Private-seeking.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is private-seeking.com?
private-seeking.com is a fake Internet search engine that supposedly enhances the web browsing experience by generating improved results, protecting users' privacy, and preventing information tracking. On initial inspection, this site may seem legitimate, however, developers promote it by employing a potentially unwanted program (PUP) called Personal Finder.
This application infiltrates systems without permission and stealthily modifies web browsers. In addition, Personal Finder (and private-seeking.com) continually records user-system information, mostly relating to web browsing actvity.
Following successful infiltration, Personal Finder hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily modifying the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options by assigning them to private-seeking.com. These changes may not seem significant, however, users are unable to revert them.
Research shows that Personal Finder immediately reassigns browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, it becomes impossible to return browsers to their previous states and users are encouraged to visit private-seeking.com when they enter a search query into the URL bar or simply open a new browser tab.
These unwanted redirects significantly diminish the web browsing experience. As mentioned above, private-seeking.com and Personal Finder continually gather data that typically includes personal details that are sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).
These people generate revenue by misusing sensitive information. Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to private-seeking.com, immediately eliminate the Personal Finder browser hijacker and never return to this website.
| Name | Personal Finder 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. |
private-seeking.com is virtually identical to gatmog.com, dubalub.com, chromesearch.club, and hundreds of other fake search engines.
As with private-seeking.com, these sites also offer improved results and other features (weather forecasts, currency exchange rates, shortcuts to popular websites, etc.) Since fake search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers, all claims to provide useful features are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy.
Rather than giving any significant value for regular users, fake search engines cause unwanted redirects and gather private information.
Some also feed users with false search results and intrusive ads (coupons, banners, etc.) Both typically lead to malicious websites. In addition, some ads run scripts that download/install malware. Thus, using fake search engines risks computer infection.
How did private-seeking.com install on my computer?
As mentioned above, private-seeking.com is promoted using a browser-hijacking app called Personal Finder. This app has an official download website, however, in most cases, it infiltrates systems without permission. Be aware that developers proliferate browser hijackers by employing a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", and the aforementioned intrusive ads.
"Bundling" is stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs together with regular (typically free) software. Developers do not disclose these installations properly - they hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes.
Skipping download/installation steps and clicking various advertisements often leads to inadvertent installation of rogue software.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
This situation can be prevented by paying close attention when browsing the Internet and, especially when downloading/installing software. Be aware that criminals invest many resources into intrusive ad design. Therefore, most look legitimate.
Once clicked, however, they redirect to dubious websites (e.g., gambling, adult dating, pornography, survey, etc.) Furthermore, many intrusive ads are displayed by adware-type PUPs. If you encounter these ads, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions.
Carefully analyze each step of the download/installation processes and opt-out of all additionally-included apps. Avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since criminals monetize them by promoting dubious apps (the "bundling" method). The key to computer safety is caution.
Website promoting Personal Finder browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is private-seeking.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Personal Finder application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove private-seeking.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Personal Finder browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove private-seeking.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove private-seeking.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Personal Finder 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, "Personal Finder"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the private-seeking.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Personal Finder 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://private-seeking.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 personal finder 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 "Personal Finder" 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.private-seeking.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 "Personal Finder", 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 personal finder 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 "Personal Finder", 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://private-seeking.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: "private-seeking.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with personal finder 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 personal finder 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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