How to remove the MegaAp browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is MegaAp?
MegaAp is a browser hijacker which promotes toksearches.xyz (the address of a fake search engine) by modifying certain browser settings. Most browser hijackers also collect information relating to users' browsing activities.
Typically, users download and install apps such as MegaAp unintentionally and, for this reason, they are classified as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
MegaAp changes the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab to toksearches.xyz. I.e., it force users to visit toksearches.xyz when they open a browser, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar. When used to search, toksearches.xyz redirects users to search.yahoo.com via smashapps.net and simply displays results generated by Yahoo.
To remove toksearches.xyz from browser settings, MegaAp must be uninstalled, since these apps prevent users from modifying the settings. Browser hijackers (including MegaAp) should be removed, as they can collect user-system information. They usually target browsing data (e.g., IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, and addresses of visited pages).
Some browser hijackers are capable of accessing private, sensitive data as well. Furthermore, the data could be misused to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or in other ways. Therefore, users may experience problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy or even become victims of identity theft.
| Name | MegaAp |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Browser Extension(s) | MegaAp |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience. |
| Promoted URL | toksearches.xyz |
| Serving IP Address (toksearches.xyz) | 104.27.140.251 |
| 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. |
Commonly, browser hijackers are advertised as apps that supposedly improve the browsing experience, include various features and quick links to popular websites, etc. In fact, they are designed only to change browser settings (promote fake search engines) and collect data.
Therefore, never trust these apps uninstall browser hijackers immediately. Some examples of other PUAs that are also classified as browser hijackers include StreamLim, Ultra Tab and Foxy Newtab.
How did MegaAp install on my computer?
Typically, users download and install potentially unwanted applications when they are included into the download/installation set-ups of other software. This distribution method is known as "bundling". Typically, offers to download and install PUAs can be found in settings of such as "Advanced", "Custom", and "Manual".
Many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby allowing PUAs to infiltrate. Sometimes these unwanted downloads and installations are caused by clicking deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Commonly, PUAs are distributed through Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), unofficial websites, third party downloaders, installers,etc. Therefore, you are advised to download files and programs only from official pages and through direct links.
Check "Custom", "Advanced" and other settings and decline offers to download or install potentially unwanted applications before completing the process. Do not click advertisements that appear on dubious pages, since they can open bogus websites or cause unwanted downloads and installations.
Remove any, suspicious extensions, add-ons and plug-ins installed on the browser immediately. Also remove software of this kind that is installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with MegaAp, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Notification stating that MegaAp can read browsing history:
Website promoting MegaAp browser hijacker:
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is MegaAp?
- STEP 1. Uninstall MegaAp application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove toksearches.xyz redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove MegaAp browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove toksearches.xyz homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove toksearches.xyz redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
MegaAp 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, "MegaAp"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the toksearches.xyz website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
MegaAp 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://toksearches.xyz 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 "MegaAp".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the megaap 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 "MegaAp" 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 "MegaAp", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.toksearches.xyz) 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 "toksearches.xyz", 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 megaap 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 "MegaAp", 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 "MegaAp", remove hxxp://toksearches.xyz 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 megaap 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 megaap 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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