Search.terraarcade.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.terraarcade.com?
search.terraarcade.com is one of many search engines that is promoted through a potentially unwanted application (PUA) - in this case, a browser hijacker called Terra Arcade. Like most search engines of this type, search.terraarcade.com is promoted as 'useful' and capable of providing faster searches, more accurate results, and so on.
This is the case with most browser hijackers, however, Terra Arcade changes browser settings and records data relating to users' browsing habits. Do not have these apps installed on your system or use search engines that are promoted by them.
Typically, apps such as Terra Arcade can be installed on browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. When installed, this PUA assigns browser settings such as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL to search.terraarcade.com.
Therefore, people with browsers hijacked by Terra Arcade are forced to visit this page and, potentially, then use this fake search engine when they open their browsers, new browser tabs, or enter search queries into the URL bar. None of these settings can be reverted unless Terra Arcade is uninstalled.
Note that search.terraarcade.com supposedly functions as a useful search engine, however, it provides no unique search results. In fact, once a search query is entered, it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com. Therefore, people who use search.terraarcade.com are presented with results generated by Yahoo, thus rendering this fake search engine useless.
Furthermore, most browser hijackers gather data. They target information such as users' geolocations, IP addresses, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites, and other similar data, however, some PUAs of this type might also be designed to record personal details.
Developers share collected data with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.
Name | Terra Arcade browser hijacker |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
Promoted URL | search.terraarcade.com (fake search engine). |
Supposed Functionality | Access to various online games. |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
Symptoms | Manipulated internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the internet using fake search engines. |
Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers. |
Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious 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 fake search engines that are similar to search.terraarcade.com. Some examples are searchmedia.online, feed.ebooks-club.com, and feed.searchfrit.com. They are promoted as legitimate and useful tools to browse the web, however, people who use then often experience problems relating to online privacy, browsing safety, and so on. Therefore, uninstall all PUAs (browser hijackers) and to avoid fake, dubious search engines.
How did Terra Arcade install on my computer?
Unwanted apps are often proliferated using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", developers use this to trick people into downloading and installing PUAs with other regular programs. They hide PUAs in "Custom", "Advanced", and other software setup settings.
Developers avoid disclosing information about the inclusion of PUAs. Note, however, that bundling is only effective if users leave all available settings unchecked and unchanged. People also download and install PUAs unintentionally by clicking intrusive ads that - the ads then run scripts that cause unwanted downloads and installations.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To avoid installation of PUAs, download software from official, trustworthy websites and using direct links only. Do not use third party software downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks, torrent clients, eMule and so on. Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar options or settings of software setups.
Opt-out of offers to download and install additional software. Intrusive advertisements cannot be trusted and should not be clicked. They are displayed mostly on pages relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc. If clicked, they redirect users to untrustworthy websites.
If you encounter such advertisements or redirects, check the list of installed extensions (or add-ons and plug-ins) on your browser and uninstall all unknown, suspicious, or unwanted entries immediately. The same applies to programs of this type that are installed on your computer/operating system.
If your computer is already infected with Terra Arcade, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Terra Arcade browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.terraarcade.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Terra Arcade application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.terraarcade.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Terra Arcade browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.terraarcade.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.terraarcade.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Terra Arcade 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, "Terra Arcade"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.terraarcade.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Terra Arcade 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.terraarcade.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 "hxxp://search.terraarcade.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the terra arcade 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 "Terra Arcade" 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 "Terra Arcade", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.terraarcade.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.terraarcade.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 terra arcade 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 "Terra Arcade", 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, disable "Terra Arcade", remove hxxp://search.terraarcade.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.terraarcade.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with terra arcade 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 terra arcade 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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