Removing the browsing-hijacking software redirecting to thebestwefind.com
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is thebestwefind.com?
While inspecting browser hijackers, our researchers found the thebestwefind.com fake search engine. Sites of this kind are typically promoted by browser-hijacking software. It makes alterations to browsers in order to cause redirects to illegitimate search engines. Furthermore, websites like thebestwefind.com usually collect information about their visitors.
How do browser hijackers promote thebestwefind.com?
Browser hijackers assign fake search engine addresses as browsers' homepages, default search engines, and new tab/window URLs. Hence with a browser hijacker promoting thebestwefind.com installed, new browser tabs/windows opened and Web searches performed via the URL bar – result in redirects to this site.
It is pertinent to mention that browser-hijacking software may be capable of restricting access to removal-related settings and/or undoing user-made changes.
While in most cases, illegitimate search engines cannot generate search results and redirect to genuine ones (e.g., Yahoo, Bing, Google, etc.) – that is not the case with thebestwefind.com. The search results this website provides are inaccurate and may advertise deceptive/malicious content.
What is more, fake search engines and browser hijackers typically gather sensitive information. Data of interest may include: searched queries, visited URLs, viewed webpages, bookmarks, IP addresses, personally identifiable details, usernames/passwords, finance-related information, and so on. The collected data can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.
To summarize, the presence of browser-hijacking software on the device can result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.
Name | thebestwefind.com browser hijacker |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
Detection Names | N/A (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address | 151.101.70.114 |
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). |
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. |
Fake search engine and browser hijacker examples
We have inspected countless browser hijackers and illegitimate search engines; Racing Cars Tab, Nature NewTab Extension, Nautica – are some examples of the former, and searchatwebs.com, gosearches.gg, searchesmia.com – of the latter.
This software and sites usually appear ordinary and innocuous. However, they seldom operate as promised, and in most cases – all the promised functionalities are nonoperational. Note that even if the software works as advertised – that is not proof of its legitimacy or safety.
How did thebestwefind.com promoting software install on my computer?
Browser hijackers can have "official" promotional pages, and they are endorsed via scam websites. Most users access such webpages through redirects caused by sites using rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware.
Furthermore, intrusive advertisements are used to distribute browser-hijacking software. When clicked on, some of the adverts can execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations.
"Bundling" – packing regular programs with unwanted/malicious supplements – is also used to proliferate browser hijackers. Download from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations (e.g., skipped steps, used "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
We highly recommend researching software and downloading only from official and verified sources. Installation processes must be treated with caution. Therefore, we advise reading terms, studying available options, using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opting out of additional apps, extensions, tools, features, and so forth.
Another recommendation is to be vigilant when browsing since fake and malicious online content typically appears legitimate. For example, intrusive ads may look harmless – however, they redirect to unreliable/questionable websites (e.g., gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.).
In case of encounters with adverts and/or redirects of this kind, check the system and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Appearance of thebestwefind.com redirect (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:
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Quick menu:
- What is thebestwefind.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove thebestwefind.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove thebestwefind.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove thebestwefind.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Thebestwefind.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, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Thebestwefind.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.thebestwefind.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 "thebestwefind.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 thebestwefind.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://thebestwefind.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 thebestwefind.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 thebestwefind.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.
Post a comment:
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users to visit thebestwefind.com website?
Cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) typically generate revenue through redirects to websites like thebestwefind.com.
Is visiting thebestwefind.com a threat to my privacy?
To a certain extent, yes. Sites like thebestwefind.com usually collect (and sell) information about their visitors.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are mainly proliferated via deceptive promotional sites, bundled installers, freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, online scams, spam browser notifications, and intrusive ads.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate installed browser-hijacking apps. It is pertinent to mention that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be a perfect solution. In cases where multiple browser hijackers are present, after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. Furthermore, browser-hijacking software can deny access to removal-related settings and/or undo user-made changes. Therefore, browser hijackers must be removed thoroughly and all at once.
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