Search.windowconfig.com: what it is and how to remove it
Search.windowconfig.com is classified as a browser hijacker because it redirects users' searches from the address bar to questionable pages. Usually, hijackers take over the browser by changing the main settings, like the homepage, new tab address, and search engine, but this one tries to act secretly without causing big noticeable changes.
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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Search.windowconfig.com: summary
| Distribution | Shady websites, deceptive ads, freeware installations |
|---|---|
| NAME | Search.windowconfig.com |
| TYPE | Browser hijacker; potentially unwanted program |
| SYMPTOMS | Redirects to scam, push notification spam, and phishing sites |
| DANGERS | Users can get redirected to dangerous websites where they can get tricked into providing personal information or installing PUPs and malware |
| 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 9 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Search.windowconfig.com |
| Type | Search hijacker extension |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | search.windowconfig.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 9 December 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Search.windowconfig.com dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Dec 2021 · not reviewed since
Search.windowconfig.com is causing redirects to malicious pages while browsing the Internet
Search.windowconfig.com is classified as a browser hijacker because it redirects users' searches from the address bar to questionable pages.
Usually, hijackers take over the browser by changing the main settings, like the homepage, new tab address, and search engine, but this one tries to act secretly without causing big noticeable changes.
The pages that users start getting thrown to can be dangerous and cause PUP (potentially unwanted program) or malware installations. If you have this extension or application installed you might encounter pages that encourage you to update your Flash Player, warn you about non-existent virus infections, and rush you to install bogus antivirus software.
Flash Player was discontinued in 2020 and replaced by new technology - HTML5. So any prompts and pages saying otherwise are definitely fake. One other thing that users seem to be fooled by quite often is fake giveaways.
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. We previously wrote about the You've made the 9.68-billionth search scam, and the 2018 Annual Visitor Survey scam which are great examples.
Although we mentioned that you should not be experiencing any other symptoms, you should still be aware of them to be able to identify the threat. Browser hijackers can also cause:
Virus infection warnings use scare tactics and a sense of urgency to get users to download PUPs or malware disguised as security tools or VPNs. "IP address & personal information might be exposed" scam displays users' IP address, approximate location, and browser to make them think that this information is accessible to anyone and they could get targeted any time.
There are also pages like Orange-note-wmca1.click, Antivirus-protection.shop, and Antivirus.safe-web-pc.com that use well-known antivirus software brands to appear legitimate. They say that users are unprotected if they do not have these tools and offer a discount to make it look like a good deal.
- Pop-up ads and new tabs
- Unwanted extensions to appear
- Redirects to unfamiliar pages or ads
- Alerts about your device being infected
From our report of Dec 2021 · not reviewed since
Protect your machine from uninvited guests
Of course, the most basic thing users can do is to be careful while browsing the Internet and not click on random links, pop-ups.
Pages that engage in illegal activities are especially dangerous because they are full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. They can cause new tabs to open with ads created by fraudsters who want to lure out personal information, etc.
One other thing you can do to help you avoid the infiltration of apps that start performing unwanted tasks in your browsers is to clean cookies regularly. Cookies are small data files that contain information like your IP address, pages you visit, links you click on, and things you purchase. There have been instances where these cookies were hacked using security holes.
A great thing to have is a maintenance tool like which can clear your browsers automatically. This powerful software can also fix various system errors like BSoDs, registry issues, corrupted files, and more.
This leads us to our next point - try to update your system and software as soon as new security patches are available. This will make your system much more secure and unlikely to become a target of cybercriminals.
Also, try to avoid installing programs from freeware distribution sites. They often include additional programs in the installers without making you aware of it. That is why it is important to always go through the installation process step by step. Choose the "Custom" or "Advanced" installation method, check the file list and untick the boxes next to any apps that seem unrelated.
Another crucial thing to have is quality antivirus software. This will stop malware and PUAs from entering your system. Professional security tools should alert you about unauthorized installation attempts which reduce the risk of infection significantly. Security tools that we highly recommend are and .
From our report of Dec 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Search.windowconfig.com
- Go to your browser settings and remove the extension; performing a scan with professional security tools is recommended
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
search.windowconfig.com
How to remove Search.windowconfig.com
How to remove Search.windowconfig.com 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
Search.windowconfig.com 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.windowconfig.com
Searches that pass through
search.windowconfig.commean 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.windowconfig.com.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 Search.windowconfig.com. 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
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
From our report of Dec 2021 · not reviewed since
Remove the unwanted extension
You can remove browser add-ons by going to your settings.
Find the list of extensions installed in your browser and remove the malicious plugin. We show how to do that in the guide below:
MS Edge (Chromium)
- 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.
- 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.
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
- 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.
- Click Safari > Preferences...
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
- 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.
From our report of Dec 2021 · not reviewed since
Remove adware from your system
Another reason why you could be experiencing these redirects is that you have adware hiding in your system.
Such programs generate revenue by generating commercial content, banners, surveys, redirects. The problem with the manual removal of these applications is that they are hard to identify if you do not have experience. They are often disguised as handy tools that you would not even suspect.
Besides, even if you do identify the program, you might not be successful in deleting all the related files which could lead to the renewal of the infection.
If you are not sure what to do and you do not want to risk deleting the wrong files, we suggest using or anti-malware tools that will scan your machine, eliminate it, and prevent such infections in the future by giving you a warning before a PUP can make any changes. If manual removal is what you still prefer, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)
- 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.
Questions about Search.windowconfig.com
How do I change my search engine back from search.windowconfig.com?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove search.windowconfig.com from the list.
If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.
When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put search.windowconfig.com back.
Is search.windowconfig.com a virus?
It is a browser hijacker, not a virus in the classic sense. search.windowconfig.com is a search page that an extension or program set as your default without a clear choice from you.
It does not destroy files or spread to other PCs, but it takes control of your searches, collects them and shows ads, and the software behind it is often bundled with other unwanted programs.
Many antivirus products flag such software as potentially unwanted. Removing the extension or program and resetting the search engine is enough in most cases. A full scan afterwards checks for anything else that came with it.
Why do my searches go to search.windowconfig.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Search.windowconfig.com did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to search.windowconfig.com.
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.windowconfig.com?
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 Search.windowconfig.com and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Search.windowconfig.com 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.windowconfig.com 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 Search.windowconfig.com, delete the cookies and site data for search.windowconfig.com 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.
Would an ad blocker stop Search.windowconfig.com?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on search.windowconfig.com, 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 Search.windowconfig.com 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 resetting the browser remove Search.windowconfig.com?
A reset disables extensions, restores the default search engine, start page and new tab, and clears temporary data and cookies. It keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords. For many hijackers that is enough.
It does not remove a program installed in Windows, policies in the registry, changes to the hosts file or DNS, or edited shortcuts, so Search.windowconfig.com can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.
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 Search.windowconfig.com 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.
Will Fortect remove Search.windowconfig.com?
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 Search.windowconfig.com, 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)
- Techradar: HTML5: what is it? (read October 6, 2026)
- Kaspersky: What are Cookies? (read October 6, 2026)
- Cmu: Bundled Software and Attack Surface (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)