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WebAdblockSearch browser hijacker (spam) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

by Alice Woods - - | Type: Browser hijacker

WebAdblockSearch browser hijacker Removal Guide

What is WebAdblockSearch browser hijacker?

WebAdblockSearch is the unwanted program that is named a browser hijacker for manipulation of web browser settings and injects ads

WebAdblockSearchThe hijacker poses as the useful search engine

WebAdblockSearch controls the online traffic by altering the homepage, new tab, a new page, default search engine settings. This browser hijacker shows various promotional ads and causes redirects to other pages to look like the useful search engine that could be considered needed. Users mainly get tricked into installing the program like this, however. The main method used to spread these PUPs around includes freeware delivering platforms, services like torrents, promotional content, and ads that push useless apps to clueless people.

This potentially unwanted application is none other than a browser-based threat affecting the common devices and browsing tools like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari. If you notice that your browser's settings got altered, you can be sure that the PUP is already on the machine and that there are additional changes and issues that this intruder can cause.

Besides being intrusive, the browser hijacker can inject other extensions, install system programs on the machine without having your initial permission. You need to fully clear the system to eliminate the application and related programs or even cyber threats. The full reset sometimes is the only method that helps get rid of the leftovers and affected applications.

Name WebAdblockSearch
Type Browser hijacker, redirect, unwanted browser extension
Category Potentially unwanted program
Issues The site triggers ads and other content that exposes users to commercial content and possibly dangerous material. PUPs are closely related to third-party advertisers and companies that rely on data tracking functionalities[1]
Symptoms Homepage, new tab, search engine preferences get altered, and the browsing online gets affected when each attempt is injected with ads, links, banners
Distribution Freeware installations and program downloads from insecure sources result in PUP infiltration
URL portal.webadblocksearch.com
Elimination The full system cleaning procedure can help with the proper thread removal
Repair If the machine is affected by the PUP, performance suffers a lot, so a tool like FortectIntego should help with leftovers of the infection and system repair

WebAdblockSearch browser hijacker is one of the many applications looking and behaving exactly the same. This is the version of a group of questionable search engines that try to lure people into using the pages as the default search on purpose with themed appearance and promotional content. JustVideoSearch, SocialCouponSearch, GoCouponSearch, QuickConverterz, SocialCouponSearch, TheSearchMaps, and many more.

Get rid of the PUP to stop unwanted behavior

The intruder is related to another known redirect and browser hijacker that is possible to run on the so-called immune to viruses OS – mac.[2] All of the related programs rely on redirecting searches through this search engine Nearbyme. So once you use the WebAdblockSearch as a search engine, you get rerouted via a shady service like this.

The process of browsing online becomes unpleasant because all search attempts become the process when the list of results gets filled with sponsored material and shows various ads, links, banners where they are not supposed to appear. This is the main symptom that indicates the particular potentially unwanted program running on the system, so you need to take action into your own hands as soon as you notice these redirects, changes in browser settings, or general performance issues.

If you are a victim of any type of infection, you should employ anti-malware software for the best removal. Some threats can interfere with the settings, add other programs on the machine and then self-destruct. However, even silent malware might leave various data-stealing modules or could operate in conjunction with other programs and expose the system to security risks.

WebAdblockSearch hijackerThe search site appears like a promising platform, but results get filled with advertisements instead

SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes can detect and eliminate all threats. PUPs also can be caught. The security software is really easy to use and does not require any prior IT knowledge to succeed in the malware removal process. Keeping these tools running on the machine can also improve the security and alert about possible intruders, so issues with threats like WebAdblockSearch hijacker should become the thing of the past.

Clear issues with the web browser

Even though you can remove the intruder with the automatic AV-detection tools there is a need for manual interference when web browsing tools are directly affected. Changing the homepage, search engine, new tab settings are the most important, but sometimes additional programs get installed too, so major changes can only be solved with a full reset. If you need the full browser reset – follow the guide at the end, but try these instructions first.

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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions 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.

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 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 on Uninstall at the bottom.Remove extensions from Edge

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.

Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. In the new window, pick Extensions.
  3. Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.Remove extensions from Safari

Ways to avoid unwanted applications

WebAdblockSearch is not a virus or malicious program that could be considered dangerous and damaging. However, people who get to experience all the inconvenient and unpleasant issues related to the browser hijacker call this program a virus. Experts[3] note that there are major issues with potentially unwanted applications like this and the techniques used to spread the intruder round. People still ignore those tips and warnings, and pirating is popular to this day.

Cracking programs, using cheats for games, and pirating legitimate software can get you to insecure installation processes and random sources. The best protection against malware of any type is avoiding questionable sites, download prompts, update messages, random program promotions.

Official download sites and platforms should be the only trusted source, so this WebAdblockSearch browser hijacker infiltration is not happening again. There are some additional issues – the type of installation process. If you go for the Advanced or Custom installations, you can see the list in full with all the programs included in the package.

If that is not the case and you chose the Recommended or Quick options when installing freeware, you automatically allow the pre-bundled pieces to get installed alongside the free program you wanted to get in the first place. Unfortunately, users tend to go for the quicker option, and this is why those browser-based applications and unwanted programs like WebAdblockSearch spread around so often.

You might think it is a threat because it appears out of nowhere and causes issues with the performance, speed, adds other applications, but there are ways to get rid of the intruder. You can run the full system scan and remove the PUP that controls the various processes, but do not forget about the issues with browsers and follow the tips listed below.

You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.

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Getting rid of WebAdblockSearch browser hijacker. Follow these steps

Uninstall from Windows

Instructions for Windows 10/8  machines:

  1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 1
  3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
  4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
  5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
  6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK. Uninstall from Windows 2

If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program. Uninstall from Windows 7/XP
  3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
  4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
  5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
  6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Delete from macOS

Remove items from Applications folder:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
  3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash) Uninstall from Mac 1

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
  3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
  4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files. Uninstall from Mac 2

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 on Uninstall at the bottom. 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 Privacy & security.
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select everything (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 Disable if you found any suspicious domain.

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

If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.

  1. Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
  2. Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
  3. Right-click on them and pick Delete Advanced MS Edge reset 1
  4. Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
  5. When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:

    Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose Advanced MS Edge reset 2

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. 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 unwanted plugin 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 Options.
  3. Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.

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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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 the suspicious plugins that might be 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 unwanted extensions from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. In the new window, pick Extensions.
  3. Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall. Remove extensions from Safari

Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Clear History…
  2. From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
  3. Confirm with Clear History. Clear cookies and website data from Safari

Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. Go to Advanced tab.
  3. Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  4. From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches. Reset Safari

After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of WebAdblockSearch browser hijacker registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.

How to prevent from getting browser hijacker

Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool

Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online. One of the basic means to add a layer of security – choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features. However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN – it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.

 

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To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, Data Recovery Pro can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.

About the author
Alice Woods
Alice Woods - Likes to teach users about virus prevention

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