How to remove DPS Websafe

What is DPS Websafe?

DPS Websafe hijacks browsers by modifying certain browser settings (changing them to dpswebsafe.com, the address of a fake search engine). Users often download and install browser hijackers inadvertently and, for this reason, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Note that apps such as DPS Websafe are often designed to promote fake search engines and collect browsing-related data.

Generally, browser hijackers change settings such as the address of the homepage, default search engine and new tab. DPS Websafe assigns them to dpswebsafe.com so that users are forced to visit this address when they open a browser, new window, or enter search queries into the URL bar.

Note that dpswebsafe.com is classified as a fake search engine, since it does not generate unique results - it simply displays those generated by Bing (by redirecting users to bing.com). Commonly, apps such as DPS Websafe prevent users from removing the address of the fake search engine from the aforementioned settings.

Therefore, redirects to dpswebsafe.com (and other unwanted addresses that appear in browser settings due to browser hijackers) are stopped only when DPS Websafe is no longer installed on the browser. As with many browser hijackers, this app might be designed to collect information relating to users' browsing habits.

Typically, these apps target browsing data (e.g., entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, IP addresses), however, in some cases, they are capable of accessing private, sensitive information as well. Developers sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misuse it to generate revenue in other ways.

Users with browsers hijacked by apps such as DPS Websafe might thus become victims of identity theft, experience problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy, and other issues. Therefore, never download or install any PUAs.

Threat Summary:

Name	DPS Websafe
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	DPS Websafe
Supposed Functionality	This app supposedly ensures complete web protection.
Promoted URL	dpswebsafe.com
Serving IP Address (dpswebsafe.com)	154.27.69.80
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 applications that are classified as browser hijackers are Remove Notifications, StreaminSearchs and Search-Plus. They all promote a fake search engine and gather browsing-related information. Browser hijackers supposedly include various features, improve the browsing experience, etc.

In fact, they do not function as promised and can cause serious problems.

How did DPS Websafe install on my computer?

Users can cause download/installation of PUAs by clicking deceptive ads that run certain scripts. More commonly it happens when the rogue apps are included into the download/installation set-ups of other, mainly free, programs. PUAs are often included into the set-ups of other programs as extra offers.

This distribution method of PUAs is called "bundling". Usually information about included apps is provided in "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar areas of the set-ups. Many users leave these settings unchanged, thereby giving permission for included PUAs to be downloaded and installed with the required software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), unofficial, dubious pages, third party downloaders, installers and other channels of this kind are monetized by distributing PUAs or even malicious apps. Therefore, it is not safe to use them. Files and programs should be downloaded only from official pages and via direct links.

Check all "Custom" and "Advanced" settings and decline offers download or install PUAs before completing the process. Do not click advertisements that appear on dubious pages, since these can open other rogue websites or cause unwanted downloads and installations.

Remove any suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins installed on the browser. Also remove programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with DPS Websafe, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting DPS Websafe browser hijacker:

Notification stating that DPS Websafe can read and change certain data (Chrome):

Notification asking permission for DPS Websafe to access various data (Firefox):

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

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

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

DPS Websafe 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://dpswebsafe.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 "DPS Websafe".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the dpswebsafe.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 "DPS Websafe" 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 "DPS Websafe", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.dpswebsafe.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 "dpswebsafe.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 dpswebsafe.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 "DPS Websafe", 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 "DPS Websafe", remove hxxp://dpswebsafe.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 dpswebsafe.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 dpswebsafe.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 dpswebsafe.com redirect or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion