How to remove the Browse Moment browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Browse Moment?
Browse Moment is rogue software categorized as a browser hijacker. Following successful installation, it operates by making alterations to browser settings to promote bogus search engines. Furthermore, this browser hijacker monitors users' browsing activity.
Due to the dubious methods employed to proliferate Browse Moment, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).
Browser hijackers mainly target popular browsers with large user bases such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. This dubious software assigns the addresses of bogus search engines as the homepage default search engine and new tab/window URLs.
These modifications may appear minor but they significantly affect the browsing experience. To elaborate, with a browser hijacker installed, each new browser tab/window opened and search query typed into the URL bar redirects to the address of the promoted search engine.
Fake search engines are usually unable to provide unique results, and so they tend to redirect to or cause redirection chains ending with Yahoo, Bing, Google and other legitimate search engines. In the case of Browse Moment, the aforementioned actions cause redirection chains.
One variant begins with barosearch.com, and then redirects to my-search.com, amazonaws.com, and finally to searchnewshighlights.com. The other chain variant also starts with barosearch.com and then redirects to my-search.com, then redirects to search-checker.com and concludes with the Bing (bing.com) search engine.
Furthermore, recovering a hijacked browser is impossible without removing the software affecting it, since browser hijackers can reset any changes users attempt to make to their browsers, if they permit access to the browser settings in the first place. As mentioned, Browse Moment has data tracking capabilities.
It can monitor browsing activity (visited URLs, viewed web pages, searched queries, etc.) and collect personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other sensitive details). The gathered data is then monetized by sharing with and/or selling to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).
In summary, the presence of data-tracking content on browsers/systems can lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. To ensure device and user safety, all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be eliminated without delay.
| Name | Browse Moment |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Browser Extension(s) | Browse Moment |
| Promoted URL | barosearch.com |
| Detection Names (barosearch.com) | Fortinet (Malware), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal). |
| Serving IP Address (barosearch.com) | 104.27.191.222 |
| 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. |
SopitaAm, MovieBoxSearch, and Comet Search are some examples of other browser hijackers. They typically seem legitimate, and often tempt users into download/installation with a broad range of "useful" functionality, however, the features seldom work as advertised and, in most cases, do not work at all.
In fact, this is true of most PUAs. The sole purpose of this unwanted software is to generate revenue at users' expense. Rather than delivering any real value, PUAs can hijack browsers, force-open untrusted/malicious pages, run intrusive advertisement campaigns and collect personally identifiable information.
How did Browse Moment install on my computer?
PUAs are proliferated via the download/installation set-ups of other software. "Bundling" is the term used to define this deceptive marketing technique of packing regular programs with unwanted or malicious additions.
Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps, using pre-set options, etc.) increases the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the device. Some PUAs also have "official" promotional web pages, from which they can be downloaded.
Intrusive ads are used to distribute these applications as well. Once clicked, they can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' permission.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised to research all software before download/installation. Use only official and verified download channels, since untrusted sources including unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders can offer bundled content.
When downloading/installing, it is important to read the terms, study all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features and other additions. Intrusive advertisements may seem normal and harmless, however, they can redirect to dubious sites (e.g. pornography, adult-dating, gambling, etc.).
If you encounter ads or redirects of this kind, inspect the system and remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately. If your computer is already infected with Browse Moment, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Browse Moment browser hijacker asking for various permissions:
Appearance of the alternative redirection chain caused by Browse Moment browser hijacker (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Browse Moment?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Browse Moment application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove barosearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Browse Moment browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove barosearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove barosearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Browse Moment 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, "Browse Moment"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the barosearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Browse Moment 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://barosearch.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 "Browse Moment".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the browser moment 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 "Browse Moment" 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 "Browse Moment", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.barosearch.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 "barosearch.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 browser moment 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 "Browse Moment", 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 "Browse Moment", remove hxxp://barosearch.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 browser moment 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 browser moment 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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