How to uninstall the AnonymoSearch browser hijacker

What is AnonymoSearch?

AnonymoSearch is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker which promotes a fake search engine (feed.anonymosearch.com) and the portal.anonymosearch.com address. Like most apps of this type, it promotes the fake search engine by changing browser settings. It also tracks and records various information.

Browser hijackers are classified as PUAs, since people often download them inadvertently.

After installation AnonymoSearch assigns portal.anonymosearch.com as the address of the homepage and new tab, and feed.anonymosearch.com as the address of the default search engine.

Therefore, AnonymoSearch opens portal.anonymosearch.com when users open a browser/new window/new tab, and feed.anonymosearch.com when they enter search queries into the URL/search bar.

Note that feed.anonymosearch.com is the address of a fake search engine that provides results generated by Yahoo (it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com and does not generate any unique results). Therefore, feed.anonymosearch.com is redundant and useless.

Note that most browser hijackers do not allow users to remove the address of the fake search engine from browser settings as long as they are installed. Therefore, users can prevent the browser from opening certain unwanted addresses (in this case, feed.anonymosearch.com and portal.anonymosearch.com) only by uninstalling the browser hijacker.

These apps often record browsing-related details such as IP addresses, entered search queries, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, and other details of this kind. Some browser hijackers record personal, sensitive data as well. The developers sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it in other ways.

In summary, browser hijackers such as AnonymoSearch can cause problems relating to privacy, browsing safety and even identity theft. Therefore, never download or install these PUAs.

Threat Summary:

Name	AnonymoSearch
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	AnonymoSearch
Supposed Functionality	This app supposedly improves browsing safety.
Promoted URL	feed.anonymosearch.com
Serving IP Address (feed.anonymosearch.com)	40.74.245.188
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.

There are hundreds of browser hijackers online. Some more examples include Email Access Here, Check My Email Tab and Mapssrchpro.

Typically, these apps collect various user-system information and promote the addresses of fake search engines. Developers promote browser hijackers as useful, legitimate applications, however, they deliver no real features or any other value. They are useless and simply cause problems. For these reasons, remove all browser hijackers and other PUAs immediately.

How did AnonymoSearch install on my computer?

Typically, potentially unwanted applications are distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other (mostly free) software. This distribution method is known as "bundling". PUAs are included into set-ups as 'additional offers', which usually can be found in "Custom", "Advanced" or other settings.

When users download or install their programs without checking these settings, they often agree by default with offers to download and install additional PUAs. In some cases, unwanted downloads/installations are caused by clicking deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Programs and files should not be downloaded or installed through unofficial websites, third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), etc. Download from official websites and via direct links.

Check all download/installation "Custom" and "Advanced" settings and decline offers to download or install additional software before finishing the process. Do not click intrusive ads that appear on dubious websites, since they can open untrusted websites or cause download/installation of unwanted, potentially malicious applications.

Remove any suspicious, unwanted extensions, add-ons and plug-ins already installed on the browser immediately.

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

AnonymoSearch redirects to search.yahoo.com through feed.anonymosearch.com (GIF):

Notification stating that AnonymoSearch can read and change various data:

Websites promoting AnonymoSearch browser hijacker:

Update 19 May 2020 - Cyber criminals have recently started using a new, rather unusual method to promote AnonymoSearch. They are using "System Warning Alert" scam pop-up messages to redirect users to the download website of this browser hijacker.

Using such scam messages to promote apps like AnonymoSearch is uncommon, since most of these scams are employed for phishing purposes or to extract money from unsuspecting users via phone calls.

Screenshot of "System Warning Alert" pop-up scam promoting AnonymoSearch browser hijacker:

Appearance of "System Warning Alert" pop-up scam redirecting users to AnonymoSearch download website (GIF):

IMPORTANT NOTE! Anonymosearch.com is designed to deliver web browser notifications:

Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:

Google Chrome (PC):

• Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Settings", scroll down to the bottom and click "Advanced"
• Scroll down to the "Privacy and security" section, select "Content settings" and then "Notifications"
• Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

Google Chrome (Android):

• Click on the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and click "Settings"
• Scroll down, click on "Site settings" and then "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and click on them one-by-one
• Select "Notifications" in the "Permissions" section and set the toggle button to "OFF"

Mozilla Firefox:

• Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen
• Select "Options" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen
• Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications"
• In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs, click the drop-down menu and select "Block"

Internet Explorer:

• Click the Gear button on the right upper corner of the IE window
• Select "Internet options"
• Select the "Privacy" tab and click "Settings" under "Pop-up Blocker" section
• Select suspicious URLs under and remove them one by one by clicking the "Remove" button

Microsoft Edge:

• Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window and select "Settings"
• Click on "Site permissions" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen and select "Notifications"
• Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL under "Allow" section and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)

Safari (Mac):

• Click "Safari" button on the left upper corner of the screen and select "Preferences..."
• Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane
• Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option for each

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Quick menu:

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

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

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

AnonymoSearch 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://portal.anonymosearch.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 "AnonymoSearch".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the feed.anonymosearch.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 "AnonymoSearch" 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 "AnonymoSearch", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://portal.anonymosearch.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 "feed.anonymosearch.com", 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 feed.anonymosearch.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 "AnonymoSearch", 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 "AnonymoSearch", remove hxxp://portal.anonymosearch.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 feed.anonymosearch.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 feed.anonymosearch.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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