Search.heasysportsaccess.com. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Search.heasysportsaccess.com – browser hijacker that can change your search engine 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 new tab URL and homepage to hxxp://search.heasysportsaccess.com. These changes can only be reverted if the unwanted application is deleted from the machine.
| SUMMARY | |
| Name | Search.heasysportsaccess.com |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Extension | Easy Sports Access |
| Point of interest | Sports |
| Developer | Polarity Technologies Ltd. |
| Symtoms | Altered search engine and search results, intrusive ads, etc. |
| Distribution | Software bundling |
| Elimination | You can use security software like Reimage |
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 which 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:
- 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 stars running sluggishly.
Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 geo-location and IP address is 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 be not 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 Reimage.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
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'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Right click on browsers' icon and select 'Properties'
Select 'Shortcut' tab and delete 'http://isearch.babylon.com...' or other suspicious URL
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
When in 'General' tab, delete malicious URL from 'Home Page' section or click on 'Restore to Default' button. Click 'OK' to save changes
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
After clicking on menu and 'Settings', select 'Set pages'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
When in 'General', delete malicious URL and enter your desired domain name
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Browser hijackers use bundling 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 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.
Proceed with Search.heasysportsaccess.com removal now
Safe web browsing practices can help you to avoid browser hijacker, 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 get rid of 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 can remove Search.heasysportsaccess.com automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes Malwarebytes, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareNorton Internet Security. We recommend these applications because they can easily delete potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Search.heasysportsaccess.com, follow these steps:
Erase Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com and related programs
Here, look for Search.heasysportsaccess.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com from Mac OS X system
Follow this guide if you want to delete unwanted application from your Mac:
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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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Eliminate Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com removal.
Uninstall Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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. -
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, Search.heasysportsaccess.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariDelete Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com removal.
Get rid of Search.heasysportsaccess.com from Google Chrome
Reset your Chrome browser as follows:
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com removal.
Erase Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com, 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 Search.heasysportsaccess.com removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ 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.