How to remove the Tap togo browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is Tap togo?
We have discovered the Tap togo application while inspecting various deceptive websites. After downloading the app, we found that it functions as a browser hijacker: it changes certain settings to promote togosearching.com - a fake search engine.
Tap togo in detail
Tap togo hijacks a web browser replacing the current default search engine, homepage, and new tab page with togosearching.com. After testing togosearching.com, we learned that it shows results generated by Yahoo, Bing, and possibly other search engines. It is worth mentioning that it redirects to bing.com via my-search.com and trafficjunction.com.
Fake search engines can show results generated by untrustworthy search engines or generate misleading results (promote shady websites). Thus, it is highly advisable not to use fake search engines like togosearching.com or download apps like Tap togo.
| Name | Tap togo |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Tap togo |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | togosearching.com |
| Detection Names (togosearching.com) | Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Heimdal Security (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (togosearching.com) | 104.21.36.179 |
| 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
Most browser hijackers are promoted as legitimate/useful applications. However, the purpose of these apps is to promote fake search engines. Most of them do that by changing the settings of web browsers. It is also common for these apps to be designed to gather browsing-related data.
Examples of browser hijackers are Keep It Smart, Quick Baro, and Cool Search.
How did Tap togo install on my computer?
Tap togo is distributed via shady websites claiming that it is recommended to install it or it is required to install this app to "proceed". In other cases, browser hijackers are distributed (or promoted) using shady advertisements and installers for other programs.
Installers containing browser hijackers have "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings. A browser becomes hijacked after finishing the installation process without changing those settings (or unticking checkboxes).
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Do not download or install software until unwanted apps are deselected (it can be achieved using the settings provided in downloaders and installers). Do not click on advertisements or notifications displayed by questionable/untrustworthy web pages. Always use official pages and platforms as sources for downloading apps and files.
Do not download apps from shady websites, or use third-party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks, etc. If your computer is already infected with Tap togo, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Togosearching.com redirects to bing.com via my-search.com and tafficjunction.com (GIF):
Websites promoting Tap togo 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 Tap togo?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Tap togo application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Tap togo browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove togosearching.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove togosearching.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Tap togo 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, "Tap togo"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the togosearching.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Tap togo 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 "Tap togo" 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 "Tap togo", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.togosearching.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 "togosearching.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 togosearching.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 "Tap togo", 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 "Tap togo", remove hxxp://togosearching.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 togosearching.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 togosearching.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 togosearching.com website?
The revenue generated via the togosearching.com page depends on the count of visitors. Its creators aim to make the count of visitors as high as possible.
Is visiting togosearching.com a threat to my privacy?
Websites like togosearching.com can be used to collect various information about visitors. Usually, their creators target browsing-related data.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
In most cases, browser hijackers are distributed using browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, and similar social engineering tactics. Also, they hijack web browsers via installers for other programs.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Tap togo browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove browser-hijacking applications from the operating system. If multiple browser hijackers are present, they may reinstall one another while trying to remove them. In such cases, all of them have to be removed at once. It can be difficult to achieve that manually. Thus, we recommend using Combo Cleaner for removal.
Outstanding!
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