QuericsSearch: what it is and how to remove it
QuericsSearch – the potentially unwanted program that makes a difference in browsing online when the fake search engine gets set as your default one or as a homepage. This browser hijacker changes particular settings and interferes with various web browsers like Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Google Chrome.
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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QuericsSearch: summary
| Distribution | Deceptive sites, pop-up promotional ads, freeware installers, and redirects to dubious sites leads to installations of PUPs and cyber threats that control the performance of your machine |
|---|---|
| Damage | Alters settings of the browser and damages files, functions in the system. PUPs, in general, are related to ad-supported sites and third-party companies that can easily access, track and record your data |
| Name | QuericsSearch |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Symptoms | The homepage, new tab, default search engine settings get altered and set to search.querics.net page that redirects every search through advertising pages and commercial content creators' sites. In addition, the browser hijacker is related to ad-supported pages that show various ads, banners, promotional material and reroutes users sessions to possibly harmful domains |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Search page | search.querics.net |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 5 June 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is QuericsSearch dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
QuericsSearch is the promotional site that pushes browser hijacker search.querics.net and changes browser settings
QuericsSearch – the potentially unwanted program that makes a difference in browsing online when the fake search engine gets set as your default one or as a homepage.
This browser hijacker changes particular settings and interferes with various web browsers like Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Google Chrome. The latter one gets more affected when settings get injected and features that normally are not there appear on the web browser. One of them is Managed by your organization feature that is possibly designed to gather data about users' browsing habits or more personal details.
The program itself appears on the system out of nowhere and the potentially unwanted program appears on the browser as a default search engine or a new tab, so people cannot understand where this QuericsSearch virus came from. Even though it shouldn't supposed to be called a virus, this hijacker can create many issues with your device when it alters system files, corrupts some functions, programs.
There are parts of the PUP that trigger damage in registry and startup preferences, so the browser hijacker is more persistent and can create symptoms on the machine for a while. Especially when there is no particular application that could be deleted from the system since the PUP runs in the background and browser hijacker controls those search results and online traffic.
QuericsSearch is a particular program that can be associated with the adware program or ad-supported sites because this is the application that has the purpose of redirecting to spam and misleading sites.
Such material can also distribute malware or expose you to unwanted pages. A single click on the advertisement, banner, or a browser pop-up can effectively redirect you to pay-per-click scheme pages and obtain personal information, show useless material on the screen.
Experts note, that this QuericsSearch hijacker can be set to perform various unwanted activities, including forcing you to buy products that are useless or even harmful to your machine. This is a universal program that can be found on Windows or even macOS devices, mobile phones. These redirects and pop-ups keep you from accessing wanted content, so you get exposed to risks.
When your browser is affected by the Search.querics.net hijacker you get tons of scams, redirects, advertisements, and other malicious content that fills the screen to control what you see next.
Any clicks on the browser, pop-up, or banner trigger the redirections to sponsored material that exposes users to affiliated pages and can generate views, page visits. All these activities get monetized later on, so PUP developers can spread more of their apps.
QuericsSearch PUP, unfortunately, is also promoted and distributed as Google Chrome extension that should be useful, improve results of online searches or show results that are altered to your preferences and needs. However, the list of these results gets injected with hyperlinks, pop-ups, banners, and material that is related to shady domains, not useful pages.
You should remove QuericsSearch once it appears out of nowhere, instead of getting the extension willingly. These are useless because there are no purposes for getting an additional search engine or tool that gives nothing. It is even considered malicious or at least potentially unwanted due to additional redirects and triggers that can end up in malware infections.
QuericsSearch removal may seem impossible since you are not the one that installed the browser hijacker on the computer. But you need to clean the machine fully if you want to get rid of all the unwanted symptoms. This PUP, in most cases, comes when you install converters or other free programs, so your browser is affected significantly.
Possible indications that your device is affected by this shady Queric Search family:
Run the proper anti-malware tool and make sure to scan the system fully, so anything that is related to this or another PUP gets detected and fully terminated from the computer. Then, you can go through web browsers and change settings that Search.querics.net altered without your permission. When it comes to total system recovery, go for PC repair tools like and find files affected by the unwanted program.
- web browser's default homepage is set to search.querics.net;
- browser's new tab page changed to QuericsSearch New Tab Search;
- all browser's searches are redirected through search.querics.net;
- the QuericsSearch browser extension or tool is installed on your computer.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on QuericsSearch
- QuericsSearch removal is not the easiest process, so rely on proper anti-malware tools and scan the machine fully to find all the suspicious files and PUP injected applications
- Recover functions and files on the program by running an optimizer or a tool like
How QuericsSearch got into your browser
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
The internet is filled with shady sites, deceptive advertisements, and promotional pages that distribute freeware by claiming false features and functions.
Browser hijackers can be called improving and useful search engines or tools, so people fall for the tricks and install PUPs willingly. Unfortunately, users encounter unwanted ads and commercial redirects instead once such tools get installed.
You may find these programs listed on questionable application stores too or get redirected to the official freeware site that lists many tools categorized as PUPs. developers of such programs can create various content to gather downloads, collect views, and make a profit from PUP distribution.
You can avoid infections like this by choosing Advanced or Custom installation options during any download or installation, so your device is safe and PUP-free still. We shouldn't note how crucial it is to select official and reliable sources of programs and software.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
search.querics.net
How to remove QuericsSearch
How to remove QuericsSearch 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
QuericsSearch 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 search.querics.net
Searches that pass through
search.querics.netmean 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 search.querics.net.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 QuericsSearch. 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
Clear the machine fully to get rid of QuericsSearch
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
Check for unwanted or suspicious programs, so QuericsSearch is no longer active
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
find any suspicious programs and terminatethem to forget about QuericsSearch redirect
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.
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 Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
QuericsSearch hijacker removal tips
You know that the QuericsSearch virus is a fake search engine and anything delivered via this site is considered at least potentially unwanted or harmful.
There are no features that could be considered valuable or useful, in regards to this PUP or any other cyber intruder.
You need to remove QuericsSearch as soon as it gets on the machine and you notice any issues with the browsing tools or traffic, speed. You cannot find the program that could be uninstalled, so going through settings manually might be the solution. But there are quicker and more satisfying ways.
QuericsSearch removal that is performed using anti-malware tools should be the best way to fight PUPs because a full system scan can offer removal and cleaning features after the check. If you run the full system scan using the AV tool, you can terminate any detected files or applications that come up as suspicious.
Questions about QuericsSearch
Is it safe to keep search.querics.net as my search engine?
It is not recommended. Searches through search.querics.net 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 search.querics.net, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.
Did search.querics.net come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as search.querics.net 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.
Why do my searches go to search.querics.net?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. QuericsSearch did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to search.querics.net.
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 search.querics.net?
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 QuericsSearch and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does QuericsSearch 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 search.querics.net 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 QuericsSearch, delete the cookies and site data for search.querics.net 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.
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 QuericsSearch 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.
Would an ad blocker stop QuericsSearch?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on search.querics.net, 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 QuericsSearch 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 QuericsSearch?
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 QuericsSearch, 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
- Wikipedia: Potentially unwanted program (read October 6, 2026)
- Mdtc: What's the Difference Between Pay-Per-View and On Demand? (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (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)