How to remove the "Tail doing" browser-hijacking extension

What is Tail doing?

Our researchers discovered the "Tail doing" browser extension while investigating suspicious software endorsing websites. After analyzing this extension, we determined that it is a browser hijacker. Tail doing modifies browsers to promote the tailsearch.com fake search engine. Additionally, this browser extension collects private data.

Tail doing browser hijacker overview

Browser hijackers reassign browsers' default search engine, homepage, and new tab/window URLs to promoted website addresses. Hence, with Tail doing installed: web searches performed via the URL bar and new tabs/windows opened - result in redirects to the tailsearch.com site.

Fake search engines typically cannot generate search results, so they redirect to genuine ones. At the time of research, tailsearch.com redirected to Google and via my-search.com and trafficjunction.com to Bing. However, tailsearch.com may land elsewhere, as factors like user geolocation can impact redirects.

Browser-hijacking software can restrict access to removal-related settings and/or undo user-made changes. Tail doing is not an exception - it uses persistence-ensuring techniques as well.

Furthermore, Tail doing spies on users' browsing activity. Targeted information may include: URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, financial/banking data, etc. The collected information can be monetized via sale to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

In summary, the presence of software like Tail doing may lead to system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Tail doing
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Tail doing
Promoted URL	tailsearch.com
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner 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.

Browser hijacker examples

Baseball Start, Internet Download Manager, Weekly Hits, and Baro box are merely some examples of browser hijackers that we have analyzed recently. This software usually appears legitimate and harmless. It also offers various "useful" features, which are rarely operational.

How did Tail doing install on my computer?

We acquired Tail doing from a dubious download page. Browser hijackers are promoted on scam websites as well. Most users access such sites via redirects caused by webpages using rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, mistyped URLs, or installed adware.

Intrusive advertisements also proliferate browser-hijacking software. When clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user permission.

Furthermore, browser hijackers can be bundled (packed together) with ordinary programs. Download from untrustworthy sources (e.g., unofficial and freeware sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations (e.g., ignored terms, skipped steps, etc.) increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We strongly recommend researching software and downloading only from official and verified channels. Installation processes must be approached with caution, e.g., by reading terms, studying possible options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting-out of all additional apps, extensions, features, etc.

Another recommendation is to exercise caution when browsing since fraudulent and malicious content usually appears legitimate. For example, intrusive adverts may look harmless, but they redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).

In case of encounters with ads/redirects of this type, check the system and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Tail doing, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Tail doing browser hijacker:

Appearance of tailsearch.com redirecting (via my-search.com and trafficjunction.com) to the Bing search engine (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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner 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 Tail doing?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Tail doing application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Tail doing browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove tailsearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove tailsearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Tail doing 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, "Tail doing"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the tailsearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Tail doing 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 "Tail doing" and other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Tail doing", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.tailsearch.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 "tailsearch.com", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the tailsearch.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 extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate "Tail doing", as well as all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable "Tail doing", remove hxxp://tailsearch.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 "Accept the Risk and Continue".

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 tailsearch.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 tailsearch.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 to visit tailsearch.com website?

Cyber criminals (i.e., developers of browser hijackers and fake search engines) generate revenue through such redirects.

Is visiting tailsearch.com a threat to my privacy?

To a certain extent, yes. Websites like tailsearch.com typically collect information about their visitors.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are primarily distributed via software bundling, deceptive promotional webpages, freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, third-party downloaders, fake updaters, online scams, intrusive advertisements, and spam browser notifications.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Tail doing browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate all browser-hijacking applications present. Note that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be a perfect solution, especially when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. Since when one is removed - the others may re-install it. Additionally, browser-hijacking software can restrict/deny access to removal-related settings. Hence, it is paramount to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.

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