How to remove Alpha Search from browsers
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is Alpha Search?
Alpha Search is a typical browser hijacker - it promotes a fake search engine (alphasearch.co) by modifying certain browser settings. Furthermore, it can read and change data on websites.
Typically, users do not download or install browser hijackers intentionally and, for this reason, Alpha Search and other apps of this type are categorized as unwanted applications.
More about Alpha Search
Like most browser hijackers, Alpha Search modifies browser settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. In this case, it changes them to alphasearch.co so that users are forced to visit this site when they enter search queries into the URL bar, and open a browser or new tab.
Note that alphasearch.co redirects users to search.yahoo.com and simply provides results generated by the Yahoo search engine. Therefore, alphasearch.co is classified as a fake search engine, since it does not generate unique results. In most cases, changes made by browser hijackers can be undone only when the rogue software is no longer installed.
Therefore, to remove alphasearch.co from browser settings, it is necessary to first uninstall Alpha Search. Browser hijackers often collect browsing data such as IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited pages, entered search queries, and other information relating to users' browsing activities.
Some browser hijackers can access sensitive, personal details. Furthermore, the developers sell the information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misuse it to generate revenue in other ways.
Having a browser hijacked by such apps can lead to problems relating to online privacy, web browsing safety and even identity theft. Therefore, browser hijackers should never be installed.
| Name | Alpha Search |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Browser Extension(s) | Alpha Search |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience. |
| Promoted URL | alphasearch.co |
| Serving IP Address (alphasearch.co) | 199.59.242.151 |
| 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. |
Examples of other browser-hijacking apps
More examples of apps that are classified as browser hijackers are MyConverterSearch, Easy Finder and OurConverterSearch. Most change browser settings to promote fake search engines. They are useless to regular users and designed only to generate revenue for the developers, even if they are advertised as useful, legitimate apps.
How did Alpha Search install on my computer?
Browser hijackers, adware-type apps, and other types of unwanted apps are commonly distributed by integrating them into the download and/or installation set-ups of other programs, so that a proportion of users inadvertently download and install them together with their chosen software.
This distribution method is known as "bundling". Offers to download and install additionally-included apps usually appear in "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings of the set-ups (where they can usually be declined). Many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby granting permission for shady apps to be downloaded and installed by default.
In addition, unwanted downloads and installations are sometimes caused by clicking deceptive advertisements capable of executing certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications
Download software and files from official websites and via direct links. It is not safe to use torrent clients, eMule (or other Peer-to-Peer networks), third party downloaders, unofficial websites or other sources of this kind. Avoid third party installers. Check "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings, and decline offers to download or install unwanted software.
Do not click ads that are displayed on dubious websites, since they can open other untrusted websites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove any unwanted, suspicious applications (extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins) that are installed on the browser.
The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Alpha Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
alphasearch.co redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):
Notification stating that Alpha Search can read and change certain data:
Updated homepage of Alpha Search browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Alpha Search?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Alpha Search application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Alpha Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove alphasearch.co homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove alphasearch.co redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
- STEP 6. Remove alphasearch.co redirect from Internet Explorer.
Alpha 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, "Alpha Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the alphasearch.co website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Alpha Search browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 "Alpha 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 "Alpha Search", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.alphasearch.co) 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 "alphasearch.co", 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 alphasearch.co 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 "Alpha 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 "Alpha Search", remove hxxp://alphasearch.co 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 alphasearch.co 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 alphasearch.co 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.
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://alphasearch.co 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 "Alpha Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the alphasearch.co 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.
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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit alphasearch.co website?
The developers of alphasearch.co generate more revenue as the number of site visitors increases.
Is visiting alphasearch.co a threat to my privacy?
Visiting alphasearch.co, a fake search engine, jeopardizes your privacy, as it may collect your personal information, search history, browsing activity, and other sensitive data without your knowledge or consent.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are usually distributed through multiple means, including software bundling, deceitful software updates, untrustworthy websites, free software, and links from unknown sources.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Alpha Search browser hijacker?
Combo Cleaner can get rid of browser-hijacking applications. It is worth mentioning that attempting to remove them manually may not yield positive results, particularly if there are several hijackers present that can reinstall one another, making it challenging to eliminate them.
Outstanding!
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