How to uninstall the Inmate Search unwanted app
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Inmate Search?
Inmate Search app is advertised as a tool that allows users to access inmate records directly from a new browser tab. Once installed, however, it changes certain browsers settings to search.inmatesearchtab.com, the address of a fake search engine. Furthermore, it records various browsing data.
Applications of this type are classified as potentially unwanted apps (PUAs), browser hijackers. Typically, people download and install PUAs inadvertently. Note that Inmate Search is distributed with another PUA called Hide My Searches.
Generally, browser hijackers change settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Inmate Search sets them to search.inmatesearchtab.com and prevents users from changing settings to any other address.
Therefore, users of Inmate Search are forced to visit search.inmatesearchtab.com when they open a browser/new window, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar. This fake search engine does not generate unique results, but provides results by Yahoo (it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com).
The only way to avoid having to visit and/or use the fake search engine is to uninstall the browser hijacker - in this case, Inmate Search. Furthermore, most browser hijackers record browsing data such as entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, IP addresses, and so on.
These apps sometimes target sensitive, personal information. Developers share the data with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. These actions can lead to problems with web browsing safety, online privacy, and so on. Some users might even have their identities stolen.
These are the main reasons why you should uninstall all browser hijackers (including Inmate Search, Hide My Searches) immediately.
| Name | Inmate Search |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Ser.Ursu.17195), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), TrendMicro (PUA.Win32.WinWrapper.AD), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Inmate Search |
| Supposed Functionality | This app supposed to deliver a quick access to inmate records. |
| Promoted URL | search.inmatesearchtab.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.inmatesearchtab.com) | 3.226.49.154 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Additional Information | Inmate Search is distributed with another browser hijacker called Hide My Searches. |
| 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. |
Quick Audio Converter, Hotels Booking, and Accurate Weather Today are just some examples of other apps that are classified as browser hijackers. These apps supposedly deliver various features, however, most are useless. Their main purpose is to promote fake search engines and collect browsing (and other) data.
How did Inmate Search install on my computer?
Inmate Search can be downloaded from its website, however, most people download and install browser hijackers and other PUAs through intrusive ads or together with other (usually free) programs. This occurs when PUAs are included into the download/installation set-ups of other software.
This distribution method is called "bundling". Typically, information about additionally-included apps is placed in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings. People who download or/and install programs without checking and changing the settings, often download and install PUAs together with their regular software.
Unwanted downloads and installations can also be caused through deceptive advertisements that run certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Software should be downloaded from official and trustworthy websites. Do not use third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), dubious pages, or other similar sources to download/install software.
Download and installation set-ups often contain "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings - check these carefully and dismiss offers to download or install unwanted apps before completing the process. When clicked, many intrusive ads redirect people to dubious websites or download/install unwanted apps.
Do not click these advertisements, especially if they are displayed on web pages relating to gambling, adult dating, pornography, or other pages of this kind.
Remove any unwanted or unknown extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons installed on the browser. Also remove any programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Inmate Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Inmate Search browser hijacker:
Inmate Search browser hijacker installer set-up:
Inmate Search asks permission to read and change various data:
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 Inmate Search?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Inmate Search application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.inmatesearchtab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Inmate Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.inmatesearchtab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.inmatesearchtab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Inmate Search 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, "Inmate Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.inmatesearchtab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Inmate Search 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.inmatesearchtab.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 "Inmate Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.inmatesearchtab.com redirect, 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 "Inmate Search" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Hide My Searches"), 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 "Inmate Search" or "Hide My Searches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://search.inmatesearchtab.com or hxxps://hidemysearches.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 "hxxp://search.inmatesearchtab.com" and "hxxp://hidemysearches.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 search.inmatesearchtab.com redirect, 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 "Inmate Search", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Hide My Searches").
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 "Inmate Search" or "Hide My Searches", remove hxxp://search.inmatesearchtab.com or hxxp://hidemysearches.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: "inmatesearchtab"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.inmatesearchtab.com redirect 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 search.inmatesearchtab.com redirect, 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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