Search.cleanmybrowser.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.cleanmybrowser.com?
The search.cleanmybrowser.com search engine is promoted by developers using the Clean My Browser app. According to the developers, the Clean My Browser extension allows users to browse the web safely, regularly maintain the browser, and increase productivity with faster browsing, a faster search engine, and improved results.
The Clean My Browser browser app targets Google Chrome users and is installed as an extension. Once installed/added to Google Chrome, it changes the search engine, homepage, and new tab URLs to search.cleanmybrowser.com Therefore, once you open your Chrome browser, you are redirected to the search.cleanmybrowser.com website.
When you enter a search query, you receive results generated by Yahoo and are redirected to search.yahoo.com These changes cannot be reverted in the usual way. This app is categorized as a legitimate app and does not record information, as most browser hijackers do.
Browser hijackers usually collect information such as visited websites, search queries, IP addresses, and other data that includes personal information. Furthermore, this collected information is shared with third parties (in some cases, cyber criminals).
The information is used to generate revenue, and there are many cases where data tracking led to more serious problems such as privacy issues or even identity theft. Therefore, you are advised not to use any browser hijacker.
Name | Clean My Browser 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 many examples of apps that promote search engines including SmartEasyMaps, BabyNameReady, and TaxInfoHelp.
Most browser hijackers offer an enhanced browsing experience and various additional 'features' not found in search engines such as Google or Yahoo. All are very similar, and some even identical. Indeed, they may seem useful and legitimate, however, most are designed only to generate revenue by providing users with misleading or unwanted redirects.
How did Clean My Browser install on my computer?
You can download the Clean My Browser app from the official site at cleanmybrowser.com and Chrome Web Store, however, there are many cases whereby browser hijackers are installed through intrusive advertisements or using the 'bundling' method. Intrusive advertisements redirect users to malicious websites and execute scripts that stealthily download and install malware.
The bundling method installs (unwanted) software with other regular software in a deceptive way. Developers tend to hide these "bundled" apps within "Custom", "Advanced" settings or options (or other sections) of the download/installation processes.
They often do not disclose this information properly, and this is how they are installed without being noticed by users. Clicking on various ads can also lead to installation of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) or even computer infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Pay close attention to the details when installing various software, especially if it is free. Check all available "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar options/settings. Look for any checkboxes, especially those that are ticked by default.
Do not click intrusive ads - these usually seem legitimate, but redirect to untrustworthy websites such as adult dating, pornography, gambling, and so on. Download software using direct links and official websites only.
Avoid using various third party software downloaders/installers, since they are often monetized using the aforementioned bundling method and might install unwanted programs. If your computer is already infected with Clean My Browser, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.cleanmybrowser.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Clean My Browser application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.cleanmybrowser.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Clean My Browser browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.cleanmybrowser.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.cleanmybrowser.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Clean My Browser 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, "Clean My Browser"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.cleanmybrowser.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Clean My Browser 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://search.cleanmybrowser.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 "cleanmybrowser".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the clean my browser 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 "Clean My Browser" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Clean My Browser", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.cleanmybrowser.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on 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 "search.cleanmybrowser.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 clean my browser 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 on "Extensions" and remove "Clean My Browser", 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://search.cleanmybrowser.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: "search.cleanmybrowser.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with clean my browser 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 clean my browser 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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