How to remove UpSearches browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is UpSearches?
While examining the UpSearches browser extension, we discovered that it is a browser hijacker that promotes upsearches.com - a fake search engine. It hijacks a web browser by changing its settings. Typically, users download and add browser-hijacking apps to browsers inadvertently.
UpSearches browser hijacker overview
UpSearches changes the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to upsearches.com. It forces users to browse the Internet with a fake search engine that shows results generated by Yahoo (upsearches.com redirects to search.yahoo.com). In addition to hijacking a web browser, it can read and change data on all websites and block content on any page.
Search.yahoo.com is a legitimate search engine. However, fake search engines like upsearches.com can generate misleading results (include untrustworthy pages in their results) and show results generated by untrustworthy search engines. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to use/trust fake search engines.
| Name | UpSearches |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | UpSearches |
| Supposed Functionality | Simple and fast Internet browsing |
| Promoted URL | upsearches.com |
| Detection Names (upsearches.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
Usually, browser hijackers do not allow users to remove fake search engines (their addresses) from the settings of web browsers. Users must remove browser hijackers before they can remove fake search engines. Another reason to remove browser hijackers (and fake search engines) is that they can be designed to collect information about users.
More examples of browser hijackers are Baseball Start, Tail doing, and Weekly Hits.
How did UpSearches install on my computer?
UpSearches gets added to a web browser after following the steps provided on a website promoting this browser hijacker. In other cases, browsers get hijacked via deceptive ads, software bundles, fake installers, etc.
Software bundled with a browser hijacker usually has "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings or ticked checkboxes in its installer. Users agree to install or add browser hijackers after completing installations without changing those settings.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Download applications from legitimate (official) websites and stores. Do not use third-party stores, unofficial pages, P2P networks, free file hosting sites, etc., to download apps and files. Inspect downloaders and installers before downloading and installing software (deselect unwanted apps before completing installations).
Also, do not trust advertisements appearing on suspicious web pages or agree to receive notifications from those pages. If your computer is already infected with UpSearches, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Upsearches.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):
Permissions asked by UpSearches browser hijacker:
Website promoting UpSearches 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 UpSearches?
- STEP 1. Uninstall UpSearches application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove UpSearches browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove upsearches.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove upsearches.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
UpSearches 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, "UpSearches"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the upsearches.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
UpSearches browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove UpSearches 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 "UpSearches" 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 "UpSearches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.upsearches.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 "upsearches.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 upsearches.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 "UpSearches", 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 "UpSearches", remove hxxp://upsearches.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 upsearches.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 upsearches.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 upsearches.com website?
Typically, fake search engines generate more revenue when more people use them. Their developers aim to increase website traffic to make more money.
Is visiting upsearches.com a threat to my privacy?
Fake search engines like upsearches.com can be designed to gather various information about their users. Also, they can generate misleading results (show untrustworthy websites among their search results).
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
It is common for browser hijackers to be distributed via software bundles (installers for other software). Also, browser hijackers are often distributed via browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, etc.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove UpSearches browser hijacker?
Combo Cleaner will remove all detected browser hijackers. It will remove all of them at once. It is important to mention that manual removal can be difficult when multiple browser hijackers are present since they can be designed to reinstall one another. Combo Cleaner completely removes all browser-hijacking apps without leaving any of their files in the system.
Outstanding!
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