How to remove TopMoviesLinks Default Search browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is TopMoviesLinks Default Search?
We have discovered the TopMoviesLinks Default Search app while doing our periodical research on shady advertising networks and deceptive pop-ups used to trick users into installing this extension. After testing the app, we have learned that it alters the settings of a browser - it hijacks a browser to promote a fake search engine.
TopMoviesLinks Default Search in detail
TopMoviesLinks Default Search promotes topmovieslinks.com by making it the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. Our team has tried using topmovieslinks.com and discovered that it shows results generated by Bing - it redirects to bing.com. Thus, it is a fake search engine.
Fake search engines can generate misleading results and provide results generated by untrustworthy search engines. Therefore, it is never recommended to trust/use them. Instructions on how to remove fake search engines and browser hijackers from the affected browsers are provided below.
| Name | TopMoviesLinks Default Search |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | TopMoviesLinks Default Search |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | topmovieslinks.com |
| Detection Names (topmovieslinks.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. |
More about browser hijackers
Browser hijackers (and fake search engines) can be used to gather information about users. In some cases, collected information may include passwords, credit card details, etc. Another detail about browser-hijacking apps is that they often do not have useful features. More examples of browser hijackers are To Find Result, Send Dark, ConvertersCoolSearch.
How did TopMoviesLinks Default Search install on my computer?
In many cases, browsers get hijacked when users install software without deselecting browser hijackers. Software bundled with browser hijackers has "Custom", "Manual", or other settings in its installer. Those settings have to be changed to avoid unwanted installations.
In other cases, browser hijackers are distributed using deceptive websites, for example, pages claiming that installed software is out of date. Another way to trick users into installing browser hijackers is to design ads to run certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Download applications from legitimate sources such as official websites, platforms. Do not trust apps (and files) downloaded from shady pages, third-party downloaders, and similar sources. Deselect unwanted apps before downloading and installing software bundled with those apps. Do not click on ads appearing on shady websites.
If your computer is already infected with TopMoviesLinks Default Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Topmovieslinks.com redirects to bing.com (GIF):
Website promoting TopMoviesLinks Default Search 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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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 TopMoviesLinks Default Search?
- STEP 1. Uninstall TopMoviesLinks Default Search application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove TopMoviesLinks Default Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove topmovieslinks.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove topmovieslinks.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
TopMoviesLinks Default Search 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, "TopMoviesLinks Default Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the topmovieslinks.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
TopMoviesLinks Default Search browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove TopMoviesLinks Default Search browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:
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 "TopMoviesLinks Default Search" 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 "TopMoviesLinks Default Search", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.topmovieslinks.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 "topmovieslinks.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 topmovieslinks.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 "TopMoviesLinks Default Search", 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 "TopMoviesLinks Default Search", remove hxxp://topmovieslinks.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 topmovieslinks.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 topmovieslinks.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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit topmovieslinks.com website?
The main reason the creators of topmovieslinks.com promote this page is that they generate more revenue when the number of visitors is higher.
Is visiting topmovieslinks.com a threat to my privacy?
It may be. Pretty often, fake search engines and browser hijackers are used to gather information about their users.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
In most cases, browsers get hijacked via browser notifications, shady advertisements, installers for other programs. Users install apps of this type unintentionally.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove TopMoviesLinks Default Search browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan the operating system and remove all browser-hijacking applications. It will remove all of them at once to prevent them from reinstalling one another. It can be difficult to remove more than one browser hijacker manually. Therefore, it is recommended to remove them with apps like Combo Cleaner.
Outstanding!
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