What is Taplika Search?
Taplika Search is classified as a browser hijacker due to the fact that it initiates various changes on web browsers without an appropriate user's permission asked. Besides, it may infiltrate computers behind your back after downloading free programs. Due to this, it has been labeled as a potentially unwanted program as well. Once installed, Taplika Search drops its own extension on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer web browsers, and also installs Windows Service that enables it to run on Windows startup. That means that you will see this suspicious search engine every time you start your browsing. If your homepage has recently been changed to taplika.com or taplikasearch.com, and your default search engine was changed to Yahoo Search, there is no doubt that your browser has been hijacked. At the moment of writing, it is known that this hijacker travels along with VPlay program, so be very careful when downloading it on your computer. Otherwise, you may expect to see altered search results that are filled with sponsored links. You may also notice redirects to unknown websites and continuous pop-up ads, banner ads, pop-ups, pop-unders, in-text link advertisements and similar inconveniences. Beware that clicking on links or ads brought by Taplika Search will redirect you to unsafe websites.
How can Taplika hijack my computer?
If your browser was changed to taplikasearch.com, most likely that you have downloaded a freeware with a bundle. Typically potentially unwanted programs, including Taplika Search, are distributed along with freewares and sharewares, such as download managers, video converters and so on. It cannot be stated that users are not informed about bundled downloads because additional programs can be seen at installation steps of a freeware. Unfortunately, it is presented in a tricky way so that users would not notice it. For this reason, you have to be very attentive during installation process and do not skip anything. It is recommended to avoid Quick or Recommended installations as it usually does not disclose the presence of additional programs. In order to prevent infiltration of Taplika Search and similar programs, security experts recommend to opt out for Advanced or Custom installation option. In fact, it expands the process and requires more time to accomplish installation but discloses additional installers and allows to deselect them. If Taplika Search has already got inside your computer and caused unwanted changes on your web browser, you need to remove it in order to avoid fake search results, dangerous redirects and further computer infections.
How to remove Taplika Search virus from my computer?
Even though this search engine is not considered to be a virus, do not underestimate it because leaving this browser extension on your computer may cause constant Taplika Search redirects to unsafe websites, annoying pop-up ads and similar inconveniences that may lead you to the infiltration of another PUPs or even viruses. In order to protect your computer, follow the guide down below and remove this program right away. If you select Manual removal method, you should get rid of these programs: Taplika, MySearchDial, Extended Protection.
Uninstall from Windows
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.

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.
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 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.

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.
- 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.

Remove from Google Chrome
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.

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.

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