How to remove tobepartou.com from the settings of a hijacked browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of page is tobepartou.com?
Tobepartou.com is a fake search engine promoted through a browser hijacker called Properties (and other apps of this type). The installer ("CS_installer.exe") for Properties browser hijacker is distributed using a deceptive website, download pages for cracked software, YouTube downloaders.
Tobepartou.com in detail
Browser hijackers used to promote tobepartou.com do not always change the web browser's settings. When they change them, they replace the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page (their addresses) with tobepartou.com. Tobepartou.com is a fake search engine that redirects to bing.com via searchithub.com (another shady website).
Also, tobepartou.com could redirect users to untrustworthy websites, generate misleading results. Either way, tobepartou.com, and apps used to promote it cannot be trusted. Usually, users cannot remove fake search engines from the settings of hijacked browsers while browser hijackers are present.
| Name | tobepartou.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Properties (and other browser hijackers) |
| Supposed Functionality | Accurate search results |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Detection Names (Deceptive Installer) | Avast (Win32:TrojanX-gen [Trj]), AVG (Win32:TrojanX-gen [Trj]), Bkav Pro (VEX.Webshell), Cyren (W32/MSIL_Agent.COP.gen!Eldorado), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Detection Names (tobepartou.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| 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. |
More about fake search engines
Fake search engines can be designed to gather information about their users. The same applies to browser hijackers. In such cases, collected data may be misused by selling it to third parties and in other ways. Examples of other fake search engines are krestinaful.com, searchzone.xyz, ginmule.xyz.
How did tobepartou.com install on my computer?
A browser hijacker promoting tobepartou.com is distributed using a malicious installer named "CS_installer.exe". This installer is distributed using a deceptive website (its screenshot is provided below). It is also common for browser-hijacking apps to be distributed through installers for other programs.
Programs bundled with browser hijackers have "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings in their installers (or downloaders). Users end up having their browsers hijacked when they install (or download) programs without changing the aforementioned settings. In other cases, browser hijackers are distributed via deceptive advertisements.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Use trustworthy (official) websites to download files and programs. Other sources (like third-party downloaders, unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks) can be used to distribute PUAs or even malicious apps. Do not click on advertisements that appear on questionable web pages.
It is also important to check downloaders and installers for optional downloads and installations and deselect unwanted apps before downloading or installing programs. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.
Tobepartou.com redirects to bing.com via searchithub.com (GIF):
Screenshot of a deceptive website used to promote an ISO file containing the installer (named "CS_installer.exe") for the "Properties" browser hijacker:
Screenshot of the deceptive installer and an ISO file (it is also distributed via software cracks, YouTube downloaders, etc):
Another example of a malicious installer used to inject a browser hijacker that promotes tobepartou.com website:
Screenshot of the "Properties" browser hijacker installed on Chrome:
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 tobepartou.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove tobepartou.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove tobepartou.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove tobepartou.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
tobepartou.com redirect 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the tobepartou.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
tobepartou.com redirect 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 "Properties" or 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.tobepartou.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 "tobepartou.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 tobepartou.com browser hijacker, 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 all 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 remove hxxp://tobepartou.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 tobepartou.com browser hijacker 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 tobepartou.com browser hijacker, 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit tobepartou.com website?
The creators of this page seek to have their page visited as often as possible: the higher the number of website visits, the more money its creators make.
Is visiting tobepartou.com a threat to my privacy?
Fake search engines like tobepartou.com and browser hijackers used to promote them can be designed to gather various information about their users.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed using downloaders and installers for other programs or social engineering tactics like browser notifications, intrusive advertisements. It is also common for them to be promoted through deceptive websites.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Properties or other browser hijacker?
Browser hijackers should be removed automatically (especially if more than one app of this type is present). They can reinstall one other, making it difficult to remove them manually. In such cases, all of them have to be removed at once. It can be easily done using software like Combo Cleaner.
Outstanding!
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