Pro Search Tip (Removal Guide) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
Pro Search Tip Removal Guide
What is Pro Search Tip?
Pro Search Tip is a potentially unwanted program that sneaks in during the installation of free software obtained from third-party sites
Pro Search Tip is a browser extension designed for Google Chrome and Safari browsers. According to its developers, the tool is created to help users find relevant information quicker. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and, if anything, this potentially unwanted program[1] only deteriorates web browsing experience by flooding web browsers with ads, pop-ups, promotional links, deals, banners, offers, and other sponsored content.
Just as most of the other PUPs, Pro Search Tip virus enters users' machines with the help of software bundling. This technique allows freeware and shareware developers to deceive users during the installation process so that they easily miss the infiltration of the unwanted application. Once inside, it changes the settings of all installed browsers and sets the homepage and new tab URL to Search.prosearchtip.com.
Only after Pro Search Tip removal, you can get rid of the unwanted activities that this hijacker undertakes. Check out this article if you want to find out how to terminate the unwanted app, as well as improve the overall security of your device.
| Name | Pro Search Tip |
| Type | Browser hijacker/PUP |
| Set homepage and new tab | Search.prosearchtip.com |
| Infection means | Software bundles, ads on third-party sites |
| Symptoms | Changed web browser homepage, search engine and new tab, intrusive ads, redirects, sponsored search results, etc. |
| Potential dangers | Installation of other PUPs, malware infections, money loss, personal data disclosure to unknown parties, etc. |
| Termination | Use security software or delete the PUP manually with the help of our guide below |
| Optimization | To make sure that your system runs well after the cyber infection, scan it with FortectIntego |
Initially, the term “Pro Search Tip virus” might not seem entirely correct, as potentially unwanted programs are not considered to be malware[2] (many of such apps can also be downloaded via official sources, such as the App store or Amazon). Nevertheless, after the installation, everything that is done on the internet via the browser is affected by the Pro Search Tip add-on, as it dramatically influences which sites users visit, what ads they see, etc.
Unfortunately, not all of the commercial content displayed by Pro Search Tip is safe, as developers of PUP rarely check the quality or safety of sites they link users to. Besides, they cannot be accountable for anything either, as they often state in their ToS that they are not responsible for any content that the app may lead users to.
Finally, Pro Search Tip hijack also causes some privacy concerns, as potentially unwanted programs collect a variety of non-personally identifiable information, such as:
- IP address;
- ISP;
- Technical details of the computer;
- Sites visited;
- Links clicked;
- Bookmarks added;
- List of installed apps;
- Cookies;
- Search queries, etc.
This type of tracking is used in order to generate targeted advertisements, which consequently brings developers profits. Sadly, this also means that users' searches, visited sites and even purchased products might not be of the highest quality. What is more, some of the websites might promote fake deals, phishing, survey scams and also make users download malware.
Therefore, hurry up and remove Pro Search Tip from your computer. You can do either manually or automatically, although the latter is much safer, quicker, and easier. Finally, to get the best results and make sure your device is in its best condition, experts[3] recommend downloading FortectIntego.
Do not get tricked to install potentially unwanted programs
While most of the frequent internet users already know about malware and how dangerous it is, threats like potentially unwanted programs are often forgotten. Nevertheless, PUPs might be very aggressive and even be just as harmful as malware, primarily if not handled carefully. Therefore, it is best to stay away from these unwanted apps in the first place.
There are two ways users infect their machines with browser hijackers, adware, or other PUPs:
- they unintentionally install it while establishing free software from the internet;
- they install it intentionally convinced by its functionality, not knowing that the application is actually PUP.
It is easy to avoid unwanted apps during shareware or freeware installation – you simply need to follow the installation steps carefully and not get deceived by pre-ticked boxes, grayed-out buttons, and similar tricks used by the developers. Most importantly, you should pick Advanced or Custom installation settings to terminate all the unwanted programs before they manage to sneak in.
When it comes to intentionally downloading potentially unwanted software, you should always make sure that the application is safe. First of all, you can scan the installer via tools like Virus Total. Secondly, you should always read reviews online, as they often hint if the app is safe.
Delete Pro Search Tip from your device either manually or automatically
There are two ways to remove Pro Search Tip virus from your device – either manually or automatically. While the first method can usually be accomplished quite easily (all you have to do is uninstall the browser extension), it might not be enough if you downloaded and installed additional apps while infected.
Therefore, automatic Pro Search Tip removal should be performed in a case when the suspicious activity does not cease. This can be accomplished by scanning the device with anti-malware software, especially the one that specializes in potentially unwanted programs would be effective. Otherwise, please follow the guide below and terminate Pro Search Tip manually.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Pro Search Tip. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
To remove Pro Search Tip virus from Windows OS, please follow these steps:
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
If your macOS is showing signs of browser hijacker infection, proceed with the following instructions:
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
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.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Reset Mozilla Firefox after you eliminate the potentially unwanted program:
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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 unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Pro Search Tip registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting browser hijacker
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 Private Internet Access 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 Data Recovery Pro for the data restoration process.
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- ^ Chris Hoffman. PUPs Explained: What is a “Potentially Unwanted Program”?. How-to Geek. Site that explains technology.
- ^ What is malware?. Palo Alto Networks. Cyberpedia.
- ^ UsunWirusa. UsunWirusa. Cybersecurity researchers from Poland.