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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Adware
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Feb 2018

How to remove TheGameSearcher

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Lucia Danes · Virus researcher

TheGameSearcher – an adware program causing non-stop ads instead of providing access to free games

A picture of TheGameSearcher redirect virus

TheGameSearcher is the name of an application that presents itself as a provider of free online games. However, such description is implicit as its developers do not reveal the fact that it may cause Google Chrome's redirects via feed.thegamesearch.com server, display Yahoo-based search results, and generate unwanted third-party ads.[1]

Security experts agree upon the fact that TheGameSearcher virus belongs to the group of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs),[2] while the question whether it's an adware or browser hijacker is debatable. However, we consider this extension as a hijacker because it tends to replace Chrome's start page and search provider. Usually, it sets feed.thegamesearch.com URL as a default start page and returns Yahoo search results.

Although people may find this app useful or at least not dangerous, the truth is that it initiates various system's modifications right after installation and starts doubtful marketing campaigns. For example, it installs itself into the list of boot problems and schedules itself to run automatically when the system is booted. Consequently, people may notice a prolonged boot-time or sluggish web browser's performance. That's one of the reasons why TheGameSearcher removal is recommended.

Despite that, this extension should not be treated as a virus. System's slowdowns, browser's unresponsiveness, and similar issues related to PC's performance are only the side effects that TheGameSearcher redirects virus causes. Its primary intention is to make people visit particular domains, thus increasing their visitor's rate. Besides, it may help its developers to generate pay-per-click[3] revenue, which is why people may start receiving loads of pop-up ads.

Privacy security is yet another issue that should prompt you to remove TheGameSearcher virus. According to its developers (unspecified), the app is set to accumulate personally non-identifiable information, including “type of browser, the type of the user's device and technical information about the user's device, language preferences, time stamps, clicks and visited pages, search logs.” However, previous practice with browser hijackers shows that tracking cookies often transfer information, such as name, email address, geo-location, and browsing history as well.

In a nutshell, this application is neither a virus nor useful application. It's somewhere in between, but because of unwanted browser's changes, redirects, ads, and exploitation of cookies, security experts recommend people to eliminate TheGameSearcher from the system. The fastest and securest way to do that is to use a powerful anti-malware, for example FortectIntego.

TheGameSearcher hijacker

Hasty installation of free app can lead to PUP infiltration

This browser extension has an official website and can be downloaded directly from it. However, people seldom download it purposely. Usually, it is promoted as an additional installer of the free program and installed on the system without requiring user's permission directly.

Potentially unwanted installers are typically disguised, so the PC's user has to select Advanced installation method to see them. More often than not, quick installation does not indicate what add-on or extensions are going to be installed alongside the main app. To prevent this from happening, you should download a professional antivirus program and update it regularly. Usually, they recognize PUPs easily and warn people about them.

In addition to freeware bundles, browser hijackers and adware programs can also spread via suspicious ads or people may stumble upon their installers after being redirected to doubtful third-party domains.

Get rid of TheGameSearcher to prevent redirects to suspicious domains

TheGameSearcher virus starts running several processes on Task Manager and installs a couple of .exe files among legitimate system's files. Besides, the installation enabled the browser's extension that is the reason why Google Chrome keeps redirecting to feed.thegamesearch.com and promoting Yahoo search.

The main reason why it's advisable to remove TheGameSearcher is the websites that it may be promoting. Since it's affiliate with various third parties, some of the web domains may be fake or even dangerous. Luckily, TheGameSearcher removal is not a difficult task. You can delete it automatically with the help of FortectIntego or follow the instructions submitted by 2-Spyware experts.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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