How to remove the Quick Baro browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is Quick Baro?
We have discovered the Quick Baro application after downloading it from a deceptive website. We learned that after the installation, Quick Baro hijacks a web browser by changing its settings. This app promotes barosearch.com - a fake search engine.
Quick Baro in detail
Quick Baro forces users to visit barosearch.com (use it to browse the Internet) by making it the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. After testing barosearch.com, we found that it redirects to bing.com (via my-search.com and trafficjunction.com). It is a fake search engine that shows results generated by Bing.
It is not recommended to use fake search engines. They can redirect to untrustworthy pages (show results generated by shady search engines) and generate misleading results. Also, fake search engines can be designed to collect information about users.
| Name | Quick Baro |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Quick Baro |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | barosearch.com |
| Detection Names (barosearch.com) | Heimdal Security (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (barosearch.com) | 104.21.88.234 |
| 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
In most cases, browser hijackers are promoted and distributed using questionable (deceptive) methods. They tend to be promoted as useful/legitimate applications that are supposed to improve the web browsing experience. Nevertheless, their main purpose is to hijack web browsers (promote fake search engines).
More examples of browser-hijacking apps are Cool Search, Cricket Start, and YouPDFSearch.
How did Quick Baro install on my computer?
We have found at least two deceptive pages (their screenshots are provided below) used to distribute Quick Baro. This app hijacks a web browser after following the instructions provided on those deceptive pages. It is also popular for browser hijackers to be distributed via installers for other software.
When software has a browser hijacker included in its installer, a browser becomes hijacked after finishing the installation without changing "Custom", "Manual", "Advanced", or similar settings. In some cases, apps of this kind are distributed via shady ads designed to run certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Download applications from official websites and platforms. Do not use questionable sources such as unofficial sites, third-party downloaders, free file hosting pages, P2P networks, etc., for downloading them. Also, do not click on shady ads and notifications displayed by dubious pages.
Check downloaders and installers for optional downloads and installations and deselect unwanted applications before installing (and downloading) software. If your computer is already infected with Quick Baro, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Barosearch.com redirects to bing.com via my-search.com and trafficjunction.com (GIF):
Browser notification containing information about the browser hijacker:
Websites promoting Quick Baro 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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Quick menu:
- What is Quick Baro?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Quick Baro application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Quick Baro browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove barosearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove barosearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Quick Baro 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, "Quick Baro"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the barosearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Quick Baro browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove Quick Baro 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 "Quick Baro" 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 "Quick Baro", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.barosearch.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 "barosearch.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 barosearch.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 "Quick Baro", 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 "Quick Baro", remove hxxp://barosearch.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 barosearch.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 barosearch.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 barosearch.com website?
The more users visit barosearch.com, the more revenue its creators generate.
Is visiting barosearch.com a threat to my privacy?
It may be because fake search engines tend to be designed to collect information about visitors.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed via browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, and similar social engineering techniques. In other cases, they are bundled with other software (included in installers as optional installations).
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Quick Baro browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove browser-hijacking applications from your computer/browser. It is advisable to remove browser hijackers automatically, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present. Apps of this type can reinstall one another. In such cases, all browser hijackers have to be removed at once, and it can be difficult to achieve it manually.
Outstanding!
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