Asearch.online Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is asearch.online?
Asearch.online is a rogue site claiming to be a legitimate Internet search engine. Judging on appearance alone alone, asearch.online may seem very similar or even identical to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other similar legitimate search engines. Therefore, users may believe that asearch.online is also legitimate.
In fact, asearch.online records various information relating to users' Internet browsing activity. Furthermore, this rogue site is promoted using deceptive software download/installation set-ups that hijack web browsers and stealthily modify various options.
Research shows that rogue set-ups target Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. After assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to asearch.online, set-ups modify browser shortcuts by appending this URL to the targets.
Therefore, when users open a browser/new browsing tab or simply attempt to search the Internet via the URL bar, they are redirected to asearch.online.
Initially, modification of browser settings may not seem significant behavior, however, set-ups also infiltrate a number of "helper objects" (third party browser add-ons and/or applications) that prevent users from reverting these changes. Helper objects reassign the options when attempts are made to change them.
Thus, it becomes impossible to return browsers to their previous states and users continually encounter unwanted browser redirects, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience. Helper objects and asearch.online record various information (for example, IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.) and share it with third parties. Recorded information might contain private details that third parties misuse to generate revenue. This can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter unwanted browser redirects to asearch.online, uninstall all helper objects (suspicious browser add-ons and applications) immediately and never visit this site again.
The Internet is full of fake search engines virtually identical to asearch.online. Examples include teoma.com, dnssignal.com, search-select.co, and many others. All provide fake promises to improve the Internet browsing experience by generating the most relevant search results.
Yet, these claims are merely attempts to trick users into believing that websites such as asearch.online are legitimate. In fact, all fake Internet search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than providing any significant value for regular users, they cause unwanted browser redirects, collect private data, and deliver intrusive online advertisements.
Furthermore, some generate results leading to malicious websites. Therefore, using a fake Internet search engine can lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.
How did asearch.online install on my computer?
As with many other fake Internet search engines, asearch.online is promoted using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Developers know that users commonly rush and skip most/all of the download/installation steps and hide all information regarding modification of browser settings within the "Custom/Advanced" section of these processes.
By skipping this section, users grant set-ups permission to modify various settings, compromise their privacy, and expose their systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
There are two main steps you should take to prevent this situation. Firstly, never rush when downloading and installing software. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully analyze each step.
Secondly, decline all offers to download or install additional applications and cancel those already included. Research shows that bundled applications are often classed as potentially unwanted programs. Thus, you should never install them.
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Quick menu:
- What is asearch.online?
- STEP 1. Uninstall potentially unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove asearch.online redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove asearch.online browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove asearch.online homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove asearch.online redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
asearch.online redirect removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes browser redirects to the asearch.online website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
asearch.online homepage and default Internet search engine removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser hijackers:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Remove asearch.online-related Internet Explorer add-ons:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select such entries and click "Remove".
Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:
This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate text (hxxp://www.asearch.online/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.asearch.online and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default, then remove "asearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the asearch.online browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Remove asearch.online-related Google Chrome extensions:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:
This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.asearch.online/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://www.asearch.online and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "asearch" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the asearch.online browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Remove asearch.online-related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:
This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.asearch.online/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.asearch.online and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "asearch.online"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with asearch.online browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the asearch.online browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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