Uninstall the Auto Purge potentially unwanted application

What is Auto Purge?

The Auto Purge app is designed to keep browsing data safe by removing it automatically, however, this is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker. Like most apps of this type, it promotes a fake search engine and gathers browsing data. People usually download and install browser hijackers and other PUAs inadvertently.

After installation, Auto Purge assigns autopurge.org as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Therefore, people who have this app installed on their browsers are forced to visit autopurge.org when they open a browser, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar.

Typically, browser hijackers do not allow users to undo or change these settings. The only way to avoid having to visit the address of a fake search engine is to uninstall the browser hijacker that changed the aforementioned settings. This particular search engine does not deliver any unique search results - it simply redirects users to search.yahoo.com. 

Therefore, users are provided with results generated by the Yahoo search engine. Furthermore, users of this fake search engine are redirected to search.yahoo.com through browser.mobitech-search.xyz (another dubious address). Since Auto Purge is a browser hijacker, it is likely to promote a fake search engine and gather browsing data.

Typically, PUAs of this type target information such as IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, and so on.

Their developers usually sell the details to third parties (possibly cyber criminals) who misuse private data to generate revenue. Browser hijackers can cause problems with privacy, browsing safety, and some users might even become victims of identity theft. For these reasons, we recommend that you uninstall all browser hijackers immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Auto Purge
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names (autopurge.org)	Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Browser Extension(s)	Auto Purge
Supposed Functionality	This app supposedly improves the browsing experience.
Promoted URL	autopurge.org
Serving IP Address (autopurge.org)	104.27.143.191
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.
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.

More examples of apps similar to Auto Purge (browser hijackers) include ConvertMyFile Search, Quickgo Search and MyTelevisionOnline Search. Most apps of this type change browser settings (to promote the address of a fake search engine) and gather browsing data.

They deliver no real value value, do not operate as advertised, and simply cause problems. Therefore, all browser hijackers should be uninstalled immediately.

How did Auto Purge install on my computer?

Generally, PUAs are installed through intrusive advertisements that people willingly or accidentally click, or when developers distribute them using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". This method is used to trick people into downloading and/or installing potentially unwanted apps with other, regular software.

I.e., PUAs are included into the set-ups of other software and related information is hidden in "Advanced", "Custom and other similar settings. People often download and install their software without checking or changing the settings, thereby allowing PUAs to be downloaded and installed through their set-ups.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Avoid downloading or installing software through untrustworthy sources such as third party downloaders, installers, torrent clients, eMule (and other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial sites, or other similar channels. Download only from official, trustworthy websites and via direct download links.

Check "Advanced", "Custom", and "Manual" settings of any download/installation setup, and decline offers to download or install unwanted applications. Do not trust intrusive ads, especially when they are displayed on dubious web pages. These ads usually open potentially malicious web pages or even lead to unwanted downloads/installations.

If intrusive ads appear on most websites or the browser opens dubious sites automatically, check for any unwanted extensions, add-ons or plug-ins installed and remove them immediately.

The same should be applied to software of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Auto Purge, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Auto Purge browser hijacker:

Auto Purge asks permission to read and change various data:

A browser hijacked by Auto Purge opens Yahoo (GIF):

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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. 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.

Quick menu:

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

Auto Purge 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, "Auto Purge"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the autopurge.org website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Auto Purge 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://autopurge.org 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 "Auto Purge".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the autopurge.org 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 "Auto Purge" 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 "Auto Purge", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.autopurge.org) 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 "autopurge.org", 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 autopurge.org 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 "Auto Purge", 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 "Auto Purge", remove hxxp://autopurge.org 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 autopurge.org 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 autopurge.org 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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