How to remove VideoSearches browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is VideoSearches?
VideoSearches is the name of a browser hijacker designed to promote video-searches.com - a fake search engine. It hijacks a web browser by changing its settings. Our team has found VideoSearches on a shady website. Like most apps of this type, VideoSearches is promoted and distributed using deceptive methods.
VideoSearches in detail
VideoSearches promotes video-searches.com by making it the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. VideoSearches does not allow to remove video-searches.com from the settings while the app itself is present. We have tested video-searches.com and found that it shows results generated by nearbyme.io, search.yahoo.com, and possibly other search engines.
Video-searches.com does not generate unique results. It shows results generated by untrustworthy and legitimate search engines. Shady search engines can generate misleading results and redirect visitors to other untrustworthy pages. Thus, we recommend not to trust fake search engines or have any browser hijackers installed on browsers or computer.
| Name | VideoSearches |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | VideoSearches |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | video-searches.com |
| Detection Names (video-searches.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (video-searches.com) | 172.67.219.145 |
| 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 their users. In most cases, their developers target browsing-related information. However, they can use their apps/fake search engines to collect sensitive data. Examples of browser hijackers are SearchHDConverter, Like Dark, and Baro Ds.
How did VideoSearches install on my computer?
Most browser hijackers are promoted and distributed using questionable (often deceptive) methods. They get installed through shady ads, fake installers, software bundles, and in similar ways. In the last case, installers have "Advanced", "Custom", or other settings. Browsers get hijacked when the software installation is finished without changing those settings.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Always use official pages and platforms (and direct links) as sources for downloading applications and files. It is not recommended to use P2P networks, unofficial pages, third-party platforms, and similar sources. Also, do not trust ads appearing on questionable pages or allow those sites to show notifications.
Deselect unwanted apps bundled with other software before finishing the download and installation processes. If your computer is already infected with VideoSearches, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Video-searches.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 VideoSearches?
- STEP 1. Uninstall VideoSearches application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove VideoSearches browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove video-searches.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove video-searches.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
VideoSearches 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, "VideoSearches"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the video-searches.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
VideoSearches 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 "VideoSearches" 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 "VideoSearches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.video-searches.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 "video-searches.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 video-searches.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 "VideoSearches", 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 "VideoSearches", remove hxxp://video-searches.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 video-searches.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 video-searches.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 video-searches.com website?
This website generates more revenue for its developers when the count of visitors is higher.
Is visiting video-searches.com a threat to my privacy?
When a fake search engine collects information about its visitors, it can become a threat.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Most browser hijackers are distributed using social engineering tactics (e.g., browser notifications, intrusive advertisements) and through downloaders and installers for other programs.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove VideoSearches browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate browser hijackers. When more than one app of this type is present, it can be difficult to remove them. In such cases, they may reinstall one another. Therefore, all of them have to be removed at once. Combo Cleaner can remove all installed browser hijackers automatically.
Outstanding!
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