Protectionapps.live: what it is and how to remove it
Protectionapps.live virus is a term used to refer to a browser hijacker and potentially unwanted application (PUA) that supposedly aims at optimizing web searching experience. However, it's yet another tool managed by an unspecified New York-based company that owns Theappsparty.net and Myappsclub.net hijackers.
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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Protectionapps.live: summary
| Distribution | The technique used to spread it is known as Bundling. In other words, this hijacker relies on freeware and shareware that carry it in the form of an additional installer |
|---|---|
| Name | Protectionapps.live |
| Type | Browser hijacker / Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) |
| Symptoms | The goal of the PUA – earn profit from affiliate marketing. For that, it replaces the start page, search engine, new tab window, and focuses on redirecting users to sponsored websites. Yahoo-based search results can also generate loads of commercial ads |
| Danger | All PUAs used by advertisers are considered dangerous due to tracking possibilities, misleading commercial content, push notifications, and promotion or malware |
| Removal methods | Protectionapps.live removal requires the anti-malware program no matter that it is not as malicious as a virus. However, it is closely related to other PUPs and may have tens of supportive files that can only be detected automatically. |
| 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 7 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | protectionapps.live |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 25 May 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What Protectionapps.live changes in your browser
The Site may contain links to third parties' websites. The links are included for users/members convenience only. The site does not monitor such websites and/or assumes no liability whatsoever for the content or opinions expressed on those websites. Users/members access and use any linked website at their own risk.
Is Protectionapps.live dangerous? What it collects
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Protectionapps.live falls for browser hijacker category due to aggressive takeover of the Google Chrome's settings
Protectionapps.live virus is a term used to refer to a browser hijacker and potentially unwanted application (PUA) that supposedly aims at optimizing web searching experience.
However, it's yet another tool managed by an unspecified New York-based company that owns Theappsparty.net and Myappsclub.net hijackers. From the initial inspection, the search site does not raise suspicions as it contains a user-friendly interface (search bar, private search on/off button, background changer, and search by category options).
However, cybersecurity experts condemned it for misleading behavior, intrusive online traffic alterations, delivery of click-bait ads, and lack of user's choice to control setting preferences. If this PUP gets installed, it replaces Google Chrome's settings so that Search.protectionapps.live becomes a default search engine and the Search emerges as a default start page.
Although such and similar browser-based tools can hardly be called dangerous, they initiate potentially dangerous activities and, therefore, we highly recommend people to remove Protectionapps.live from the system without a delay. Otherwise, the browser hijacker may start loading tons of commercial content in forms like pop-ups or hyperlinks. Besides, it may generate sponsored Yahoo-based search results that may contain unreliable links in priority.
Protectionapps.live is a rogue search engine that can reroute visitors to affiliated websites by displaying intriguing commercial online content or positioning sponsored links among your search results in the initial positions.
If you have already noticed suchlike behavior within Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, or any other web browser that you are used to using, double-check the list of recently installed apps as you most probably been tricked into installing a software bundle.
You should remove Protectionapps.live virus from the system as soon as you notice the following symptoms:
At the moment of writing, this dubious search engine is not recognized as potentially dangerous by the AV engines. It means that you will neither be warned when the Protectionapps.live malware attempts to hijack your web browser, nor when it is installed and initiates suspicious activities.
However, people have to be cautious and do not fall for Protectionapps.live redirects as you can never know if this program cooperates with reliable third parties or shady companies that seek to spread malware or boots traffic of websites that contain potentially dangerous or useless content.
As pointed out in the Terms of Use of the app, its developers do not carry responsibility for the third-party websites that it is programmed to promote:
Therefore, it is not advisable to search the web while this intruder is on the system. Protectionapps.live virus may display links to potentially dangerous sites, such as phishing websites, rogue online surveys, malware download sites, etc. However, even though you click on them accidentally, visiting rogue websites and, for example, getting infected with malware, will be considered as your own fault.
Last, but not least, if you are concerned about your privacy, remove protectionapps.live search from your web browser immediately. It renders tracking cookies for harvesting browser-based information, including your IP address, browser type, the Internet service provider (ISP), cookie information, and the webpage that you are visiting.
Such entries are important for advertisers so that they could provide people with more appealing ads. Thus, after disclosing your browsing history to this dubious search, you may expect a flow of individualized pop-ups and banners whenever you go.
The simplest way to get rid of Search.protectionapps.live browser hijacker is a full scan with , , or similar automatic malware removal tool. Automated tools will ensure smooth malware decontamination and elimination of the unwanted software bundle.
- replaced search engine, new tab, and search provider;
- sponsored Yahoo search results are delivered been if you search using Google;
- random websites are covered with commercial content;
- questionable processes can be recognized in Task Manager using too much CPU;
- Protectionapps.live extension cannot be disabled or is absent from the extensions list on the web browser, etc.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
The reason why people get caught on malware hook frequently
People install freeware recklessly.
That's the main reason why so many potentially unwanted programs manage to reach end-users. We keep warning netizens that third-party download websites are monetizing their free services by using bundling. Freeware distributors fill their products with additional add-ons, extensions, or plug-ins as pre-selected components and disguise them under Express or Basic installation setup.
As a consequence, if the user does not opt for an Advanced setup, which discloses all windows of the installation wizard, unwanted browser-based programs get installed by default. To prevent this from happening, pick out the extended installation process of freeware and remove checkmarks saying that you agree with the changes of a web browser.
Besides, having a reliable anti-virus program that is capable of detecting and blocking malware, disabling malicious ads, and preventing dangerous redirects is yet another precautionary measure that should be minded. The unprotected system is vulnerable to various cyber threats, so don't leave it open to malware.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Protectionapps.live
- Those who suffered PUA attack and managed to get rid of the head program are strongly recommended to scan the machine with or a similar utility to fix the damage that malware might have caused
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
protectionapps.live
How to remove Protectionapps.live
How to remove Protectionapps.live 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
Protectionapps.live 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 protectionapps.live
Searches that pass through
protectionapps.livemean 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 protectionapps.live.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 Protectionapps.live. 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 are a tech-savvy person and tend to delete programs like protectionapps.live malware manually, restart your PC in Safe Mode to ensure successful elimination of this PUP
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
Google Chrome is a primary target of the protectionapps.live virus. If you see its settings altered and pointing to this hijacker, eliminate the PUP and reset settings as explained below.
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)
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
Mac OS X can get infected with protectionapps.live virus as well. In case of an attack, initiate these steps to get rid of the malware.
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.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
From our report of May 2020 · not reviewed since
Easy protectionapps.live virus removal guide
Protectionapps.live removal is a process that has to be initiated in certain stages.
This PUP is usually installed in a company with other unwanted programs and may be actively promoting apps of its affiliates. Besides, it installs settles down within web browsers as an extension, search engine, and new tab, which is why web browser requires maintenance as well.
Automatic removal with utilities like will ensure a full cleaning of the machine. Nevertheless, manual removal of this dubious search is also possible, except that the process requires restarting the system into Safe Mode and eliminating each suspicious entry separately.
Upon protectionapps.live removal, do not forget to reset your web browser's settings . Otherwise, an extension may keep initiating browser's redirections to potentially dangerous domains.
Questions about Protectionapps.live
How do I change my search engine back from protectionapps.live?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove protectionapps.live from the list.
If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.
When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put protectionapps.live back.
Can protectionapps.live see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to protectionapps.live 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 protectionapps.live?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Protectionapps.live did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to protectionapps.live.
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 protectionapps.live?
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 Protectionapps.live and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Protectionapps.live 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 protectionapps.live 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 Protectionapps.live, delete the cookies and site data for protectionapps.live 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.
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 protectionapps.live or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove Protectionapps.live and search directly.
Will resetting the browser remove Protectionapps.live?
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 Protectionapps.live can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.
Would an ad blocker stop Protectionapps.live?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on protectionapps.live, 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 Protectionapps.live 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 Protectionapps.live?
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 Protectionapps.live, 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
- UgetFix: How to clear your history in any browser? (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)