Mysearch.com virus: what it is and how to remove it
Mysearch.com is classified as a browser hijacker that uses deceptive techniques to lure people into using its services. It is worth to mention that this software has many other similar offsprings that are attributed to the MySearch virus family of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) .
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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Mysearch.com virus: summary
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Name | Mysearch.com virus |
| Type | Search hijacker extension |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| 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 | mysearch.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 13 January 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What Mysearch.com virus changes in your browser
Use the information that we collect to facilitate the delivery of relevant and/or targeted search results.
Is Mysearch.com virus dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Mysearch.com - a browser hijacker pretending to be a legitimate search engine
Mysearch.com is classified as a browser hijacker that uses deceptive techniques to lure people into using its services.
It is worth to mention that this software has many other similar offsprings that are attributed to the MySearch virus family of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) . People who are tricked into installing Search.mysearch.com virus on their system cannot get rid of it easily and encounter various browser modifications.
Usually, this potentially unwanted program sneaks into the system without the user's permission via software-bundles. Following the infiltration, it alters browser settings and assigns hxxp://search.mysearch.com/ to homepage, new tab URL, and default search engine. Such actions are classified as browser hijacking which allows My Search to force you into using its services on a daily basis.
At the first sight, it seems that Search.mysearch.com virus is a completely normal search engine, just like Google or Yahoo search. However, be aware that the developers, APN LLC, inform users that this PUP collects the following information about the people who use their products:
This gathered information allows MySearch to customize ads that correspond to users' interests from their previous queries or frequently visited pages. As a result, people are more likely to click on them. However, it is worth to mention that typically, advertisements either promote less than reliable products or redirect to highly suspicious pages . Likewise, experts recommend you to stay away from them.
The developer of Search.mysearch.com also states the following:
That is exactly why we do not recommend using this program. This search directory delivers sponsored search outcomes. Keep in mind that the contrivers of MySearch might be affiliated with third-party companies, and try to make you visit their websites by force. Unfortunately, they are not responsible for the content of those pages and you risk getting infected with malware.
Search.mysearch.com redirect tendency is designed to help its developers increase their revenue by pay-per-click marketing scheme. Likewise, they try their best to bring as much traffic as they can to the affiliate sites. Note that their efforts are not only aggressive and intrusive but they put your computer's security at risk.
We strongly advise you to uninstall Search.mysearch.com and start using a reliable search engine instead. This PUP is not malicious itself, but it can expose your system to various risks because third-party websites that it promotes might be insecure. Such web sources often try to convince computer users to install and try various free programs, but be careful - some of such files might be infectious or malicious.
You can find manual elimination guidelines at the end of this article. However, mostly, only the automatic removal option helps people uninstall browser hijackers from their computers.
You can get rid of Search.mysearch.com with the help of a professional antivirus. Our top picks would be and . Although, feel free to use any other malware removal software as long as it is reliable and robust enough.
- IP address of your device;
- geolocation of your device;
- browser type and platform type;
- your browser language;
- Search keywords that you type into search bars.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Browser hijacking techniques
Currently, developers of potentially unwanted programs are highly employing a popular marketing scheme, called bundling, to distribute browser hijackers.
This technique allows them to distribute their unreliable products together with free applications and do not inform users about such actions.
This distribution method is highly successful since contemporary users are skipping many steps during the installation of freeware and almost never detect the browser hijack which is hidden among optional components. Therefore, we strongly advise you to be cautious during the installation procedure at all times.
To reveal whether your selected app promotes third-party software or not, you need to carefully investigate the software's Terms of Use document. Also, you can check this by selecting Advanced or Custom installation mode and removing tick signs next to agreements to install 'recommended downloads.'
Additionally, it is important to avoid Recommended or Quick installation mode since it is designed to speed up the process by skipping steps, including the ones which allow you to de-selecting checkmarks that permit the installation of PUP. Although, BedyNet.ru team says that you can save your time and install antivirus software to protect your computer for you.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
mysearch.com
How to remove Mysearch.com virus
How to remove Mysearch.com virus 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
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
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 mysearch.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
mysearch.comfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If mysearch.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on 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
Mysearch.com virus rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
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
A scan finds the parts of Mysearch.com virus that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
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
This guide helps Windows users to uninstall Search.mysearch.com browser hijacker. However, be aware that you must delete all its components to fully protect your system. This PUP might contain the following elements: MySearch Toolbar; MySearch; www-mysearch.com.
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
You should reset Chrome to bring it to the previous state and get rid of the modifications made by the potentially unwanted program.
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 Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Once you get rid of suspicious entries, reset Mozilla Firefox to finish the PUP elimination procedure.
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
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 Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Make Search.mysearch.com virus removal easy
Even though you can remove Search.mysearch.com manually, it will take a lot of your time.
Also, it might be difficult to identify and delete all its components for regular computer users. However, it is vital to avoid the reappearance of the browser hijacker.
For this reason, we suggest you to ensure Search.mysearch.com removal for security software. It will get rid of all its elements within minutes and save you time.
- MySearch Toolbar;
- MySearch;
- www-mysearch.com.
Questions about Mysearch.com virus
Is it safe to keep mysearch.com as my search engine?
It is not recommended. Searches through mysearch.com 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 mysearch.com, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.
Did mysearch.com come with a program I installed?
Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as mysearch.com 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.
What is mysearch.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Mysearch.com virus. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is mysearch.com dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove Mysearch.com virus, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, Mysearch.com virus affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did mysearch.com record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of mysearch.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove Mysearch.com virus
- clear cookies and site data for mysearch.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Is only one browser affected?
Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.
If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.
Why can't I change my search engine back?
Because something keeps setting it. If an extension controls the search engine, Chrome and Edge show a note that an extension is controlling this setting, and your change is reverted. If a policy controls it, the field is greyed out and the browser shows Managed by your organization.
Remove the extension first, then the policies, and only then change the search engine; the change will stay. If it still reverts, look for a program in Installed apps or a scheduled task that reinstalls the extension.
Why does my search page look slightly different?
Because it is not your search engine's own page. Mysearch.com virus sends searches to mysearch.com, which may copy the colours and layout of a known search engine while adding its own ads and tracking. Small differences give it away:
- an unfamiliar address
- more ads than usual
- a different logo
- a search box with a brand name you do not recognise
Remove the hijacker and set your search engine again from the browser's settings to get the real page back. Then delete the hijacker's entry from the saved search engines list.
Will Fortect remove Mysearch.com virus?
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 Mysearch.com virus, 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
- Securelist: Potentially unwanted programs, PUP (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)