How to uninstall the Watch TV Quick unwanted application

What is Watch TV Quick?

Watch TV Quick is a browser hijacker which changes certain browser settings to hwatchtvquick.com, the address of a fake search engine.

Commonly, apps of this type also gather details relating to users' browsing habits. In most cases, users download and install Watch TV Quick and other similar apps inadvertently and, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Like most browser hijackers, Watch TV Quick changes browser settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. In this case, it assigns them to hwatchtvquick.com. Therefore, when users open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar, they are forced to visit the assigned address.

Note that hwatchtvquick.com is classified as a fake search engine, since it redirects users to search.yahoo.com and simply displays results generated by the Yahoo search engine. I.e., hwatchtvquick.com does not generate any unique results.

Most browser hijackers prevent users from removing the address of fake search engines from browser settings, which can only be modified when the browser hijacker is no longer installed. In this case, Watch TV Quick must be uninstalled to prevent hwatchtvquick.com from being opened.

As mentioned, apps of this type often collect browsing-related data. For example, IP addresses, geolocations, URLs of visited pages, entered search queries and other browsing data. PUAs can also record sensitive details. The developers could sell gathered data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misuse it to generate revenue in other ways.

Therefore, users may experience problems relating to privacy, browsing safety or even become victims of identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Watch TV Quick
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Browser Extension(s)	Watch TV Quick
Supposed Functionality	Improved browsing experience.
Promoted URL	hwatchtvquick.com
Serving IP Address (hwatchtvquick.com)	3.213.174.175
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.

Movies Searcher, Maps-N-Directions, and Breaking News Now are just some examples of the many other browser hijackers online. The apps are advertised as useful and people are offered various features, an improved browsing experience, etc. In fact, browser hijackers are designed only to promote fake search engines and track information.

They do not function as promised and can cause serious problems. If Watch TV Quick or other browser hijackers are installed on the browser and/or computer, uninstall them immediately.

How did Watch TV Quick install on my computer?

Many users download and install PUAs inadvertently when they are included into software set-ups as 'additional offers'. Typically, these offers can be declined in the "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings. Many people fail to check and change these settings, thereby allowing additionally-included apps to be downloaded and/or installed with regular software.

Sometimes these downloads and installations are caused when users click deceptive advertisements that run certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to check all download/installation set-ups for "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual" and other similar settings and decline offers to download or install unwanted apps before completing the process. Download files and programs only from official websites and via direct links.

It is not safe to use third party software downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrents clients, eMule, unofficial pages or other similar channels, as they are often used to distribute unwanted, malicious apps. Do not click ads that appear on dubious websites, since they can open other dubious sites or even download and install PUAs by executing certain scripts.

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

hp.hwatchtvquick.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):

Notification stating that Watch TV Quick browser hijacker can read and change certain browser 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 Watch TV Quick?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Watch TV Quick application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove hwatchtvquick.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Watch TV Quick browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove hwatchtvquick.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove hwatchtvquick.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Watch TV Quick 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, "Watch TV Quick"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Watch TV Quick 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://hwatchtvquick.com (or hxxp://hp.hwatchtvquick.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 "Watch TV Quick".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hwatchtvquick.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 "Watch TV Quick" 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 "Watch TV Quick", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.hwatchtvquick.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 "hwatchtvquick.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 hwatchtvquick.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 "Watch TV Quick", 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 "Watch TV Quick", remove hxxp://hwatchtvquick.com (or hxxp://hp.hwatchtvquick.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 hwatchtvquick.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 hwatchtvquick.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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