How to remove Eco Search browser hijacker?

What is Eco Search?

Eco Search browser hijacker is designed to promote the ecosearch.club address (fake search engine) by changing some of the browser settings and collect browsing-related information. It is common that users download and install browser hijackers unintentionally, therefore, apps of this type are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

As a rule, browser hijackers promote fake search engines (their addresses) by changing bowser settings such as address of a default search engine, homepage and new tab. Eco Search changes them to ecosearch.club.

Therefore, users who have this app installed on a browser are forced to visit ecosearch.club when they open a browser (new window), new tab and enter search queries into URL bar. Ecosearch.club redirects users to bing.com, it displays results generated by Bing search engine. In other words, it is called a fake search engine because it does not generate its own results.

Most browser hijackers are designed to keep their settings as long as they are installed (users cannot change their settings unless they uninstall them). Therefore, ecosearch.club can be stopped from being opened on the aforementioned occasions only after uninstallation of the Eco Search browser hijacker.

As mentioned in the introduction, this app can read browsing-related information. It is common that apps of this type target IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations. However, such apps can be designed to collect sensitive information as well.

Moreover, their developers could misuse gathered information to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (potentially cyber criminals) or in other ways.

To sum up, browser hijackers are designed to force users to visit certain addresses and can be the culprit of problems like identity theft, issues related to browsing safety, privacy, etc. If any PUA (including Eco Search) is already installed on a browser and/or operating system, then it should be uninstalled.

Threat Summary:

Name	Eco Search
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Eco Search
Supposed Functionality	Improved browsing experience
Promoted URL	ecosearch.club
Serving IP Address (ecosearch.club)	104.27.140.183
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.

Typically, browser hijackers are advertised as useful, legitimate applications that supposed to deliver include some features, improve browsing experience, etc. Nevertheless, most of the times they are useless and can cause various problems. Apps of this type should never be downloaded and installed.

A couple of examples of other browser hijackers are MegaAp, StreamLim and Ultra Tab.

How did Eco Search install on my computer?

Most of the times users download and/or install browser hijackers (and other PUAs) alongside with other programs. More precisely, when such apps are included in download and/or installation setups of other programs as extra offers.

Users allow PUAs to be downloaded and/or installed when they leave "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual" or other settings of setups unchanged. In other words, when they do not decline offers to download and/or install additionally included apps. This distribution method of PUAs is known as "bundling".

Sometimes unwanted downloads and/or installations can be caused by clicking deceptive advertisements, although, it applies only to ads designed to execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

All software should be downloaded from official websites (and through direct download links). Other download, installation sources and tools like third party downloaders, installers, unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule) should not be used - they can be used to distribute unwanted software.

Furthermore, download and installation setups that have settings like "Custom", "Advanced" should be always checked for offers to download and/or install additional (unwanted) apps. Additionally, it is advised not to click ads that are displayed on questionable pages.

Those ads can be designed to open shady pages or even cause unwanted downloads, installations. If there are any unwanted, unknown, or suspicious extensions, add-ons or plug-ins installed on a browser, or programs of this kind installed on the operating system installed, then they should be uninstalled.

If your computer is already infected with Eco Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Search.ecosearch.cub redirects to bing.com (GIF):

Notification saying that Eco Search can read and change certain data:

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

Eco Search 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, "Eco Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the ecosearch.club website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Eco Search 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://ecosearch.club 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 "Eco Search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ecosearch.club 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 "Eco Search" 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 "Eco Search", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.ecosearch.club) 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 "ecosearch.club", 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 ecosearch.club 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Eco Search", 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 "Eco Search", remove hxxp://ecosearch.club 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 ecosearch.club 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 ecosearch.club 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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