Speedial Search: what it is and how to remove it
Speedial is a browser hijacker which infiltrates the computer system unnoticed and affects it in a negative way. Typically, the PUP takes over the work of the victim's web browsers and changes the default search engine, the new tab URL, homepage, and even the bookmarks to the preferred ones.
Facts checked October 7, 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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Speedial Search: summary
| Name | Speedial Search |
|---|---|
| Category | Browser hijacker/browser-hijacking app |
| Sub-category | PUP |
| the Main goal | Gain revenue from victims who decide to use the PUP and its provided features |
| Symptoms | Default search engine is set to Speedial.com, users face dubious redirects, various browser settings, including the home page, are modified |
| Spreading techniques | Software bundles, rogue websites |
| 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 10 more facts
| Related apps | Speedial uninstaller, WPM17.8.0.3159, MySearchDial, Omnibox, YeaDesktop, DNSUnlocker, etc. |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | Fake search engine |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | speedial.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 22 October 2018 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
What Speedial Search changes in your browser
Speedial does not store any Identifiable Personal Information unless it was voluntarily provided to Speedial by you. Such information might be: name, email address, phone number, if provided by you voluntarily as mentioned a above. If any personally identifiable information happens to be collected, we follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personally identifiable information submitted to us, both during transmission and once we receive it. Please take under consideration that no method of transmitting or storing electronic data is ever completely secure, and therefore we cannot warrant or guarantee that such information will never be accessed, used, or released in a manner that is inconsistent with this policy.
Is Speedial Search dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Oct 2018 · not reviewed since
Speedial - an infamous browser-hijacker which still relies on "bundling" to reach victims' computers
Speedial is a browser hijacker which infiltrates the computer system unnoticed and affects it in a negative way.
Typically, the PUP takes over the work of the victim's web browsers and changes the default search engine, the new tab URL, homepage, and even the bookmarks to the preferred ones. As a result, each time users try to browse the web, they are forced to search via this new search engine called Speedial.com or other virus versions, e.g.Lightning SpeedDial.
Such activity can become annoying because the PUP initiates its redirects each time you begin your search session. You can reverse these changes only if you get rid of Speed Dial from your computer system and eliminate all PUP-added components from your web browsers.
You can detect the browser hijacker by such symptoms:
Beware that Speedial virus might provide fake search query results when performing a search via the new default engine. This PUP has been working really hard to trick its victims into falling for its "useful features," such as fast access to commonly known websites and other content. However, its main aim is to drive visitors' traffic to sponsored sites and generate pay-per-click revenue.
There is yet another negative feature related to this unwanted application - it infiltrates the system unnoticed thru software bundles. According to experts, you can get infected with Speed Dial after downloading Omnibox, YeaDesktop, DNS Unlocker, and similar apps that have been known as highly suspicious.
Once inside the system, the PUP modifies search results to reroute its victims to sites that they don't know. Note that, because of such activities, you can be redirected to potentially dangerous web pages which might include dubious and even harmful content. Besides, Speedial Search can present you questionable links unknowingly that can additionally start the infiltration of a serious malware-type infection.
Additionally, browser-hijacking applications have the feature to collect personal and non-personal information which is related to your browsing habits. Be careful with programs having such ability as there is no guarantee that they will take all the measures needed to protect this data from attacks. Here is an extraction from app's Privacy Policy:
If you want to go back to normal searches, you need to remove Speedial Search virus from your computer and browsers. Fortunately, it isn't known as an aggressive PUP that relies on numerous techniques to stay on the system for as long as possible, so you can uninstall it via Task Manager and then reset your web browsers affected by the hijacker.
If you are looking for a quick solution, take care of the Speedial removal by running the updated anti-spyware. Additionally, eliminate the outcomes of this virus with the help of an anti-malware tool. Use or any other similar computer security program to complete this task without wasting your time examining this program and looking for each of its components.
- The default search engine is set to Speedial.com;
- You are facing dubious redirects to various pages;
- Your browser homepage and new tab URL are modified.
From our report of Oct 2018 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Speedial Search
- Install to get rid of the system changes initiated by this PUP
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
speedial.com
How to remove Speedial Search
How to stop Speedial Search from opening
The search page is only the end point.
These steps remove what sends the browser there, then put the search engine back.
Step 1: Put the search engine back and delete speedial.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
speedial.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 speedial.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 2: 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 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Speedial Search 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 Speedial Search 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
To uninstall Speedial from the Windows, check your Task Manager for suspicious entries, including DNS Unlocker, Omnibox, YeaDesktop, and others:
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
Clean Google Chrome from all PUP-related components. Use these instructions to achieve such activity:
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 Microsoft Edge
To get rid of all unwanted content from your Microsoft Edge web browser, follow these instructions carefully:
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 Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (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 Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
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.
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.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
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 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
Refresh Safari by using this guide and get rid of Speed Dial for good:
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.
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.
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 Oct 2018 · not reviewed since
Take precautionary measures against PUPs to prevent them on your computer
Malware researchers from LesVirus.fr claim that potentially unwanted programs, including browser-hijacking applications, can infiltrate the system in many ways.
The most popular ones are:
In addition, some piece of advice would be to take care of your computer system by installing an antivirus program. Choose a trustworthy one and make sure that you always keep it up-to-date. If taken care of properly, such security tool will protect your computer and its components from various threats.
- Bundled software. A PUP can be downloaded together with regular shareware of freeware. This is a result of using third-party installers. What you need to do to stop such activity is visit the Custom or Advanced section and deselect the Quick/Recommended option. After you perform this type of action, look through the list of incoming downloads and opt-out ones that you did not request for;
- Rogue websites. Various pages are promoted by secondary sources. Such sites come improperly disclosed and might provide damaging content. Be careful when visiting certain pages, make sure that they are highly-secured. Better visit only original ones. If you open a dubious-looking one - close it immediately.
From our report of Oct 2018 · not reviewed since
Use professional help to remove Speedial.com virus from the system
To remove Speedial virus, you need to uninstall it from the system and also reset each of your browsers.
Besides, you should also find every component of this hijacker to prevent its reappearance after rebooting the computer system. If you are not feeling prepared enough to do that manually, scan the system with reliable anti-spyware.
However, we are willing to help you take care of the Speedial removal by offering the manual removal guide designed by our experts. You need to eliminate all unwanted browser extensions and plug-ins you cannot remember downloading and then reset each of your web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, Edge, and Safari.
Recently, this browser hijacker has started affecting Opera web browser. If you are looking for a guide to remove Speed Dial from Opera, just follow these steps:
- Close Opera browser and go to the following address: C:\Users\user_name\AppData\Roaming\Opera\Opera\
- Here, locate and delete the file named as: Operapref.ini file;
- Launch Opera once again.
Questions about Speedial Search
Why does my search engine keep changing to speedial.com?
Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.
Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time speedial.com first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.
Is speedial.com a virus?
It is a browser hijacker, not a virus in the classic sense. speedial.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.
What is speedial.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Speedial Search. 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 speedial.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 Speedial Search, 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, Speedial Search 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 speedial.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 speedial.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 Speedial Search
- clear cookies and site data for speedial.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Can I just block speedial.com?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
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.
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.
Will Fortect remove Speedial Search?
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 Speedial Search, 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
- Total Security: PUP – What is it and why shoud you care? (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Malware (read October 7, 2026)
- LesVirus: LesVirus.fr (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)