How to remove firstinearch.com from the settings of a browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is firstinearch.com?
While examining firstinearch.com, we found that it is a questionable search engine. Typically, search engines like firstinearch.com have poor search functionality and are associated with browser hijackers or other unwanted programs. In most cases, users download and install/add browser hijackers unintentionally.
More about firstinearch.com
Firstinearch.com may collect and track user data, display misleading search results or advertisements, and redirect users to potentially dangerous websites. It may not deliver accurate or relevant search results. Thus, it is recommended to use well-known and reputable search engines to avoid these types of risks.
It may be difficult to remove firstinearch.com since search engines of this kind often are promoted through browser hijackers. Apps of this type usually promote search engines by changing the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. They can be designed to revert any changes made to the browser's settings.
It is worth noting that questionable search engines and browser hijackers can be programmed to collect various user data, such as search queries, visited URLs, viewed pages, and other information. This collected data may be sold to third parties or used for profit in other ways.
| Name | firstinearch.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 | 13.33.252.129 |
| 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. |
Examples of browser hijackers
Examples of different browser hijackers are Bizzy Beaver, Qwik Search, and Never Forget Tab. Typically, they promote fake or shady search engines. It is common for browser hijackers to be disguised as legitimate browser extensions or add-ons. Users rarely download and install/add apps of this type on purpose.
How did firstinearch.com promoting software install on my computer?
There are various methods by which browser hijackers can be added to a user's browser. These include downloading free software, clicking on shady links, installing fake browser extensions, clicking on untrustworthy ads, or visiting compromised websites.
One common way in which browser hijackers are distributed is through free software bundles. In these cases, the hijackers are often presented as optional installations or included as a default option during the installation process. Users may inadvertently agree to install them by leaving the default installation settings (such as "Advanced" or "Custom") unchanged.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Read the installation prompts and deselect any unwanted apps you do not want to install. Download apps from reputable sources, such as official pages and stores, and avoid using other sources. Do not trust ads on suspicious pages or click suspicious links. Do not allow dubious pages to show notifications.
If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
Firstinearch.com displays its results (GIF):
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is firstinearch.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove firstinearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove firstinearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove firstinearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
firstinearch.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 firstinearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
firstinearch.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.firstinearch.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 "firstinearch.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 firstinearch.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://firstinearch.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 firstinearch.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 firstinearch.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 firstinearch.com website?
The income generated by the owners of firstinearch.com increases or decreases in direct correlation with the amount of traffic their website receives.
Is visiting firstinearch.com a threat to my privacy?
Questionable search engines, like firstinearch.com, typically gather various information about their users. This data can be exploited for malicious purposes.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed using various methods, including bundled installation setups, deceptive promotional web pages, freeware sites, Peer-to-Peer networks, online scams, fake browser notifications, and suspicious advertisements.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate existing browser-hijacking applications. Manual removal of browser hijackers may not be a guaranteed solution, particularly if there are multiple hijackers present that can reinstall each other. When faced with such a situation, it may be necessary for users to uninstall all of the hijackers simultaneously.
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