How to stop redirects to mychromesearch.com

What is mychromesearch.com?

mychromesearch.com is a fake search engine. It has a legitimate appearance and is similar to many genuine search engines. Note that mychromesearch.com even contains a Google logo, however, it has nothing to do with this company.

Bogus search engines are generally promoted by an associated Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) classified as a browser hijacker. Note that these applications do not need express permission to infiltrate devices.

Typically, browser hijackers target Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and other popular browsers with large user bases. Following successful installation, these rogue apps reassign the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs to the addresses of their fake search engines.

To elaborate how this affects browsers, each search query typed into the URL bar and each new tab/window opened redirects to the fake search engine.

A browser hijacker promoting mychromesearch.com would redirect to this URL in this manner. Most bogus search tools cannot provide unique results and simply redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) a legitimate search engine, such as Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc.

 In this case, however, mychromesearch.com does generate search results automatically, however, results generated by dubious search engines should never be trusted. The browser modifications may seem insignificant, yet they can diminish the browsing experience.

Additionally, any changes users attempt to make to their browsers are automatically reset (if indeed access to the settings is allowed at all). Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate the hijacker application to recover the compromised browser. Most PUAs (including browser hijackers) possess data tracking capabilities.

They record browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.) and gather users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). This private data is then shared with third parties (often, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for financial gain.

To summarize, the presence of data-tracking content on devices can result in serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. To ensure browser and system integrity, as well as user safety, you are advised to remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	mychromesearch.com browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Supposed Functionality	Apps that promote fake search engines supposedly enhance the browsing experience.
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine.
Detection Names	Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	35.166.195.252
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.
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Obituary Directories, MapsMyWayFree, and Watch Television Online are examples of other browser hijackers. They may seem legitimate and offer a wide variety of "useful" features. In fact, these features rarely work as advertised and, in most cases, they are nonoperational.

This applies to all PUAs. The sole purpose of these unwanted applications is to generate profit for the developers. Rather than delivering any real value, they modify browsers and promote bogus search engines, cause redirects to untrustworthy/malicious websites, run intrusive advertisement campaigns and collect sensitive data.

How did mychromesearch.com install on my computer?

The most common mode of PUA proliferation is via the download/install set-ups of other programs. This deceptive marketing method of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious content is called "bundling".

Rushing download and installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, using pre-set options, skipping steps and sections, etc.) endangers devices with potential infiltration and infections. Some unwanted apps also have "official" download pages on which they are often endorsed as "useful" and "free".

When clicked, intrusive ads can be triggered to execute scripts designed to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to research all content, before downloading/installing. Use only official and verified download channels. P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), free file-hosting websites and other third party downloaders are untrusted and should be avoided.

When downloading/installing, read the terms, study all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features and so on. Intrusive advertisements usually seem normal and harmless, however, they can redirect to highly dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating and similar).

If you encounter these ads/redirects, check the system and remove all suspect applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins without delay. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.

mychromesearch.com generating dubious search results filled with intrusive advertisements (GIF):

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Quick menu:

• What is mychromesearch.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove mychromesearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove mychromesearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove mychromesearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove mychromesearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

mychromesearch.com redirect 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 applications that cause browser redirects to the mychromesearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

mychromesearch.com redirect 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://mychromesearch.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 "mychromesearch.com".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the mychromesearch.com 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 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.mychromesearch.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 "mychromesearch.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 mychromesearch.com 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 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://mychromesearch.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with mychromesearch.com 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 mychromesearch.com 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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