How to remove the FreeSearchMusic browser hijacker?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is FreeSearchMusic?
FreeSearchMusic is a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker designed to alter web browser's settings. It changes settings to promote freesearchmusic.com - a fake search engine. FreeSearchMusic is a PUA because users rarely download and install browser hijackers knowingly.
FreeSearchMusic browser hijacker in detail
In most cases, browser hijackers change the homepage, default search engine, and new tab page (their addresses). FreeSearchMusic changes those settings to freesearchmusic.com - the address of a fake search engine. It is worth mentioning that some fake search engines are promoted through multiple browser hijackers.
FreeSearchMusic is designed to ensure that the affected browser opens freesearchmusic.com each time a new window or tab is opened or a search query into the URL bar is entered. Also, it prevents users from undoing its canges. Therefore, freesearchmusic.com can be removed only when FreeSearchMusic is no longer present.
It is known that freesearchmusic.com can show results generated by nearbyme.io (a questionable search engine) or search.yahoo.com (a legitimate search engine). It could show results generated by other search engines as well. It is not recommended to use freesearchmusic.com because it may be designed to promote untrustworthy websites.
It is unknown whether FreeSearchMusic collects any information or not. It is likely that it gathers IP addresses, entered search queries, visited websites, etc. It is important to mention that some browser hijackers can access information that could be misused to steal identities, online accounts, or other malicious purposes.
| Name | FreeSearchMusic |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | FreeSearchMusic |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved web browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | freesearchmusic.com |
| Detection Names (freesearchmusic.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| 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
Browser hijackers promote fake search engines - they force users to visit addresses that could be used to promote potentially malicious websites. Typically, hijacked browsers can be stopped from opening unwanted addresses by these apps. More examples of browser hijackers are BestSearchPDF, CheckAMap, and TopSearchStreams.
How did FreeSearchMusic install on my computer?
Potentially unwanted applications are often distributed through downloaders and installers for other programs (mainly freeware). Users can deselect PUAs in "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual" or other options before completing downloads or installations of programs that are bundled with those apps.
When users leave the aforementioned settings unchanged, they download or install both wanted and offered programs. Sometimes, users download or install PUAs by clicking deceptive advertisements designed to run certain scripts. Usually, ads of this type appear on untrustworthy pages.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is recommended to use reliable sources for downloading apps and files, such as official websites and direct download links. Third-party downloaders (and installers), unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks (like torrent clients, eMule), and other similar sources can be used to distribute PUAs and malicious applications.
Also, it is advisable to check downloaders and installers for bundled applications and decline unwanted offers before finishing downloads, installations. Another way to avoid unwanted downloads or installations is not to trust (click) ads that shady pages or PUAs display. Those ads can be used promote untrustworthy websites and distribute PUAs.
There should not be any unwanted, suspicious extensions, plug-ins, or add-ons installed on a browser or programs of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with FreeSearchMusic, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Freesearchmusic.com redirects to nearbyme.io (GIF):
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 FreeSearchMusic?
- STEP 1. Uninstall FreeSearchMusic application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove FreeSearchMusic browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove freesearchmusic.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove freesearchmusic.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
FreeSearchMusic 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, "FreeSearchMusic"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the freesearchmusic.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
FreeSearchMusic 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 "FreeSearchMusic" 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 "FreeSearchMusic", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.freesearchmusic.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 "freesearchmusic.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 freesearchmusic.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 "FreeSearchMusic", 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 "FreeSearchMusic", remove hxxp://freesearchmusic.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 freesearchmusic.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 freesearchmusic.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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