the Internet!
It has been observed that it can show people altered search results trying to redirect them to questionable/suspicious websites. You should never stay on such domains because visiting them can lead you to the infiltration of malware. These high-risk Internet sites are mostly used to infect people with adware-type programs, browser hijackers or sometimes even ransomware-type threats. But you should think about Nuesearch.com removal not only because of that.
Nuesearch.com redirect problem is just the beginning. According to PC experts, this search tool can also track you while you are browsing the Internet. With the help of this redirect virus, scammers can try to reveal your search queries, email address, computer's location and similar information.
Beware that this data may be sold to third-party companies that may use it for their own needs. At this point, our advice is very simple - you must remove Nuesearch from your computer without wasting your time. For that, you can use instructions provided below or install such anti-spyware software like .
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
amisites.com
How to remove Nuesearch.com
How to stop Nuesearch.com from opening
The search page is only the end point.
These steps remove what sends the browser there, then put the search engine back.
Step 1: Put the search engine back and delete amisites.com
Searches that pass through
amisites.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 amisites.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 2: Remove extensions you did not add
Nuesearch.com 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 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 Nuesearch.com. 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
You can eliminate this browser hijacker from your computer manually only if you uninstall each of its components. In this case, you must uninstall NueSearch Uninstall, Uninstall – amz, Amisites, Browser Defender, Yontoo and similar entries that look suspicious. The argument that has to be removed from Windows shortcuts is: http://www.nuesearch.com.com/?ts=
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
You will only remove this hijacker from your computer completely, when you will take care of all the add-ons, it might have installed on your browser. You have to delete NueSearch and other suspicious add-ons you can find in your add-on manager.
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 Mozilla Firefox (FF)
To get rid of this browser hijacker once and for all, go to your browser's add-on manager, remove NueSearch add-on and look for other unknown add-ons. If you are in doubt, you can always check their reliability on reputable security sites.
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
Though this virus rarely targets Mac OS X, there is no guarantee that you are safe from this virus. In case you notice suspicious behavior, check the list of Safari's add-ons and delete the insecure ones. Don't forget to do a little research beforehand, not to delete legitimate programs.
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
When uninstalling PUP from Mac OS X, you have to uninstall each of suspicious entries, such as Uninstall – amz, NueSearch Uninstall, Amisites, Browser Defender, Yontoo, etc.
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
To clean your browser from the hijacker completely, you will have to remove NueSearch add-on and other third-party add-ons this program may have installed on your computer. Look for unfamiliar names and double-check them via reputable sources.
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.
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 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 can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Aug 2016 · not reviewed since
Nuesearch removal guide
Nuesearch virus should be deleted from the computer system because it can convince you to visit untrustworthy Internet sites, and that can cause you some serious security problems.
If you would like to bypass such websites, do not use the search engine this hijacker provides and opt for a better alternative. To remove Nuesearch.com, use a trustworthy program that could detect and remove spyware and malware.
If you do not want to use an additional program to delete this potentially unwanted one, then follow instructions given below. If after completing these steps you still feel that your computer is not safe, complete Nuesearch removal with the help of the automatic malware removal program.
http://www.nuesearch.com.com/?ts= &v= &uid= &ptid= &mode=
Questions about Nuesearch.com
Is it safe to keep amisites.com as my search engine?
It is not recommended. Searches through amisites.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 amisites.com, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.
Can amisites.com see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to amisites.com first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
Why do my searches go to amisites.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Nuesearch.com did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to amisites.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 amisites.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 Nuesearch.com and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Nuesearch.com 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 amisites.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 Nuesearch.com, delete the cookies and site data for amisites.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.
Would an ad blocker stop Nuesearch.com?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on amisites.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 Nuesearch.com 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.
I changed the search engine, but it switched back. Why?
The hijacker is still installed, and it rewrites the setting whenever the browser starts or the extension updates. Changing the setting is the last step, not the first. Find what controls it: the search settings page usually names the extension, and a greyed-out field means a policy.
Remove that source, restart the browser, then pick your search engine and delete the hijacker's entry from the list of saved search engines so it cannot be chosen by accident. Check again after a day, when extensions have had a chance to update.
Should I just switch to another browser?
It may not help. Installers that add hijackers usually target every browser on the PC, and system-level changes such as the hosts file, DNS or proxy affect all browsers at once. A new browser also leaves the hijacker's program and extension in place, collecting data in the old one.
Remove Nuesearch.com properly first. After that, use whichever browser you prefer; Chrome, Edge and Firefox all let you set and protect your own search engine. Import your bookmarks only after the old browser is clean.
Will Fortect remove Nuesearch.com?
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 Nuesearch.com, 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
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)