Verti-search.com: what it is and how to remove it
A browser hijacker is a type of potentially unwanted program that is commonly not installed intentionally due to a deceptive distribution technique known as software bundling. Typically, once such an app gets installed on the browser or system, it changes the homepage and the new tab address - in this case, Verti-search.com is used.
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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Verti-search.com: summary
| Distribution | Software bundles, deceptive ads, fake updates |
|---|---|
| Damage | Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, privacy risks due to information gathering practices, financial losses |
| Name | Verti-search.com |
| Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program |
| Developer | N.I. Media Ltd. |
| IP address | 52.3.212.43 |
| 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 7 more facts
| Symptoms | Unknown extension or application is installed on the system; homepage and new tab address are set to something else; a customized search engine is appended to the homepage; search results are filled with sponsored links and ads |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | verti-search.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 25 August 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Verti-search.com dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
Verti-search.com takes over your browser to show you ads in search results
A browser hijacker is a type of potentially unwanted program that is commonly not installed intentionally due to a deceptive distribution technique known as software bundling.
Typically, once such an app gets installed on the browser or system, it changes the homepage and the new tab address - in this case, Verti-search.com is used. If your browser has been infiltrated by this potentially unwanted program, you will see it in your URL bar every time you open a new tab or launch Google Chrome or another browser.
Another symptom of an infection is a customized search box. By using it, users will be redirected to an alternative search provider than they are used to - m.nearbyme.io. In some cases, people might also be taken to more popular providers, such as Yahoo or Bing, although it depends on the location of the computer.
However, the search results are not organic, i.e., the hijacker would insert promotional links and ads at the top, making users more likely to click on them. In the background, PUPs are known to gather information about users' web browsing habits in order to profit from targeted advertising.
If you have found that your homepage was suddenly changed to Verti-search.com, you should follow our removal guide to eliminate it from your system and then clean your web browser settings properly.
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
How did a browser hijacker appear on my system?
First of all, we need to talk about the distribution techniques used to spread these dubious apps.
Most users would not install these programs intentionally - they usually don't like their browser settings being changed to something else without reason. The developers and distributors are well aware of that, hence they use deception to make users install PUPs without realizing it.
Freeware bundles are the main sources of how browser hijackers spread, as many users visit third-party websites to download free software (this includes pirated software sites such as torrents). Distributors often bundle software because they are paid to do so, so it benefits both parties.
This is why, whenever you download an app you intended, you might end up with programs your know nothing about. In some rare cases, users download and install malware such as Orkf (Djvu ransomware variants are known to be spread via pirated software and bundling) without even realizing it.
Therefore, you should always prefer downloading software from moderated websites or, in the best-case scenario, from official sources. During the installation process, always pick the Advanced mode, which would allow you to remove ticks from pre-ticked checkboxes. Also, watch out for deceptive button placements and misleading statements - read the installation instructions properly. Most importantly, never rush.
You could have also installed the hijacker while believing that it might be a useful addition to your system for one reason or another. This is not the case, and you should check the below paragraphs to find out more about these dubious and useless programs.
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
Browser hijackers: things you should know
Browser hijackers are merely minor computer infections.
We can guarantee that these applications are nowhere near as dangerous as ransomware, Trojans, rootkits, and so on. However, it does not mean that they are completely safe to use or that they are useful in any way. We will explain why.
As we already discussed, the unintentional installation of apps is one of the main reasons they might be categorized as potentially unwanted. However, usefulness and operation are other two important factors that should be taken into consideration.
Verti-search.com is a typical browser hijacker that changes browser settings automatically as soon as it is installed. When it comes to its functionality, it differs little from similar apps, such as ProRadioSearch, MovieSearch.org, or Search.ricktab.com.
Many hijackers are advertised as amazing search tools that can enhance or speed up one's browsing. It is also not uncommon to claim that the app can find the best shopping deals on the web. Unfortunately, that is merely a lie, and all these promises are extremely deceptive.
In fact, all of these "improved" results are nothing else but ads. The primary way how Verti-search.com delivers it to users is by inserting links into search results, although ads might also be present elsewhere (especially in the start page, as well as other places within search results). The top result ads, however, are by far the most impactful, as some users don't even notice that these are fake results.
Each time users click on such links, the developers of the hijacker receive a commission. While there is nothing wrong with ad monetization as long as it is executed fairly, this whole scheme relies on deception - from product distribution to attempting to present ads within search results as "useful discounts."
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Verti-search.com
- If you want to clean your web browsers quicker, use
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
verti-search.com
How to remove Verti-search.com
How to remove Verti-search.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
Verti-search.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 verti-search.com
Searches that pass through
verti-search.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 verti-search.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 Verti-search.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
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
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.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
From our report of Aug 2021 · not reviewed since
The correct way to remove Verti-search.com
Potentially unwanted programs can be either installed on the system or reside within browsers as extensions.
In the past years, the developers of PUPs prefer to create extensions due to their simplicity and ease of use. Lucky for users, this makes it much easier for them to uninstall. Follow these steps in order to dele an unwanted browser extension:
If an app is not installed on the browser, you would have to access the list of the installed programs and uninstall it from there.
The second phase of Verti-search.com removal is cleaning the browsers (a reset can also work, but it is rarely necessary when dealing with a PUP). Besides, it can also fix virus damage if such is present on your machine.
- 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.
- 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.
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
- Click Safari > Preferences...
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
- 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.
- Click Menu and pick Options.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
- Click Safari > Clear History...
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Questions about Verti-search.com
How do I change my search engine back from verti-search.com?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove verti-search.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 verti-search.com back.
Can verti-search.com see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to verti-search.com first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
Why do my searches go to verti-search.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Verti-search.com did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to verti-search.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 verti-search.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 Verti-search.com and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Verti-search.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 verti-search.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 Verti-search.com, delete the cookies and site data for verti-search.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.
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 Verti-search.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.
Would an ad blocker stop Verti-search.com?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on verti-search.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 Verti-search.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 Verti-search.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 Verti-search.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.
Will Fortect remove Verti-search.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 Verti-search.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: Rootkit (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)