How to remove the GhostSearch browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is GhostSearch?
GhostSearch changes certain browser settings to ghost-search.com (the address of a fake search engine). Apps of this type tend to collect data relating to web browsing activities. These browser hijackers are often downloaded and installed unintentionally and are, therefore, categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
After installation, GhostSearch sets ghost-search.com as the default search engine, homepage, and address of a new tab. Therefore, users are forced to visit this site when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar. If used to search, ghost-search.com displays results generated by Yahoo - it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com.
I.e., this search engine does not generate unique results, and is therefore fake. To remove this address from browser settings, GhostSearch must first be uninstalled, since these apps prevent modification of settings as long as they are installed. PUAs also collect browsing data such as IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, etc.
In some cases, they are capable of recording personal, sensitive details. Collected data can be misused to generate revenue. For example, it could be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). This can lead to problems such as identity theft, issues relating to browsing safety, online privacy, etc. Therefore, browser hijackers should never be trusted, downloaded, or installed.
| Name | GhostSearch |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Browser Extension(s) | GhostSearch |
| Supposed Functionality | GhostSearch supposedly improves the browsing experience. |
| Promoted URL | ghost-search.com |
| Serving IP Address (ghost-search.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. |
There are many browser hijackers similar to GhostSearch on the internet. Some other examples are VideozSearchs, SearchConverterz and Convert PDF Hub. Most promote addresses of fake search engines and collect browsing data.
Note that these apps are often advertised as useful and legitimate, and supposedly include various features, improve the browsing experience, etc. In fact, they are useless and can cause serious issues. If GhostSearch or other browser hijackers are already installed on the browser and/or computer, remove them immediately.
How did GhostSearch install on my computer?
In most cases, people download and install PUAs inadvertently by clicking deceptive advertisements, or when software developers distribute them using the "bundling" method. They use this distribution method to trick users into downloading and installing PUAs with other software by including them in the set-ups as 'additional offers'.
Generally, these offers are listed in "Custom", "Advanced", and other settings of set-ups. When users download and install their programs without checking and changing these settings, they often allow PUAs to infiltrate. When clicked, some deceptive ads cause unwanted downloads and installations - they then go on to execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Programs and files should not be downloaded from unofficial websites, through Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), third party downloaders, etc. or installed through third party installers. The safest way to download software and files is using official web pages and direct links.
Check all "Custom" and "Advanced" settings and decline offers to download or install additional, unwanted software.
Do not click ads that appear on dubious web pages - these can open dubious websites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove any extensions, plug-ins and add-ons installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system immediately.
If your computer is already infected with GhostSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
ghost-search.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):
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Quick menu:
- What is GhostSearch?
- STEP 1. Uninstall GhostSearch application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove ghost-search.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove GhostSearch browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove ghost-search.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove ghost-search.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
GhostSearch 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, "GhostSearch"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the ghost-search.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
GhostSearch 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://ghost-search.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 "GhostSearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ghost-search.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 "GhostSearch" 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 "GhostSearch", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.ghost-search.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 "ghost-search.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 ghost-search.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 "GhostSearch", 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 "GhostSearch", remove hxxp://ghost-search.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 ghost-search.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 ghost-search.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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