How to remove gosearches.gg from the settings of a web browser

What is gosearches.gg?

We have inspected gosearches.gg and found that it is a fake search engine promoted via browser hijackers. Our team has also noticed that gosearches.gg is often the final destination URL in redirect chains (e.g., gosearches.gg gets opened via searchesmia.com). It is highly advisable not to trust gosearches.gg or apps promoting it.

More about gosearches.gg

Gosearches.gg is a fake search engine that may show misleading results (promote questionable web pages) or display results from untrustworthy search engines. Either way, it should not be used. It is recommended to use legitimate search engines like Google only.

One of the apps promoting gosearches.gg is a fake Google Docs app. This extension hijacks a web browser (changes its settings). It changes the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to gosearches.gg. Also, this fake Google Docs application adds the "Managed by your organization" feature to Chrome browsers.

In addition to promoting gosearches.gg, fake Google Docs app place invisible layers on visited pages. Once those layers are clicked, users get redirected to potentially malicious websites. Those sites may be used to distribute browser hijackers, adware, or even malware (e.g., ransomware). Also, they may be designed to extract sensitive information and (or) money from unsuspecting visitors.

Threat Summary:

Name	gosearches.gg browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Fake Google Docs applications and other browser-hijacking apps
Supposed Functionality	Accurate search results
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Detection Names (gosearches.gg)	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	104.21.74.70
Detection Names (Malicious Installer)	Combo Cleaner (Application.Agent.KXJ), Emsisoft (Application.Agent.KXJ (B)), G-Data (Application.Agent.KXJ), K7GW (Trojan ( 0059a7651 )), Webroot (W32.Malware.Gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
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 hijackers in general

The purpose of browser hijackers is to promote various (mostly fake) search engines. Sometimes, browser-hijacking apps promote those search engines without changing the settings of web browsers. Also, apps of this type can be used to gather browsing-related and other information.

Examples of browser hijackers are National Parks Tab, Clean Notifications, and Whiteboard New Tab.

How did gosearches.gg promoting software install on my computer?

Gosearches.gg is promoted via fake extensions (e.g., a fake Google Docs app). These extensions are distributed via deceptive websites. Also, browser hijackers can be found in certain installers as optional installations. Users add these apps to browsers after installing software without changing "Advanced", "Custom", or other settings.

Shady advertisements and notifications from dubious pages are also used to trick users into adding browser hijackers and installing other unwanted applications.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

Download applications from trustworthy sources such as official websites and verified stores. Do not trust advertisements on questionable pages or allow such pages to show notifications. Avoid downloads from P2P networks, third-party downloaders, free file hosting sites, etc.

Check downloaders and installers for unwanted apps and deselect them by changing the provided settings (or unticking checkboxes) before completing downloads and installations. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Searchesmia.com redirects to gosearches.gg (GIF):

Website distributing malicious installer for a browser hijacker designed to promote searchesmia.com:

Fake Google Docs apps wants to access the site:

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 gosearches.gg?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove gosearches.gg browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove gosearches.gg homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove gosearches.gg redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

gosearches.gg 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 gosearches.gg website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

gosearches.gg 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 a fake "Google Docs" app and other 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.gosearches.gg) 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 "gosearches.gg", 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 gosearches.gg 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://gosearches.gg 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 gosearches.gg 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 gosearches.gg 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on gosearches.gg browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users visit gosearches.gg website?

The creators of fake search engines aim to increase the number of users because it generates more revenue for them.

Is visiting gosearches.gg a threat to my privacy?

Fake search engines can be designed to gather information about their users/visitors. Thus, visiting/using fake search engines can lead to issues related to online privacy.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

One of the apps promoting gosearches.gg is distributed via a deceptive website that downloads a fake installer. In other cases, browser hijackers are distributed via untrustworthy advertisements and software bundles. Notifications from shady pages are also used to promote browser hijackers.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove all browser hijackers added to a web browser. It is worth mentioning that removing two or more browser hijackers can be difficult if they are designed to reinstall one another. In such cases, it is required to remove all of these apps at once.

▼ Show Discussion