How to remove Browse Safely browser hijacker?

What is Browse Safely?

Browse Safely is called a browser hijacker because it promotes a fake search engine (the browsesafelysearch.com address) by changing web browser's settings and does not allow to revert those changes. It is very common for browser hijackers to be downloaded and installed inadvertently, for this reason they are called potentially unwanted apps (PUAs).

Browse Safely in detail

Typically, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by modifying settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab. As mentioned in the introduction paragraph, Browse Safely is designed to promote the browsesafelysearch.com address (it changes the aforementioned addresses to browsesafelysearch.com).

Browsesafelysearch.com is a fake search engine because it shows results generated by Yahoo (it redirects users to search.yahoo.com). In other words, browsesafelysearch.com does not generate unique results. It is important to mention that fake search engines can generate results with links to malicious pages in them.

It is strongly recommended to use legitimate search engines like Yahoo, Google, Bing and avoid using fake search engines like browsesafelysearch.com. It is worth mentioning that hijacked browsers keep opening a certain address (or addresses) as long as browser hijackers are installed on them (or computers).

In order to remove unwanted address from hijacked web browser's settings, users need to uninstall a browser hijacker first. Once a browser hijacker is no longer installed, changes that were made by it can be reverted. Another reason to uninstall any installed browser hijacker is that it may be collecting various data.

It is common that browser hijackers collect browsing-related data like IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, etc. In some cases, browser hijackers can access personal details like email addresses, usernames, passwords, credit card details, and other sensitive information as well.

The biggest problem is that collected data could be used to generate revenue. For instance, it could be used for marketing purposes, sold to third parties (potentially cybercriminals), steal identities, online accounts, make fraudulent purchases, transactions. It depends on the gathered information.

Threat Summary:

Name	Browse Safely
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Browse Safely
Supposed Functionality	Improved browsing experience
Promoted URL	browsesafelysearch.com
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.

Browser hijackers in general

In conclusion, browser hijackers are designed to promote search engines that do not generate unique results or generate misleading results (include links to untrustworthy pages in their results). A couple examples of other apps of this type are TopPDFSearch, Movie Stuff, and SportSearchStream. Browser hijackers should never be used/installed.

How did Browse Safely install on my computer?

Users often download and install browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted applications through downloaders and installers for other (free) programs. More precisely, when those apps are included in various downloaders, installers as optional offers, and users do not decline them (when they leave certain settings unchanged).

Usually, PUAs can be found and declined in settings like "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual", or by unticking ticked checkboxes. Users agree to download or install additionally included apps by leaving the aforementioned (or similar) settings unchanged. This method to distribute PUAs is known as bundling.

Additionally, unwanted downloads or installations are often caused via deceptive advertisements: it happens when users click advertisements designed to download or install software by running certain scripts. It is important to mention that ads of this type rarely appear on legitimate pages.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to download programs from official websites and via direct links and avoid using other channels like third-party downloaders (and installers), torrent clients, eMule (and other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial websites. It is common for them to be used to distribute PUAs. Moreover, they could be used as channels to distribute malware.

Also, it is advisable not to finish downloads and installations without checking downloaders, installers for "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings, and offers to download or install unwanted apps. Additionally, it is recommended not to click on advertisements when they appear on shady pages.

It is common that by clicking those ads, users open untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads, sometimes even installations. Unknown, unwanted, and suspicious extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons (or other programs )installed on a browser and computer should be removed. If your computer is already infected with Browse Safely, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Browsesafelysearch.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):

Website promoting Browse Safely browser hijacker:

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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 Browse Safely?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Browse Safely application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Browse Safely browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove browsesafelysearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove browsesafelysearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Browse Safely 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 Safely"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Browse Safely 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 "Browse Safely" 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 Safely", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.browsesafelysearch.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 "browsesafelysearch.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 browsesafelysearch.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 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 "Browse Safely", 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 Safely", remove hxxp://browsesafelysearch.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 browsesafelysearch.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 browsesafelysearch.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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