How to uninstall the Quick Radio Search browser hijacker

What is Quick Radio Search?

Quick Radio Search is a browser hijacker which promotes search.quickradiosearch.com, a fake search engine. Like most apps of this type, it promotes this address by changing certain browser settings and preventing users from undoing the modifications.

People often download and install browser hijackers inadvertently and, for this reason, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Quick Radio Search supposedly provides quick access to various radio stations, however, it promotes a fake search engine by changing the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab settings to search.quickradiosearch.com.

In summary, the hijacked browser opens this address when users open a new window, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar. This fake search engine provides results generated by Yahoo - when used, it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com. Therefore, it is redundant and useless.

To remove search.quickradiosearch.com from browser settings, Quick Radio Search must be uninstalled, otherwise this app will reassign the settings after each attempt to modify, undo them.

Quick Radio Search and other installed browser hijackers should be removed, since most collect user-system information, mainly browsing data such as entered search queries, addresses of visited/opened web pages, IP addresses, geolocations, etc. Some browser hijackers can access private, sensitive details.

The developers sell the information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it in various ways, thereby causing problems relating to online privacy, browsing safety, and they might even become victims of identity theft. Therefore, never trust browser hijackers, and certainly do not download or install them.

Threat Summary:

Name	Quick Radio Search
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names	Avast (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), AVG (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:Downloader.Win32.WinWrapper.lnx), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Browser Extension(s)	Quick Radio Search
Supposed Functionality	Quick Radio Search supposedly provides quick access to radio stations.
Promoted URL	search.quickradiosearch.com
Serving IP Address (search.quickradiosearch.com)	34.205.202.58
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.

Some examples of other browser hijackers are Screen Dream, Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections, and Locate Your Package. Generally, apps of this type promote fake search engines by modifying browser settings, and they also collect data. PUAs deliver no real value or features and simply cause problems.

How did Quick Radio Search install on my computer?

Browser hijackers and other PUAs are distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers'. This distribution method is called "bundling".

In most cases, offers to download or install included apps can be found in settings such as "Advanced", "Custom", and "Manual", however, many users fail to check and change these settings when they download or install software. Failure to change the default settings allows unwanted apps included in the set-ups to infiltrate.

Unwanted downloads and installations are sometimes caused through deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts, however, the ads must first be clicked to have the effect.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Do not download or install software, especially freeware, from unofficial websites, through Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, third party downloaders, installers or other channels of this kind. The safest way to download files and programs is using official websites and direct links.

Furthermore, it is important to check all settings that are available in download/installation setups and dismiss offers to download or install unwanted (additionally-included) software. Do not trust or click intrusive ads, especially if they are displayed on dubious websites.

These ads often redirect people to other untrusted websites or cause unwanted downloads and installations. To stop the browser from opening untrusted sites or showing ads, remove all unwanted, unknown or suspicious extensions, plug-ins and add-ons. Also remove any software of this kind installed on the operating system.

If your computer is already infected with Quick Radio Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Quick Radio Search opens search.yahoo.com via search.quickradiosearch.com (GIF):

Quick Radio Search browser hijacker installer set-up:

Notification stating that Quick Radio Search can read and change certain data:

Website promoting Quick Radio Search browser hijacker:

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▼ 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 Quick Radio Search?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Quick Radio Search application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.quickradiosearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Quick Radio Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.quickradiosearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.quickradiosearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Quick Radio 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, "Quick Radio Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Quick Radio 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.quickradiosearch.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 "Quick Radio Search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.quickradiosearch.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 "Quick Radio 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 "Quick Radio Search", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.quickradiosearch.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 "search.quickradiosearch.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 search.quickradiosearch.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 "Quick Radio 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 "Quick Radio Search", remove hxxp://search.quickradiosearch.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 search.quickradiosearch.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.quickradiosearch.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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