Omyweb – a browser hijacker that redirects all searches to a fake keysearchs.com search engine
Omyweb is a browser hijacker because as soon as it ends up on a computer it changes its default search engine to keysearchs.com. That search engine is fake, meaning it doesn't produce any search results itself., it redirects people to other legit search engines. Due to the stealthy manner of installation, this software is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
When Omyweb virus is installed, and users type something in the URL bar they get redirected first to the keysearchs.com and then, depending on their geolocation, either to google.com or through a sequence of two websites – my-search.com, search-checker.com, until getting to a proper search engine in bing.com
| name | Omyweb |
|---|---|
| type | Browser hijacker |
| Distribution | Google Chrome app store, freeware bundles |
| symptoms | Depending on users geolocation, all search is redirected from keysearchs.com to either google.com or bing.com (through two other sites) |
| Risks | Browser hijackers are known to collect browsing and private data which might be sold to third-parties |
| removal | Users who decide to remove Omyweb should do it with the help of professional anti-malware tools |
| system fix | Browser hijacking add-ons/software might damage system files and registry. After Omyweb removal it's highly recommended to use a system tune-up tool like the FortectIntego app to repair any system irregularities |
Typically, browser hijackers[1] change all browser settings, such as the new tab preference, the home page, default search engine, and so on. Furthermore, Omyweb PUP creators collect browsing and personal data of the users, that includes IP addresses, geolocations, visited sites, search inquiries, etc. Then this collected data can be sold to third-parties, which may not necessarily be the good guys.
On top of that, browser hijackers like Omyweb could push additional installation of PUPs. And what's it promotes websites that pay the most, so it could be sites of cybercriminals with malicious content on them. As soon as someone is redirected to these kinds of sites a payload file of severe malware could be downloaded instantly and infection would be started.
That's why keeping browser hijackers is a risky business. We recommend uninstalling it as soon as you notice changes in your browser preferences. You can do it manually using our guide shown at the bottom of this article. If you can't be bothered with manual Omyweb removal, then use a powerful anti-malware app like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes to do the dirty work for you.
When you remove Omyweb or any other browser-based threats like adware or hijackers, you should run a full system scan with a powerful system repair program to find and fix any modifications done to computer system files and their settings. Apps like the FortectIntego will fix these issues caused by any malware with a push of a button.
Stealthy installation techniques of browser hijackers
Although some browser hijackers are offered in-browser app stores, most of them are installed using a more stealthy approach – software bundling.[2] With this method, more than one application is offered, and with the installation of the desired program, at least one or two PUPs are preselected for installation.
To evade potentially unwanted programs from installing on devices, everyday computer users should always opt for the Advanced or Custom installation instead of the Quick one. When the latter is chosen, all software within the bundle will be installed automatically.
When choosing the Advanced/Custom mode, the users can look through what would be installed on their devices. Users should unmark all of the pre-ticked boxes if the apps that are offered isn't what they wanted and get just the one they need.
Uninstalling Omyweb browser hijacker from your device
Unwanted PUPs aren't considered as severe malware but it surely can deliver one. Furthermore, browsing and personal data collection that is being done by the browser hijackers like Omyweb virus could lead to identity theft, loss of finances, or becoming a victim of some sort of cybercrime.
We advise to remove Omyweb from all devices as soon as any changes are noticed in the browser preferences, like the changed default search engine, the altered home page, etc. Either use our guide below or trust anti-malware software to do the work for you.
Experts[3] advise using a powerful system repair tool after Omyweb browser hijacker removal to undo all changes made to the system registry and other core settings that the browser intruder could have done.
Uninstall from Windows
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.
Delete from macOS
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.
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.
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
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)
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.
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.
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.
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