How to remove findmebuy.com from the browser's settings
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is findmebuy.com?
While inspecting findmebuy.com, our team found that it is a search engine that generates questionable results and shows advertisements. It is worth mentioning that search engines of this kind usually are promoted by browser hijackers that modify the browser's settings. Most users add browser hijackers to browsers inadvertently.
More about findmebuy.com
Clicking on results generated by findmebuy.com may open untrustworthy websites, e.g., pages offering to download browser hijackers and other shady apps, requesting to provide personal/sensitive information, offering to purchase questionable apps, etc. The same applies to ads shown by findmebuy.com.
Additionally, search engines like findmebuy.com (and apps promoting them) can be designed to gather browsing-related and other information. This information can be misused for marketing purposes (e.g., to show targeted ads), sold to third parties, or monetized in other ways.
As we mentioned in the introduction, shady search engines are typically promoted by browser hijackers. Apps of this type change the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to a certain search engine (often a fake one). Also, browser hijackers tend to be designed to prevent users from undoing those changes.
Name | findmebuy.com browser hijacker |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Supposed Functionality | Accurate search results |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
Detection Names | N/A (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address | 18.160.144.119 |
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. |
Search engines of this kind in general
Questionable search engines can promote untrustworthy websites and applications. In addition to generating questionable results, they may collect various data. It is recommended to use only legitimate search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. Also, it is highly advisable not to have any browser-hijacking apps added to browsers.
More examples of shady search engines are search-tap.com, dailyguides.com, and findhealthinfonow.com.
How did findmebuy.com promoting software install on my computer?
Browsers get hijacked after users download and add browser hijackers to browsers. Typically, apps of this type are promoted/distributed via deceptive websites, untrustworthy advertisements, and software bundles. The third distribution method works when users finish software installations without changing certain settings.
Installers with unwanted apps included in them have "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings or ticked checkboxes. Users add (or install) browser hijackers when they leave those settings unchanged (or checkboxes ticked).
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Do not use unreliable sources (P2P networks, shady websites, third-party downloaders, stores, etc.) to download files and software. Use only legitimate (official) pages for that. Do not click on ads appearing while visiting shady websites (or allow such pages to deliver notifications).
Change the settings provided in downloaders and installers to deselect unwanted apps before downloading and installing programs. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Findmebuy.com shows questionable results and advertisements (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is findmebuy.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove findmebuy.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove findmebuy.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove findmebuy.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
findmebuy.com redirect 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the findmebuy.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
findmebuy.com redirect 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 all 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 the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.findmebuy.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 "findmebuy.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 findmebuy.com browser hijacker, 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 and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate 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 malicious extension (if present), remove hxxp://findmebuy.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 findmebuy.com browser hijacker 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 findmebuy.com browser hijacker, 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 findmebuy.com website?
Search engines like findmebuy.com generate more revenue for their developers when the number of users is higher.
Is visiting findmebuy.com a threat to my privacy?
It is pretty common for questionable search engines to be designed to gather browsing-related and (or) other information that might be misused for malicious purposes.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
In most cases, users download browser hijackers via notifications delivered by shady pages, intrusive advertisements, software bundles, fake installers, etc.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove all detected browser hijackers. It is important to know that browser hijackers can be designed to reinstall one another (if two or more of them are added/present). In such cases, it is required to remove all browser hijackers at once. It can be difficult to achieve it manually. Combo Cleaner removes apps of this type automatically.
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