Websearch.live Redirect

What is websearch.live?

According to the developers, websearch.live is a "top-notch" Internet search engine that supposedly enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results and providing quick access to various popular websites (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, etc.).

Judging on appearance alone, websearch.live may seem legitimate and useful, however, cyber criminals promote this site using rogue download/installation set-ups that modify browser options without permission. Furthermore, websearch.live continually records various information relating to users' Internet browsing activity.

Following infiltration, rogue set-ups hijack Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, modifying the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options by assigning them to websearch.live. In addition, they append targets of all browser shortcuts with this same URL.

Following successful modification, set-ups install a number of "helper objects" (third party browser extensions and/or potentially unwanted programs [PUPs]) to reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them.

Therefore, users are unable to revert the aforementioned changes and users are forced to visit websearch.live when they open a browser/new browser tab or search via the URL bar. This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience. Another downside is information tracking.

Helper objects and websearch.live record Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar data that might contain personal details. Although data collection itself may not seem harmful, developers generate revenue by selling recorded information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

These people also aim to increase their revenue by misusing private information. This situation can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, we strongly recommend that you uninstall all suspicious applications/browser extensions and never visit websearch.live again.

Threat Summary:

Name	websearch.live browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are dozens of fake search engines, all of which are virtually identical to websearch.live. The list of examples includes (but is not limited to) safesearch.top, searchpage.com, safeforsearch.net, and searchbee.net. 

All claim to generate improved search results and provide other "useful features" (for example, shortcuts to popular websites, weather forecasts, currency exchange rates, etc.), however, fake search engines deliver no value for regular users. Their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers.

They merely promote other websites (by generating fake results), deliver intrusive advertisements (via the "Pay Per Click" advertising model), and record various data (which is later sold). Bear in mind that fake results and intrusive ads can lead to malicious websites.

In addition, the ads often execute scripts designed to download and install malware or other PUPs. For these reasons, fake Internet search engines pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety.

How did websearch.live install on my computer?

As mentioned above, websearch.live is promoted via rogue downloaders/installers. This deceptive marketing method is called "bundling". Criminals are aware that many users rush the download/installation processes and skip steps. Therefore, they hide details of browser modifications within the "Custom/Advanced" options.

By skipping this section, users grant set-ups permission to modify various options, expose their systems to risk of various infections, and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent installation of PUPs (such as "helper objects") be very cautious when browsing the Internet. Never click advertisements, no matter how tempting they may appear. Cyber criminals put a great deal of time and effort into making these ads look genuine.

Therefore, determining whether displayed ads originate from visited (legitimate) websites or not becomes virtually impossible. Do not take the risk of clicking them. Carefully analyze each download/installation step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.

Download your software from official sources only using the direct download URL. Third party downloaders often bundle additional apps and prevent users from cancelling them. Therefore, these tools can never be used.

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

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

websearch.live 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 websearch.live website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

websearch.live 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 websearch.live-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.websearch.live/...), 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.websearch.live 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 "websearch".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the websearch.live 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 websearch.live-related Google Chrome extensions:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser 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.websearch.live/...), 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.websearch.live) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.

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 engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "websearch", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the websearch.live 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:

Remove websearch.live-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.websearch.live/...), 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.websearch.live 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: "websearch.live"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with websearch.live 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 websearch.live 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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