Right-Click Search Adware
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Right-Click Search?
Right-Click Search is a rogue application that supposedly allows searching of highlighted text within Google and Wikipedia.
On initial inspection, Right-Click Search may seem legitimate and useful, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware. There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) stealth installation without consent; 2) display of intrusive online advertisements, and; 3) tracking of users' Internet browsing activity.
Following infiltration, Right-Click Search generates pop-up, coupon, banner, and other similar advertisements. To achieve this, developers employ a "virtual layer" - a tool that enables placement of third party graphical content on any site. Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying content, significantly diminishing the browsing experience.
Furthermore, these advertisements often redirect to malicious websites and even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections. Another downside is information tracking. Be aware that Right-Click Search continually monitors browsing activity by recording various user-system information that might contain private details.
The list of collected data types includes (but is not limited to) IP addresses, URLs visited, pages viewed, and search queries. This information is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse personal information to generate revenue. The presence of an information-tracking app such as Right-Click Search can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.
Therefore, we strongly advise you to uninstall this PUP immediately. Right-Click Search is identical to the Incognito Start Button, TrailerTime, and TrailerWatch PUPs. It also shares many similarities with hundreds of other adware-type applications such as, for example, Search Awesome, AdBlaster, Weather Inspect, and History Button.
These apps claim to provide 'useful features', however, adware-type programs are designed only to generate revenue for the developers - they deliver none of the features promised.
Rather than providing any value for regular users, PUPs deliver intrusive online advertisements (via the "Pay Per Click" advertising model) and record user-system information (which is later sold to third parties).
How did Right-Click Search install on my computer?
Right-Click Search is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, it is also distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".
Therefore, many users install Right-Click Search inadvertently, without their consent, since they rush the download/installation processes and skip steps. This situation can lead to installation of PUPs (such as Right-Click Search) hidden within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of these processes.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
This situation can be prevented by taking two simple steps. Firstly, analyze each download/installation step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Secondly, decline offers to download/install additional applications and cancel those already included. The key to computer safety is caution.
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Quick menu:
- What is Right-Click Search?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Right-Click Search application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Right-Click Search adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Right-Click Search ads from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove 'Ads by Right-Click Search' from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Right-Click Search extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Right-Click Search adware 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 "Right-Click Search", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Right-Click Search ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove Right-Click Search adware from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
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 "Right-Click Search", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by right-click search, 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Right-Click Search", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by right-click search, 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", in the opened window, remove "Right-Click Search".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ads by right-click search 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.
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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by right-click search, 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:
Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.
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