How to remove search-hq.com from the settings of a web browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is search-hq.com?
While testing search-hq.com, we found that it is a questionable search engine. It is common for such search engines to be promoted via browser hijackers. Usually, apps of this type hijack web browsers by changing their settings. Search engines promoted via browser-hijacking apps should not be trusted.
More about search-hq.com
Questionable search engines like search-hq.com often deliver low-quality or unreliable results. Also, they can deliver ads. Thus, clicking on results and ads shown by search-hq.com may lead to untrustworthy web pages.
These results may lead to web pages offering to download shady apps, urging to call fake technical support numbers, requesting personal information, etc. Additionally, some questionable search engines may track users' online activity. The creators of these search engines may sell obtained data to third parties for profit.
Using shady search engines can cause issues related to online privacy, lead to dubious pages and unwanted downloads, and cause other problems. Thus, it is highly advisable to use only legitimate search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.
| Name | search-hq.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 | 151.101.2.114 |
| 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), 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
Browser hijackers promote untrustworthy (or fake) search engines by altering the settings of web browsers. Usually, they change the default search engine, homepage, and (or) new tap page. Also, browser-hijacking apps can be designed to prevent users from removing shady search engines from the settings of the affected browsers.
Examples of browser hijackers are Art Tab, Racing Cars Tab, and Nature NewTab Extension.
How did search-hq.com promoting software install on my computer?
Browser hijackers are often installed or added to a user's browser without their knowledge or consent. This occurs in various ways, including bundle installations, notifications from shady pages, deceptive installers, and untrustworthy advertisements.
Free software and application downloads sometimes include additional software, such as browser hijackers, which are installed by default unless the user deselects them. In such cases, browsers get hijacked when the user finishes the installation process without changing "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Download applications from reliable websites and stores. Avoid downloading apps and files from untrusted sources, such as unofficial websites, P2P networks, and third-party downloaders. Also, avoid clicking on advertisements on questionable websites.
Before downloading or installing software, make sure to uncheck any unwanted apps that come bundled in downloaders and 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.
Search-hq.com shows ads and questionable results (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is search-hq.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search-hq.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove search-hq.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove search-hq.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
search-hq.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 search-hq.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
search-hq.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.search-hq.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 "search-hq.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 search-hq.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://search-hq.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 search-hq.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 search-hq.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 search-hq.com website?
The amount of revenue generated by the creators/owners of search-hq.com directly depends on the number of website visitors.
Is visiting search-hq.com a threat to my privacy?
Questionable search engines can be designed to gather various information about their users. Obtained data can be sold to third parties and misused for marketing purposes.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
It is common for browser hijackers to be included in downloaders and installers as additional offers. Also, they are distributed/promoted via notifications from dubious pages and untrustworthy advertisements.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?
Combo Cleaner will scan your device and remove any browser hijackers. It is important to note that manually removing them may not always be effective, as multiple hijackers may exist and reinstall one another. In these cases, users must simultaneously remove all added/installed browser-hijacking apps.
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