Quickseeker.net. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Quickseeker.net is a browser hijacker and a potentially unwanted program (PUP). It contains a search box and provides all the content in Spanish, English, and Italian. From the first glimpse, it looks like a legitimate and simple search engine. Even though the official website claims that “Quick-Seeker´s search experience provides a higher value for the user,” the reality seems to be a bit different.
How does Quickseeker.net hijacks web browsers?
Quickseeker.net has been categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP). If you are interested why, then you are lucky that you have never encountered with a PUP before. In fact, programs are added to PUP category due to one main reason – stealthy infiltration. According to our research specialists, Quickseeker.net can be spread using several distribution methods, these are:
- Adware-type programs. Quickseeker.net redirect virus or any of its clones can be injected to the web browsers (IE, Chrome, Firefox, Safari) with the help of fake software updates (Java, Flash Player, Media Player, Download manager, etc.).
- Deceptive official websites. You may accidentally land on a website that promoted a browser hijacker in a misleading way. You may be convinced that Quickseeker.net redirect virus is a perfect tool for searching the web. However, whenever you visit the official website of a program, no matter how trustworthy it may look like, read EULA, Privacy Policy, and other relevant information that is provided there. That’s because only this way you can find information about cookies, third-party sponsorship, and so on.
- Free software. Despite the other two methods, browser hijackers are usually spread by ‘bundling.’ It means that you may be offered to set Quickseeker.net as your default start page, search provider or a new tab window during installation of another freeware/shareware.
Questions about Quickseeker.net
If you are a security-minded person, keep these three browser hijacker’s distribution methods and take some precautionary measures if you want to keep your web browser taintless. First of all, you should consider installing a reputable anti-spyware (e.g. Reimage) and keeping it up-to-date. Besides, don’t forget to select Advanced or Custom installation option because it’s the only way to check whether you have selected a freeware with attachments or not.
What side effects can Quickseeker.net virus cause?
Quickseeker.net hijacks web browsers. Do you know what does that mean? It means that it can settle down on each of your web browsers and replace a default start page, search provider, and a new tab window. Right after that, you may notice system slowdowns, freezes, crashes, and similar issues. That’s one of the side effects that can make you irritated. In addition to that, you may also notice that there is something wrong with your search results. Even though searching with Quickseeker.net search you may be redirected to Google search, don’t think that it’s the same as to surf the net via Google directly. Quickseeker.net hijacker can deliver altered changed search results. In other words, it may not only be difficult to find information that you need but also may pose a risk of landing on suspicious third-party websites. Quickseeker.net is sponsored by third parties; therefore, there is no chance of knowing whether links that it provides are reliable or not. In the worst case scenario, you can even be exposed to unsafe website involved in the distribution of other PUPs. Even more, once of the side effects is leakage of information. Quickseeker.net is using tracking cookies; our security experts have confirmed. Thus, the longer you keep it installed, the more of your search terms, pages viewed, content viewed, clicks and similar data can leak to suspicious parties.
How can this hijacker be eliminated from IE, Firefox, Safari?
Quickseeker.net removal guide is given down below. It shows the fact that you can remove it both manually and automatically. However, our security experts highly recommend you to remove this threat using an automated tool because that’s the only guarantee that your computer will be checked and fixed in a proper way.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Quickseeker.net, follow these steps:
Eliminate Quickseeker.net from Windows systems
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall Quickseeker.net and related programs
Here, look for Quickseeker.net or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Quickseeker.net from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariRemove Quickseeker.net from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Quickseeker.net or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Erase Quickseeker.net from Internet Explorer (IE)
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Quickseeker.net and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Quickseeker.net removal.
Get rid of Quickseeker.net from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
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Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Quickseeker.net should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariUninstall Quickseeker.net from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Quickseeker.net and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Quickseeker.net removal.
Delete Quickseeker.net from Google Chrome
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Quickseeker.net and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Quickseeker.net removal.
Eliminate Quickseeker.net from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Quickseeker.net or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Quickseeker.net, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Quickseeker.net removal process.