How to remove onlinesearchnow.com from the settings of a web browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is onlinesearchnow.com?
After testing onlinesearchnow.com, we found that it is an untrustworthy search engine that generates questionable results (including advertisements). Typically, search engines like onlinesearchnow.com are promoted by browser hijackers. These apps promote search engines by changing the settings of web browsers.
More about onlinesearchnow.com
Results shown by onlinesearchnow.com may lead to phishing pages, technical support scam sites, pages that promote potentially harmful applications, and other shady sites. In addition, onlinesearchnow.com includes ads in its results, which could lead to untrustworthy websites too.
Another reason not to trust onlinesearchnow.com is that it may be designed to gather browsing-related and other information. Its creators may sell obtained data to third parties, use it for marketing purposes, or monetize it in other ways. Thus, using onlinesearchnow.com may cause problems related to online privacy.
| Name | onlinesearchnow.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Supposed Functionality | Accurat search results |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Detection Names | N/A (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. |
More about browser hijackers
As a rule, search engines like onlinesearchnow.com are promoted by browser hijackers. Apps of this type alter the settings of web browsers, such as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. Most browser hijackers prevent users from replacing fake search engines with other addresses while they are added to browsers.
More examples of untrustworthy search engines promoted by browser-hijacking apps are thebestwefind.com, bestdiscoveries.co, and searchatwebs.com.
How did onlinesearchnow.com promoting software install on my computer?
Browser hijackers are often distributed through deceptive websites that offer to install supposed "useful" or "recommended" applications. Deceptive advertisements can also cause unwanted downloads or installations if they are designed to run specific scripts. Sometimes, users install/add browser hijackers via untrustworthy browser notifications.
Browser hijackers can also be included in software bundles. In these cases, they are downloaded and installed when downloads and installations are finished without proper attention to the "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings available in downloaders/installers.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Download applications from official websites and verified stores. Avoid downloads from suspicious pages, third-party downloaders, free file hosting sites, and similar sources. Avoid clicking advertisements and fake buttons on dubious sites, and never agree to receive notifications from websites of this kind.
Always deselect unwanted (optional) apps before finishing software installations. It can be achieved using settings (e.g., "Advanced" or "Custom") or checkboxes provided in installers. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Onlinesearchnow.com provides its search results (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 onlinesearchnow.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove onlinesearchnow.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove onlinesearchnow.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove onlinesearchnow.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
onlinesearchnow.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 onlinesearchnow.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
onlinesearchnow.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.onlinesearchnow.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 "onlinesearchnow.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 onlinesearchnow.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://onlinesearchnow.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 onlinesearchnow.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 onlinesearchnow.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 onlinesearchnow.com website?
Such search engines generate more income for their creators when the number of visitors is higher.
Is visiting onlinesearchnow.com a threat to my privacy?
Search engines like onlinesearchnow.com often collect information about the individuals who visit them. This information may include details such as the visitor's IP address, pages on the website that were accessed, and other details.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed through browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, software bundles, shady web pages, etc.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove any browser hijackers that are present. Manual removal may not always be effective in removing browser hijackers, especially when they have the ability to reinstall one another. In these situations, it is required to remove all browser hijackers at once to resolve the issue.
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