Feed.incognitosearches.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is feed.incognitosearches.com?
feed.incognitosearches.com is a fake Internet search engine that is promoted via a deceptive application called Incognito Searches. This app claims to protect users' privacy and Internet browsing safety by allowing them to search the Internet without divulging any sensitive data.
Initially, this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, however, this potentially unwanted program (PUP) often infiltrates systems without permission.
Furthermore, it is categorized as a browser hijacker - a form of unwanted software that changes Internet browser settings without consent. In addition, rather than protecting users' information, Incognito Searches records private details.
Following infiltration, Incognito Searches hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily modifying the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options by assigning them to feed.incognitosearches.com. Although these changes may seem insignificant, users are unable to revert them.
Incognito Searches continues to reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, it becomes impossible to return browsers to their previous states. By deceptively building traffic for feed.incognitosearches.com, developers significantly diminish users' Internet browsing experience.
As mentioned above, feed.incognitosearches.com is also designed to record various data that usually includes personal details. The collected data (IP addresses, URLs visited, search queries, pages viewed, keystrokes, etc.) is later sold to third parties. In this way, developers put your privacy at risk.
Furthermore, some browser hijackers are known to mine cryptocurrency or run other unwanted processes in the background, without users' consent. This misuse of resources significant reduces overall computer performance. If you encounter redirects to feed.incognitosearches.com, uninstall Incognito Searches (and other suspicious apps/add-ons) and never visit this site again.
Name | Incognito Searches 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. |
There are hundreds of browser-hijacking apps that share similarities with Incognito Searches. The list of examples includes Selected Search, Test My SPEEDS, and SearchGoFind. Note that these apps offer different functionality, however, their behavior is identical.
Potentially unwanted programs such as Incognito Searches are designed only to generate revenue for the developers - claims to provide useful features are merely attempts to trick users to install. In fact, most of these apps deliver no real value for regular users.
They pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety. Fake search engines often feed users with false results and 'malvertising' ads (coupons, banners, etc.) These results and ads can lead to malicious websites. Some ads execute scripts designed to download/install malware. Therefore, using a fake Internet search engine is very risky.
How did feed.incognitosearches.com install on my computer?
Incognito Searches is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, due to lack of caution and careless behavior by many users, this PUP typically infiltrates systems without permission. These browser-hijacking apps are often distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", and the aforementioned malicious ads.
"Bundling" is stealth installation of third party software together with regular (mostly free) apps. Developers conceal "bundled" apps within various sections (usually the "Custom/Advanced" settings) of the download/installation processes. Many users rush and skip steps.
Furthermore, they click various ads without considering the consequences. In doing so, they expose their systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The key to computer safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet in general. Carefully analyze each step of the download/installation processes to opt-out of all additionally-included programs. Note that "bundling" is used to monetize third party download/installation tools (they often promote dubious apps).
You are advised not to use them. Malicious apps appear genuine, however, they are identifiable by redirects to survey, gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious websites. These ads are often delivered by adware-type applications - if you encounter them, immediately eliminate all suspicious applications and browser extensions.
Website promoting Incognito Searches browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is feed.incognitosearches.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Incognito Searches application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove feed.incognitosearches.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Incognito Searches browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove feed.incognitosearches.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove feed.incognitosearches.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Incognito Searches 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, "Incognito Searches"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the feed.incognitosearches.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Incognito Searches 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://feed.incognitosearches.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 "Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the incognito searches 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Incognito Searches" and other recently-installed suspicious browser 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.feed.incognitosearches.com) 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 "feed.incognitosearches.com", 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 incognito searches 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 "Incognito Searches", as well as all other 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://feed.incognitosearches.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: "feed.incognitosearches.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with incognito searches 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 incognito searches 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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