Website Security Checker: what it is and how to remove it
Website Security Checker is categorized as a browser hijacker that presents itself as an extension that detects malicious websites. The program is promoted as a free browsing tool that offers online protection.
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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Website Security Checker: summary
| Name | Website Security Checker |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker/potentially unwanted program |
| Aim | To modify browser settings such as the default search engine, new tab URL, homepage. Also, to provide intrusive advertising posts, redirect the user to affiliate locations, and collect information that relates to the user's browsing sessions |
| Search engine | Once web browsers such as Google Chrome and others are hijacked, the default search engine is set to browsersecuritycenter.com which redirects search query results to Bing.com |
| Spreading | The browser extension can be found on Google Chrome Web Store, however, it is more likely to appear through bundled freeware or shareware, infectious hyperlinks and advertisements |
| 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 8 more facts
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | browsersecuritycenter.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 2 January 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Website Security Checker dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Website Security Checker - a browser hijacker that sets the default engine to browsersecuritycenter.com
Website Security Checker is categorized as a browser hijacker that presents itself as an extension that detects malicious websites.
The program is promoted as a free browsing tool that offers online protection. However, the true aim of this PUP is to set the default search engine to browsersecuritycenter.com. It is known that the new search provider shows search results via Bing.com which is a legitimate engine.
Regarding this fact, there is no point to use Website Security Checker instead of regular search engines as the app will bring more disadvantages than positive things. The promised security feature is just one small benefit from all the potentially unwanted activities that can be performed by the PUP.
Website Security Checker is a rogue extension that is promoted on the Google Chrome Web Store.
Website Security Checker Search applies changes to web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari. The default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL are set to browsersecuritycenter.com. Then, users are forced to use the new search zone for completing search queries.
Continuously, Website Security Checker virus adds bogus extensions and plug-ins to the browser settings. These products initiate rogue modifications in the search sections and can be responsible for other activities such as the display of advertising content during online sessions, redirecting to affiliate domains, etc.
Website Security Checker can also insert tracking objects such as beacons, pixels, and HTTP cookies. These products can start recording browsing-related data such as most commonly clicked hyperlinks, adverts accessed, websites visited, bookmarks saved, offers searched, platforms entered, IP address, browser type, OS type, geolocation, etc.
The developers of Website Security Checker might use this type of information for getting the user involved in targeted advertising campaigns. The browser hijacker can display a wide range of offers and deals that are related to the user's online and browsing information. This way the developers can gather more clicks on their ads.
Additionally, redirecting can also occur from Website Security Checker and browsersecuritycenter.com domain. The redirects aim to take the user to sponsored websites and affiliate sources. However, the worst part about these redirecting sessions is that you can accidentally land on a malware-laden website and get your computer infected with dangerous malware.
Continuously, Website Security Checker might bring other PUPs to your computer system such as adware, browser hijackers, etc. The fact that you have caught this type of infection unknowingly signifies that your machine lacks required security which can sooner or later relate to a more complex computer virus intrusion.
The best way to avoid the risk of additional PUP invasion is to remove Website Security Checker from your computer system and web browsers. This can be completed with the help of reliable antimalware tools or by using the manual step-by-step guidelines that are added at the end of this article. In case you spot some system corruption, try fixing the damaged content with .
Another reason to perform the Website Security Checker removal is the possibility that you will be facing frequent browser and computer struggles due to the enormous number of adverts, redirects, and other activities that are provided at the same time. This might happen if the energy of the central processing unit of your machine raises over 60%.


From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Website Security Checker
- There are two ways to get rid of the browser hijacker: manual and automatical.
- If you have discovered any signs of system compromisation, you can try repairing the affected components with the help of software such as
How Website Security Checker got into your browser
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Cybersecurity specialists from LosVirus.es claim that browser hijackers can sometimes be found as extensions on official web shops such as the Google Chrome Web Store, App Store, and others.
However, this is not the most common method of how potentially unwanted programs get delivered to computers.
Browser hijackers and other PUPs are commonly distributed via a deceptive strategy known as "software bundling" when the app comes as an additional product attached to a freeware or shareware package. This often happens when the "Recommended" downloading option is set as default.
Avoid downloading programs and services from third-party websites that are unknown or provide a questionable look. Also, always ensure that you have set the downloading configuration to "Advanced" where you will be able to track all incoming products and opt-out the unwanted ones.
Continuously, browser hijackers can also get distributed through infectious advertisements and hyperlinks that are found on rogue third-party websites. You should always be aware of web sources that are marked as unsafe to proceed with. Also, keep antimalware always running on your computer so that it can alert you about possible infections.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
browsersecuritycenter.com
How to remove Website Security Checker
How to remove Website Security Checker 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
Website Security Checker 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 browsersecuritycenter.com
Searches that pass through
browsersecuritycenter.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 browsersecuritycenter.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 Website Security Checker. 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
To remove the PUP from your Windows operating system, apply the following guiding steps.
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
To get rid of the bogus products from your Google Chrome web browser, use these instructions.
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)
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
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
To reverse suspicious changes in Internet Explorer after the hijack, follow the below-provided guide.
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.
From our report of Jan 2020 · not reviewed since
Website Security Checker virus removal techniques
You should perform Website Security Checker removal if this app has appeared on your computer system and web browsers without your own consent.
The browser hijacker might have brought bogus components to web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Explorer that also need to be cleaned.
Also, you can diminish all the changes that were performed to your browser settings only be getting rid of the PUP permanently. You can use automatical software to remove Website Security Checker from your computer. These products will help you to get rid of the cyber threat within a couple of minutes.
You can also get rid of Website Security Checker virus with the help of manual step-by-step guidelines. We have provided some instructing steps below that should help you to clean both your browsers and computer system. However, if you are running into a lack of time, you should stick with the automatical elimination technique instead.
Questions about Website Security Checker
Why does my search engine keep changing to browsersecuritycenter.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 browsersecuritycenter.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 browsersecuritycenter.com see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to browsersecuritycenter.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 browsersecuritycenter.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Website Security Checker did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to browsersecuritycenter.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 browsersecuritycenter.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 Website Security Checker and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Website Security Checker 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 browsersecuritycenter.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 Website Security Checker, delete the cookies and site data for browsersecuritycenter.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 Website Security Checker 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 Website Security Checker?
Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on browsersecuritycenter.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 Website Security Checker 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.
I changed the search engine, but it switched back. Why?
The hijacker is still installed, and it rewrites the setting whenever the browser starts or the extension updates. Changing the setting is the last step, not the first. Find what controls it: the search settings page usually names the extension, and a greyed-out field means a policy.
Remove that source, restart the browser, then pick your search engine and delete the hijacker's entry from the list of saved search engines so it cannot be chosen by accident. Check again after a day, when extensions have had a chance to update.
Will Fortect remove Website Security Checker?
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 Website Security Checker, 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
- Norton: What are browser hijackers? (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: HTTP cookie (read October 6, 2026)
- LosVirus: LosVirus.es (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)