WebSecurerr Browser Protection: what it is and how to remove it
WebSecurerr Browser Protection is a potentially unwanted program that can be downloaded for Google Chrome or other browsers. According to its developer, the app is meant to protect users from visiting malicious websites that spread Trojans, viruses, or other malware, and possesses a real-time protection feature that would protect them from these threats.
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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WebSecurerr Browser Protection: summary
| Distribution | Software bundles downloaded from third-party websites, deceptive and persistent ads |
|---|---|
| Damage | Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, privacy risks, financial losses |
| Name | WebSecurerr Browser Protection |
| Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted application |
| Symptoms | Unknown extension installed on the web browser; all searches are redirected to search.yahoo.com; search results are littered with sponsored links and ads; unwanted ads and popups show up during the web browsing |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 5 more facts
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
|---|---|
| Search page | searchsecurer.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 21 December 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
What WebSecurerr Browser Protection changes in your browser
This Chrome extension blocks dangerous websites that distribute malware, spyware, viruses, trojans and prevents phishing attacks. WebSecurerr does not collect your browsing history or private data.
Is WebSecurerr Browser Protection dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
WebSecurerr Browser Protection - an extension that claims to protect users from malicious sites but inserts intrusive ads
WebSecurerr Browser Protection is a potentially unwanted program that can be downloaded for Google Chrome or other browsers.
According to its developer, the app is meant to protect users from visiting malicious websites that spread Trojans, viruses, or other malware, and possesses a real-time protection feature that would protect them from these threats. However, the add-on has plenty of browser-hijacking features that users were dissatisfied about.
As soon as WebSecurerr Browser Protection is installed, it changes the web browser's new tab and homepage functionality and sets it to searchsecurer.com. While this might not be apparent straight away, users will visually see changes as soon as they perform their first search, as they will be redirected to Yahoo instead of a regular provider, such as Google.com.
Besides, these search results are filled with sponsored links, which might mislead people into buying apps or products that are of questionable quality or origin.
While most browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs are typically installed via software bundling, WebSecurerr Browser Protection hijack might occur due to completely different reasons. Many users claimed that they downloaded the extension after being nagged by an intrusive ad that would not go away. After the installation, people are then subjected to even more advertisements occurring on various visited websites.
Initially, ad-blockers and security extensions are useful, as they can prevent users from being exposed to scams, phishing, spoofing, and similar site visits. However, there have plenty of so-called ad-blockers that instead bring their own set of ads, initially defining the tool's purpose. Good examples of rogue tools include:
There are plenty of similar functionality apps that do not have rogue qualities, such as the insertion of ads. For this reason, experts highly recommend performing WebSecurerr Browser Protection removal and replacing it with a more trustworthy application.
Besides failing to perform functions it was designed for, the app also collects various data related to technical details of the device, web browsing activities, and cookies. The app developers attempt to lie about this practice, however, as the Privacy Policy link is simply broken, although the statement on the Chrome Store app description claims the following:
We could access Terms and Conditions during our research, which indeed described that data gathering practice is taking place. It is a very common routine of most potentially unwanted applications, as harvested information can be used for targeted advertising and then shared with third-parties for more profits.
To conclude, you should remove WebSecurerr Browser Protection from your web browser, as it provides a false sense of security with its promised features. While there are plenty of extensions that could be useful to protect you from phishing and other malicious sites, you should install an anti-malware application such as or that could provide comprehensive protection.
To uninstall this PUP, all you have to do is access the settings section of your web browser - if you never had to deal with this process before, we provide a thorough guide below. We also strongly advise performing a full system scan with anti-malware, clearing browser cookies, and fixing any potential damage caused to a system with repair tools such as .
- Supreme Adblocker
- Adblocker For YouTube
- YT Adblocker
- AdBlock Stream
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Do not install suspicious apps from various sites - they might hijack your browser
There are thousands of applications that can be used to modify the web browsing experience and time online.
Unfortunately, there is also plenty of freeware negatives of which outweigh the positives and might even compromise several aspects of online browsing. As previously mentioned, fake ad-blockers/anti-virus add-ons belong to this group of apps, as they provide a false sense of security. Note that these extensions would never replace a high-end security software installed on a computer and might result in malware infiltration instead.
Therefore, it is vital to pick such programs carefully. To do that, all you have to do is check user reviews online, as well as blog posts and other informative websites - this could serve as a great indication whether an app has some hidden features, such as data mining or ad injection features.
Another popular way to distribute PUPs is via software bundling. This technique is used by most freeware websites, where several components are injected into a single installer. Users are then deliberately not shown which apps are about to be installed (this is very common when Recommended/Quick settings are picked), so installation happens behind their backs.
To avoid this, always pay close attention to the installation process, never skip through steps, delete all the ticks from checkboxes, read the fine print, decline all the offers, and, most importantly, always opt for Advanced/Custom settings when prompted.
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
Replace WebSecurerr Browser Protection with secure alternatives
WebSecurerr Browser Protection removal is not only beneficial to return your browser settings back to normal, but it will also ensure that you would also avoid unnecessary ads the app is meant to protect you from. There are plenty of browser add-ons with similar functionality that does not engage in suspicious behaviors, such as this one does.
To remove WebSecurerr Browser Protection from your machine, you should access your browser's settings and eliminate the extension for good. If you have never previously uninstalled an extension, you can follow the step-by-step guide we provide below. It also explains how to clean the browsers from cookies and web data to ensure that no tracking occurs after the uninstallation process.
It is also important to note that many users installed the app after being fed the ad. This is an unusual browser behavior and is likely to be caused by an already installed adware application. Thus, you should check all the installed programs and uninstall everything you don't recognize. This job can also be done by robust security programs automatically.
From our report of Dec 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on WebSecurerr Browser Protection
- Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
searchsecurer.com
How to remove WebSecurerr Browser Protection
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
WebSecurerr Browser Protection 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 searchsecurer.com
Searches that pass through
searchsecurer.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 searchsecurer.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 WebSecurerr Browser Protection. 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
You can uninstall programs from Windows via the Control Panel:
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
You can delete WebSecurerr Browser Protection by accessing Chrome's settings menu:
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
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)
You should check Firefox for unwanted extensions and eliminate them immediately:
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
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.
Delete from macOS
Uninstall unwanted apps from macOS by following this guide:
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.
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.
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 VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
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, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about WebSecurerr Browser Protection
Why does my search engine keep changing to searchsecurer.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 searchsecurer.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.
Can searchsecurer.com see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to searchsecurer.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 searchsecurer.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. WebSecurerr Browser Protection did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to searchsecurer.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 searchsecurer.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 WebSecurerr Browser Protection and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does WebSecurerr Browser Protection 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 searchsecurer.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 WebSecurerr Browser Protection, delete the cookies and site data for searchsecurer.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.
Will resetting the browser remove WebSecurerr Browser Protection?
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 WebSecurerr Browser Protection can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.
The results look like Google or Bing. Is that real?
Partly. Many hijacker search pages pass your query to a real search engine and show its results, so the list looks familiar. What changes is the frame around it:
- extra sponsored links at the top
- the hijacker's own tracking
- sometimes a design that copies a known search engine
You can tell by the address bar. If it shows searchsecurer.com or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove WebSecurerr Browser Protection and search directly.
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 WebSecurerr Browser Protection 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.
Will Fortect remove WebSecurerr Browser Protection?
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 WebSecurerr Browser Protection, 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: Browser hijacking (read October 6, 2026)
- Chrome Web Store: WebSecurerr Browser Protection (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)