Myprivatesearch.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is myprivatesearch.com?
Myprivatesearch.com is a fake Internet search engine that supposedly enhances the Internet browsing experience by generating improved search results. Judging on appearance alone, myprivatesearch.com barely differs from Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other similar search engines.
Therefore, many users believe that myprivatesearch.com is also legitimate. In fact, it is promoted via rogue software downloaders and installers that stealthily modify web browser settings. In addition, myprivatesearch.com continually records information relating to users' Internet browsing activity.
Rogue download/installation set-ups target Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, assigning the homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL options to myprivatesearch.com. Third party applications and/or browser plug-ins ('helper objects') are then installed to prevent users from reverting these changes.
Helper objects automatically reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, it becomes impossible to return browsers to their previous states and users are continually redirected to myprivatesearch.com without their consent, significantly diminishing the Internet browsing experience.
Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since helper objects and myprivatesearch.com continually record various data including IP addresses, geo-location, websites visited, pages viewed, and search queries - these are just some examples from many recorded data types.
This information may be personally identifiable and shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misused it to generate revenue. Therefore data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to myprivatesearch.com, uninstall all suspicious apps and browser plug-ins, and never visit this site again.
myprivatesearch.com shares many similarities with hundreds of other fake search engines such as hao.7654.com, searchoko.com, lupny.com, and newpage16.site. Although these sites may seem different, all have identical behavior. By claiming to generate improved results, fake search engines attempt to give the impression of legitimacy.
Be aware, however, that they are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and regular users receive no significant value. Fake Internet search engines collect private information, cause unwanted browser redirects, and generate results leading to infectious websites. Therefore, using them can lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.
How did myprivatesearch.com install on my computer?
This fake search engine is promoted using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Developers know that most users rush the download/installation processes and skip most steps. Therefore, information regarding modification of browser options is hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of these processes.
By skipping this section, users inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify various browser options. In addition, they expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent this situation, be cautious during the download and installation processes. Potentially unwanted programs are also distributed using the bundling method. Therefore, closely analyze each step of the download/installation processes and decline offers to download/install additional applications.
Website used to promote myprivatesearch.com Internet search engine:
Deceptive pop-up ad promoting this browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is myprivatesearch.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall myprivatesearch.com application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove myprivatesearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove myprivatesearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove myprivatesearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove myprivatesearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
myprivatesearch.com browser hijacker 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 suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the myprivatesearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
myprivatesearch.com browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://myprivatesearch.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start 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 and then remove "myprivatesearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the private search 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:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Private Search" and other recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
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 MyPrivateSearch 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 the "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "myPrivateSearch" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the private search 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove all recently-installed browser plug-ins.
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://myprivatesearch.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your 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: "myprivatesearch"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with private search 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 private search 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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