Search.heasysportsaccess.com (Removal Instructions)
Search.heasysportsaccess.com Removal Guide
What is Search.heasysportsaccess.com?
Search.heasysportsaccess.com – a browser hijacker that alters default browser settings
Search.heasysportsaccess.com virus infiltrates your computer without consent and installs Easy Sports Access extension to your Internet Explorer, Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. It also changes each of the browser's settings by setting a new homepage, search engine, and new tab.
These changes can only be reverted if the unwanted application is deleted from the machine. The modifications allow the browser hijacker to record your browsing activities (visited sites, clicked links, search inquiries, etc.) and inject ads into search results.
| SUMMARY | |
| Name | Search.heasysportsaccess.com |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Extension | Easy Sports Access |
| Point of interest | Sports |
| Developer | Polarity Technologies Ltd. |
| Symptoms | Altered search engine and search results, intrusive ads, etc. |
| Distribution | Software bundling |
| Elimination | You can use security software to remove any threat from your device |
| System health | The damage that system settings and files sustained from the infection can be repaired by using the ReimageIntego system diagnostics tool |
This browser hijacker offers users everything about sports – shortcuts to most popular sports websites are embedded directly into the front page. Thus, sports enthusiasts might find this site attractive or even useful. However, users should be aware that Polarity Technologies Ltd is a well-known PUP developer who is responsible for Search.hwatchallsports.co, Search.hmytemplates.co, Search.hwatchnewsnow.com, and many unwanted applications.
Authors only have one goal: to gain revenue while exposing users to sponsored content continually. Thus, it is not surprising that victims start looking for Search.heasysportsaccess.com removal options. Furthermore, the hijacker makes the following changes to your computer after infiltration:
- The default search engine is set to Easy Sports Access;
- You get redirected to pages that you never intended to visit;
- You might be prevented from visiting specific websites, such as previous homepage address;
- New toolbars or bookmarks might be infected into your browser;
- New tab settings are changed;
- You see an increased number of ads;
- Your web browser starts running sluggishly.
The hijack might be more harmful than it looks. These redirects and popup ads can generate content that can lead to even more PUP installation. The hijacker can also bring you to websites of questionable content, such as porn, gambling, online dating, etc. These sites are known to be less protected and often can contaminate users' machines with malware.
Remove Search.heasysportsaccess.com as you notice anything suspicious, as specific information about you may be collected and potentially shared. Even the developer has stated that this browser hijacker[1] is tracking data:
Polarity may collect information about you when you visit our Sites or use our Services.
This means that as soon as the hijacker has access to your computer, it starts looking up your search queries, most viewed websites, and links clicked. Also, your geolocation and IP address are accessible. Easy Sports Access sponsors later use this information. This collected data helps to provide and generate advertisements.
As the pop-up[2] ads may install additional components without your permission, it might not be easy to identify all of them, as these PUPs might sometimes hide under legit-looking names. Therefore, security experts[3] recommend scanning your machine with professional security software, such as SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
It's a well-known fact in the cybersecurity community that various computer infections cause damages to the system files and settings, especially the registry. This can cause slowdowns, crashes, and similar system failures. Therefore, we highly recommend using the ReimageIntego PC repair tool to undo all these changes and keep your device running smoothly.
Avoid primary browser hijacker delivery technique
If a presence of a browser hijacker is detected, there is a high chance that more unwanted applications are also installed on the system. This is because of the bundling technique that virus developers use. It is known that people tend to skip through important installation steps during the process. By doing so, users grant permission for the infiltration of additional software.
The Recommended or Quick settings are the culprits of PUP installation most of the time. Therefore, we urge you never to use this mode. Instead, the Advanced or Custom way should be chosen. When prompted, eliminate all the ticks next to search engines, toolbars, browser extensions, etc. Additionally, make sure you do not download software from dodgy sites, as it can be malware in disguise.
Remove Search.heasysportsaccess.com virus with a few easy steps
Safe web browsing practices can help you avoid browser hijackers, but if you obtained one already, you need to get rid of it entirely. You can choose either manual or automatic Search.heasysportsaccess.com removal method – both of them are effective.
If you want to remove the browser hijacker manually, please follow our step-by-step guide below. Make sure you familiarize yourself with it first. It would also be a good idea to print out these instructions, as you will have to restart your machine several times. Alternatively, you can have them open on a mobile device or another computer.
However, the fastest and easiest way to remove Easy Sports Access is by using reputable security software. We suggest picking one of the programs listed below, downloading, installing and bringing it up to date. Then, simply run a full PC scan by following on-screen instructions.
You may remove virus damage with a help of ReimageIntego. 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
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
Follow this guide if you want to delete unwanted application from your Mac:
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)
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
Reset your Chrome browser as follows:
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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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: ReimageIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting browser hijacker
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 Private Internet Access 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 Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
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- ^ Browser Hijacker. Technopedia. Site explaining technology.
- ^ ARCHIVED: How do I enable or disable pop-ups in web browsers?. Indiana University. Official website.
- ^ SenzaVirus. SenzaVirus. Italian cybersecurity news.