How to remove the PremiumSearch browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is PremiumSearch?
Once we installed the PremiumSearch application, we saw that it changed specific web browser's settings to premiumsearch.xyz - a search engine that shows results generated by Bing (bing.com). For this reason, we can state that it is a browser hijacker promoting a fake search engine.
PremiumSearch browser hijacker in detail
We have noticed that PremiumSearch makes premiumsearch.xyz as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. It forces to browse the web using premiumsearch.xyz - a fake search engine that does not generate unique results. Instead, premiumsearch.xyz redirects to bing.com.
We have tested many other fake search engines and saw that they generate misleading results or display results generated by other dubious search engines. For these reasons, we strongly recommend not to trust any fake search engines, especially when browser hijackers change settings to promote them.
| Name | PremiumSearch |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | PremiumSearch |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | premiumsearch.xyz |
| Detection Names (premiumsearch.xyz) | Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (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
One more reason not to trust fake search engines and browser hijackers is that they can be designed to collect entered search queries, IP addresses (and other browsing-related data), or even sensitive information. A couple of examples of other browser hijackers that our team has tested are Put Darker, Easy-Search, PDFConverterSearchNow.
How did PremiumSearch install on my computer?
Lots of browser hijackers (their installers) are promoted through deceptive advertisements and websites. It is also common for them to be bundled with other software - they are included in downloaders and installers as optional downloads and installations.
Apps of this type hijack web browsers when users download or install certain programs without changing "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings available in their downloaders or installers.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Do not click on advertisements appearing on torrent sites, adult dating pages, and other sites of this kind. Use official websites and direct links to download applications and files. Do not trust sources such as unofficial pages, third-party downloaders, P2P networks, etc.).
Also, deselect unwanted applications (change "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings in downloaders and installers) before downloading and installing programs. If your computer is already infected with PremiumSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Premiumsearch.xyz redirects to bing.com (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 PremiumSearch?
- STEP 1. Uninstall PremiumSearch application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove PremiumSearch browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove premiumsearch.xyz homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove premiumsearch.xyz redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
PremiumSearch 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, "PremiumSearch"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the premiumsearch.xyz website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
PremiumSearch 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 "PremiumSearch" 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 "PremiumSearch", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.premiumsearch.xyz) 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 "premiumsearch.xyz", 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 premiumsearch.xyz 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 "PremiumSearch", 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 "PremiumSearch", remove hxxp://premiumsearch.xyz 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 premiumsearch.xyz 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 premiumsearch.xyz 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit premiumsearch.xyz website?
The creators of the premiumsearch.xyz site seek to make it visitable because their earnings depend directly on the count of visitors.
Is visiting premiumsearch.xyz a threat to my privacy?
It is possible because websites like premiumsearch.xyz 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 various social engineering tactics, such as browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, etc. In other cases, they are distributed by bundling them with other programs (by including them in downloaders and installers).
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove PremiumSearch browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove all browser hijackers. It is not always easy to remove such apps manually: if there is more than one such application, they may reinstall one another. in such cases, they must all be removed at once. It can be easily done using software like Combo Cleaner.
Outstanding!
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