Search.webshields.org Redirect

What is search.webshields.org?

WebShields is a deceptive application that supposedly protects users' privacy during Internet browsing. These claims often trick users into believing that that WebShields is legitimate and useful, however, this app often infiltrates systems without consent.

Furthermore, WebShields stealthily modifies web browser settings and continually records information relating to Internet browsing activity. For these reasons, WebShields is categorized as a browser hijacker and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

WebShields targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to search.webshields.org. This behavior may not seem significant, however, WebShields reassigns these settings when attempts are made to change them.

Therefore, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states and continually encounter unwanted redirects to search.webshields.org, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience.

Furthermore, WebShields continually gathers Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar data that may be personally identifiable and shared by developers share with cooperating third party companies (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse personal information to generate revenue.

Thus, the presence of an information-tracking app such as WebShields on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly advise you to uninstall this PUP immediately.

This PUP shares many similarities with dozens of other browser-hijacking apps including Search Disk, HPRewriter, FilmFanatic, and GoGetSport - these are just some examples from many. All offer certain features that supposedly enhance the Internet browsing experience, however, these claims are merely attempts to trick users to install.

Browser hijackers are designed only to generate revenue for the developers - rather than providing any significant value for regular users, apps such as WebShields cause unwanted redirects and collect personally identifiable information.

How did search.webshields.org install on my computer?

WebShields has an official download website, however, developers also promote it via a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of PUPs with regular software. Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip most steps.

Therefore, bundled programs are hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings. Skipping this section often leads to inadvertent installing of bogus programs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by PUPs, be cautious during the download/installation processes. Closely analyze each step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Furthermore, cancel all additionally-included programs and offers to download/install them. Most bundled software is classed as rogue and, thus, should never be installed.

Website promoting WebShields browser hijacker:

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Quick menu:

• What is search.webshields.org?
• STEP 1. Uninstall WebShields application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.webshields.org redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove WebShields browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.webshields.org homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.webshields.org redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

WebShields 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 (for example, "WebShields"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.webshields.org website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

WebShields 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://webshields.org 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 "webshields".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the webshield 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 all 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 WebShields Browser Security... 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 "webshields.org" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the webshield 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://webshields.org 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: "webshields.org"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with webshield 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 webshield 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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