How to uninstall the browser hijacker that promotes theappsparty.net
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is theappsparty.net?
theappsparty.net is a fake and useless search engine, which is promoted through a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker. Typically, apps of this type promote fake search engine addresses by changing browser settings. Furthermore, browser hijackers gather details relating to users' browsing habits.
They are categorized as PUAs, since people often download and install them inadvertently.
theappsparty.net is promoted by assigning its URL as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Commonly, browser hijackers force users to visit addresses of fake search engines when they open a browser/new window, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.
Note that theappsparty.net is a fake search engine, since it does not generate unique search results. I.e., this search engine displays results generated by Yahoo. When used, it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com.
Typically, browser hijackers do not allow users to remove the address of the fake search engine (in this case, theappsparty.net) from the settings - they are reassigned after each attempt is made to change them. Usually, the only way to stop the browser from opening the address of the fake search engine is to uninstall the browser hijacker.
PUAs often record browsing data such as, for example, IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited web pages, entered search queries. They can also gather sensitive, personal details. The people behind this rogue software might sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue in other ways.
In summary, having a browser hijacked by an application of this type can lead to problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy or even more serious problems such as identity theft. Therefore, never download or install PUAs - if any are already installed, remove them immediately.
| Name | theappsparty.net browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Supposed Functionality | This fake search engine supposedly improves the browsing experience. |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
| Serving IP Address | 96.45.82.193 |
| 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. |
More examples of fake search engines that are promoted by browser hijackers include supergamessearch.com, pdfsearchos.com and cosappzsearch.online. They either display results generated by other, legitimate search engine or display misleading results. In any case, never trust or use these search engines. The same applies to browser hijackers.
How did theappsparty.net install on my computer?
People download and install PUAs by clicking deceptive advertisements, which execute certain scripts, or through the download/installation set-ups of other software. PUAs are often included 'additional offers' - this distribution method of potentially unwanted software is called "bundling".
Generally, offers to download or install additionally-included apps can be found (and declined) through "Advanced", "Custom", and other similar settings of the set-ups. Many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby allowing additional apps to be downloaded and installed.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised against using third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), or unofficial pages to download or install files/programs. Software should be downloaded only from official websites and via direct links.
Decline all offers to download or install additionally-included apps. Do not trust or click intrusive ads, especially if they appear on dubious websites. These ads often open untrusted websites or cause unwanted downloads/installations. Remove any unwanted extensions, plug-ins and add-ons installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system.
If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.
theappsparty.net displays results generated by Yahoo (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is theappsparty.net?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove theappsparty.net redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove theappsparty.net browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove theappsparty.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove theappsparty.net redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
theappsparty.net redirect 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the theappsparty.net website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
theappsparty.net redirect 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://theappsparty.net 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 "theappsparty.net".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the theappsparty.net browser hijacker, 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 all 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.theappsparty.net) 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 "theappsparty.net", 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 theappsparty.net browser hijacker, 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 all 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 remove hxxp://theappsparty.net 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 theappsparty.net browser hijacker 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 theappsparty.net browser hijacker, 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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