How to remove redirects to services.reversesearch-svc.org
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is the Reverse Phone Search browser hijacker?
Reverse Phone Search is a browser hijacker, which is endorsed as a tool enabling users to search for information associated with telephone numbers (e.g. owner names and addresses). In fact, Reverse Phone Search operates by modifying browser settings to promote services.reversesearch-svc.org (a fake search engine).
Furthermore, it has data tracking capabilities, which are employed to monitor users' browsing activity. Due to the dubious methods used to proliferate Reverse Phone Search, it is also classed as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).
Browser hijackers primarily target Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and other popular browsers with large user bases. Following successful infiltration, this rogue software reassigns the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs to the addresses of fake search engines.
Reverse Phone Search promotes services.reversesearch-svc.org in this manner. Therefore, with this app installed, each search query typed into the URL bar and each new tab/window opened redirects to services.reversesearch-svc.org. Few bogus search engines can provide unique results, and so most redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) legitimate sites.
The search engine of Reverse Phone Search (services.reversesearch-svc.org) is no exception - it redirects to search.yahoo.com. Furthermore, without removal of the browser hijacker, recovering the affected browser is impossible. Any changes users attempt to make to their browsers are automatically undone (if access to the settings is even allowed at all).
Reverse Phone Search can track data such as browsing and search engine histories, IP address, geolocation and other details. This data is likely to contain personally identifiable information, which is shared by the developers of Reverse Phone Search with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals seeking to misuse it for profit).
To summarize, the presence of data tracking content on systems can lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. To ensure device and user safety, you are strongly advised to eliminate all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.
| Name | Reverse Phone Search |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Browser Extension(s) | Reverse Phone Search |
| Supposed Functionality | Provision of information associated with telephone numbers. |
| Promoted URL | services.reversesearch-svc.org |
| Serving IP Address (services.reversesearch-svc.org) | 104.27.174.153 |
| 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. |
Get News Quickly Now, Test Speed Here Tab, Game Finder Pro and TV Search are some examples of other software classified as browser hijackers.
They may seem legitimate and useful, and people are often enticed into downloading/installing these dubious products with offers of "useful" functions. In fact, these features typically do not work as promised and, in most cases, are nonoperational. In fact, this applies to most PUAs.
The only purpose of these programs is to generate revenue for the developers at users' expense. PUAs hijack browsers, cause redirects to untrusted and malicious sites, deliver intrusive ad campaigns and collect private data.
How did Reverse Phone Search install on my computer?
Certain PUAs such as Reverse Phone Search, have "official" download pages, however, the most common proliferation method is via download/install set-ups of other software. This deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing regular programs with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling". Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. skimming or ignoring terms, using pre-set options, skipping steps and sections, etc.) increases the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content onto the system. Once clicked, intrusive advertisements can execute scripts designed to stealthily download/install PUAs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
All products should be researched to verify their legitimacy, prior download/installation or purchase. You are advised to use only official and verified download channels. Untrustworthy sources such as unofficial and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders can offer deceptive and/or bundled content.
When downloading/installing, read the terms, study all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features and other additions. Intrusive ads usually seem normal and harmless, however, they can redirect to highly web pages (e.g. pornography, adult-dating, gambling and so on).
If you encounter these ads/redirects, inspect the system and remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Reverse Phone Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Reverse Phone Search browser hijacker asking for various data-related permissions:
Website promoting Reverse Phone Search 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 Reverse Phone Search?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Reverse Phone Search application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove services.reversesearch-svc.org redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Reverse Phone Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove services.reversesearch-svc.org homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove services.reversesearch-svc.org redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Reverse Phone 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, "Reverse Phone Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the services.reversesearch-svc.org website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Reverse Phone 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://services.reversesearch-svc.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 "Reverse Phone Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the services.reversesearch-svc.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 "Reverse Phone Search" 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 "Reverse Phone Search", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.services.reversesearch-svc.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 "services.reversesearch-svc.org", 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 services.reversesearch-svc.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 "Reverse Phone Search", 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 "Reverse Phone Search", remove hxxp://services.reversesearch-svc.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 services.reversesearch-svc.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 services.reversesearch-svc.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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