How to remove Freshy browser hijacker and the redirects it causes?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Freshy?
Freshy is a browser hijacker endorsed as a tool that can provide top news, as well as sports and entertainment content in new browser tabs/windows. It operates by making modifications to browsers - to promote the freshysearch.com fake search engine.
Additionally, this piece of software has data tracking abilities, which are used to spy on users' browsing activity. Due to the questionable methods used to distribute browser hijackers, they are also classified as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).
Freshy browser hijacker in detail
Browser hijackers primarily target browsers with large user bases. This software assigns fake web searcher addresses as browsers' homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URLs. These alterations may sound minor, yet they seriously affect the browsing experience.
To elaborate, with Freshy installed: new browser tabs/windows opened and queries searched via the URL bar - redirect to freshysearch.com. Fake search engines are seldom able to provide search results, so they tend to redirect (or cause redirection chains leading) to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other legitimate ones. Even if fraudulent web searchers can generate search results - they are inaccurate and may endorse untrustworthy/malicious websites.
Furthermore, browser hijackers ensure persistence by restricting or denying access to the browser settings. Alternatively, they can undo any changes users try to make to their browsers. Therefore, recovering a hijacked browser is impossible without removing the software affecting it.
What is more, Freshy can track data; such functionalities are common for browser hijackers. Targeted information includes (but is not limited to): URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, IP addresses/ geolocations, and personally identifiable details. The collected data is monetized by being shared with and/or sold to third-parties.
In summary, the presence of data-tracking software on devices can lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. To ensure device integrity and user privacy, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed immediately upon detection.
| Name | Freshy |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Freshy |
| Supposed Functionality | Quick access to news and headlines |
| Promoted URL | freshysearch.com |
| Serving IP Address (freshysearch.com) | 104.21.6.61 |
| 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. |
Browser hijackers in general
Template Search, Newtab Plus, Total Privacy, and GetSearchConverters are a few examples of browser hijackers. They appear legitimate and offer a wide variety of "useful" and "advantageous" functionalities. However, the advertised features are usually nonoperational.
Nearly all PUAs promise functions, which they do not have. The sole purpose of unwanted apps is to generate revenue for the developers; they have no real value to users. PUAs are designed to hijack browsers, cause redirects, run intrusive advertisement campaigns (adware), and collect private data.
How did Freshy install on my computer?
Some PUAs (e.g., Freshy) have "official" promotional webpages from which they can be downloaded. These applications are also distributed via intrusive advertisements. Upon being clicked, the ads can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user consent.
PUAs are also spread via download/installation setups of other programs. "Bundling" is the name of this false marketing technique - packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions. Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., skipped steps and sections, etc.) increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the device.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is recommended to research software before download/installation and/or purchase. Additionally, all downloads must be performed from official and verified sources. Untrustworthy download channels, e.g., unofficial and freeware websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - often offer harmful content.
When downloading/installing, it is important to read terms, explore all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt-out from additional apps, tools, features, and so forth. Intrusive adverts appear legitimate; however, they redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).
In case of encounters with such ads and/or redirects, the system must be checked and all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - immediately removed from it. If your computer is already infected with Freshy, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Freshy browser hijacker asking for various permissions (Google Chrome):
Freshy browser hijacker asking for various permissions (Mozilla Firefox):
Website promoting Freshy 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 Freshy?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Freshy application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Freshy browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove freshysearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove freshysearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Freshy 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, "Freshy"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the freshysearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Freshy 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 "Freshy" 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 "Freshy", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.freshysearch.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 "freshysearch.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 freshysearch.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 "Freshy", 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 "Freshy", remove hxxp://freshysearch.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 freshysearch.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 freshysearch.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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