How to remove the Decent Search browser hijacker

What is Decent Search?

Decent Search is advertised as an app which improves the browsing experience, however, this is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) classified as a browser hijacker.

Decent Search promotes somedecentsearch.com (a fake search engine) by changing browser settings and collecting details relating to users' browsing habits. Apps of this type are categorized as PUAs since people rarely download or install them intentionally.

This browser hijacker promotes somedecentsearch.com by assigning it as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. In this way, Decent Search forces people to visit this address when they open a browser, new tab and/or enter search queries into the URL bar.

This fake search engine does not generate any unique results - it displays Google search results by redirecting users to google.com. Therefore, it is useless and redundant. To remove somedecentsearch.com from the aforementioned settings, uninstall Decent Search, otherwise this browser hijacker will reassign the settings after each attempt to modify/undo them.

Furthermore, these apps commonly gather information relating to users' browsing activity. For example, IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, and so on. Some browser hijackers can access sensitive, personal details.

The data might be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue in other ways. Having browsers hijacked by apps such as Decent Search can cause problems relating to privacy and browsing safety, and it is possible that recorded data could be misused to steal identities.

For these reasons, do not trust browser hijackers - uninstall them immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Decent Search
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Decent Search
Supposed Functionality	This app supposedly improves the web browsing experience.
Promoted URL	somedecentsearch.com
Serving IP Address (somedecentsearch.com)	104.24.103.221
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 of this type include Find Manuals Now, Get Speed Test Fast and Get Easy Recipes. Typically, browser hijackers are advertised as useful, legitimate apps, however, they track information and promote fake search engines. In this way, they generate revenue for the developers and deliver no real value. Furthermore, these apps can cause serious issues.

How did Decent Search install on my computer?

Frequently, unwanted downloads/installations happen when people click deceptive advertisements designed to execute certain scripts or software developers distribute PUAs using the "bundling" method. They use this method to trick users into downloading and installing PUAs through the set-ups of other software that people wish download from the internet.

They include PUAs in the download/installation set-ups and hide related information in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings. Many people fail to check and change these settings, thereby allowing for additionally-included apps to infiltrate together with regular software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

To avoid unwanted downloads and installations, avoid unofficial websites, third party downloaders and installers, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule or other similar channels. Use official web pages and direct download links. Check set-ups for "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings and decline any offers to download or install additionally-included apps.

Do not click intrusive advertisements on dubious web pages, since these often open other potentially malicious pages or cause unwanted installations. Remove any extensions, plug-ins and add-ons installed on the browser, and programs of this type installed on the computer.

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

somedecentsearch.com displays results by Google (GIF):

Notification stating that Decent Search can modify certain search settings:

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

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

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

Decent 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://somedecentsearch.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 "Decent Search".

Optional method:

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

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on somedecentsearch.com redirect or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion