Chromesearch.info Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is chromesearch.info?
chromesearch.info is a fake Internet search engine identical to chromesearch.club, chromesearch.today, and chromesearch.net. The appearance of chromesearch.information is virtually identical to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other legitimate search engines.
Therefore, many users believe that this site is also legitimate, however, it is promoted using browser-hijacking download/installation set-ups. In addition, chromesearch.information continually gathers various sensitive data (mostly relating to users' Internet browsing activity).
Research shows that rogue set-ups target Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, they modify the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL browser options by assigning them to chromesearch.information.
In addition, set-ups install a number of "helper objects" (potentially unwanted programs [PUPs] and/or browser plug-ins) to reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them.
Although changes performed by set-ups may seem insignificant, users are unable to revert them and are forced to visit chromesearch.information when they open a new browser tab or enter a search query in the URL bar. These unwanted redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience. Data tracking is also an issue.
Be aware that chromesearch.information (and "helper objects") continually record user-system information that is likely to include personal details. This information is sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing private details.
There is a probability that data tracking will lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, if you encounter redirects to chromesearch.information, uninstall all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. Never return to this site.
Name | chromesearch.info 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. |
The Internet is full of fake search engines, all of which are very similar and offer improved results and other 'useful features' (shortcuts to popular websites, weather forecasts, etc.) Claims to provide these features are merely attempts to trick users into believing that these sites are legitimate and useful.
In fact, fake search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than delivering any real value for regular users, fake search engines cause unwanted redirects and gather various information.
In some cases, these sites also feed users with misleading search results and intrusive advertisements (coupons, banners, and so on). Both typically redirect to malicious websites. Therefore, using fake search engines risks computer infection.
How did chromesearch.info install on my computer?
As mentioned above, chromesearch.information is promoted via rogue downloaders/installers. This deceptive marketing method is called "bundling". Developers know that many users rush download/installation processes and skip steps.
Therefore, all details of browser modifications are hidden within "Custom/Advanced" settings or other sections of the download/installation processes. By rushing these procedures, users inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify settings, expose their systems to risk of various infections, and compromise their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior. The key to safety is caution. Therefore, to prevent system infiltration by PUPs (e.g., "helper objects"), be very cautious when downloading/installing software, and browsing the Internet. PUPs are also distributed using the "bundling" method.
Therefore, carefully analyze each window of the download installation processes and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. Criminals proliferate PUPs via intrusive advertisements.
Most look legitimate, however, these ads are distinguishable, since most lead to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious sites. Intrusive ads are delivered by other adware-type PUPs. If you encounter suspicious redirects, immediately eliminate all dubious applications and browser extensions.
IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue set-ups install Google Chrome extension as Administrator (read more here), thereby preventing removal. Therefore, before taking any further removal steps, perform these actions:
1) Open the Command Prompt by clicking the start menu button and typing "command prompt". Right click the "Command Prompt" result and select "Run as Administrator":
2) Execute the following commands:
- rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers"
- rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"
- gpupdate /force
After performing these actions, you can proceed with further removal steps for this browser hijacker.
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is chromesearch.info?
- STEP 1. Uninstall chromesearch.info application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove chromesearch.info redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove chromesearch.info browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove chromesearch.info homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove chromesearch.info redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
chromesearch.info 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the chromesearch.info website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
chromesearch.info 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://chromesearch.info 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 "chromesearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the chromesearch.info 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 all 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.chromesearch.info) 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 "chromesearch.info", 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 chromesearch.info 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://chromesearch.info 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: "chromesearch.info"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with chromesearch.info 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 chromesearch.info 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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