How to remove Style Guru browser-hijacking app
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is Style Guru?
Upon our examination of the Style Guru application, this extension was found to function as a browser hijacker. It modifies certain settings of the web browser to point to prosearchsolutionz.com, which is a shady search engine. Both Style Guru and prosearchsolutionz.com should not be trusted.
Style Guru browser hijacker overview
After Style Guru is added to a web browser, it alters the browser's default settings, including the homepage, new tab page, and default search engine. It then replaces these settings with a fake search engine called prosearchsolutionz.com.
Although they may appear to be harmless, Style Guru and prosearchsolutionz.com can pose significant risks to users' online security and privacy. Style Guru and the promoted search engine may be designed to collect and transmit users' browsing data to remote servers without their knowledge or consent.
Style Guru and prosearchsolutionz.com may collect various types of information about users, including search queries, browsing history, and personal identifiable information. This data can be used for malicious activities, such as identity theft and targeted advertising. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to remove Style Guru from the web browser and switch to trustworthy search engines like Google or Yahoo.
Name | Style Guru |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Browser Extension(s) | Style Guru |
Supposed Functionality | Seamless shopping experience |
Promoted URL | prosearchsolutionz.com |
Detection Names (prosearchsolutionz.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address (prosearchsolutionz.com) | 35.226.116.123 |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
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
Eliminating Style Guru from a device can be difficult since the program may be resistant to uninstallation and removal. Specialized anti-malware software may be required to completely remove the application from the device. Nevertheless, users can try several manual removal steps (see our removal guide below) to get rid of Style Guru.
More examples of apps that operate as browser hijackers are Cinema Pro, iStart New Tab, and Toddler.
How did Style Guru install on my computer?
Browser hijackers can be installed on users' browsers through inadvertent downloads and installations, often bundled with free software like file-sharing or video-streaming applications, without the awareness or consent of users.
Moreover, users might be redirected to malicious websites or enticed to click on suspicious links, which can trigger the download and installation of a browser hijacker. Either way, most users download and add/install browser-hijacking apps unintentionally.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
To steer clear of browser hijackers, users must exercise carefulness when downloading and installing software from the Internet, especially if it is from an untrusted or unknown source. It is important to read installation prompts thoroughly and reject any proposals to install additional software or alter browser settings.
Moreover, users should regularly scan their devices for malware and keep their operating systems and applications up to date. Finally, users must be cautious while browsing the Internet and avoid clicking on suspicious links, ads, or visiting malicious websites.
If your computer is already infected with Style Guru, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Permissions asked by Style Guru browser hijacker:
Website promoting Style Guru browser hijacker:
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 Style Guru?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Style Guru application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Style Guru browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove prosearchsolutionz.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove prosearchsolutionz.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Style Guru browser hijacker 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 prosearchsolutionz.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Style Guru browser hijacker 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 "Style Guru" and other 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 "Style Guru", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.prosearchsolutionz.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 "prosearchsolutionz.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 prosearchsolutionz.com redirect, 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 extensions 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 "Style Guru", as well as 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 "Style Guru", remove hxxp://prosearchsolutionz.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 prosearchsolutionz.com redirect 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 prosearchsolutionz.com redirect, 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 prosearchsolutionz.com website?
The purpose of forcing users to visit a fake search engine can vary depending. However, in most cases, the goal is to generate revenue through advertising or collect users' search queries and personal information.
Is visiting prosearchsolutionz.com a threat to my privacy?
Visiting a fake search engine itself is not necessarily a threat to your privacy, but it can be if the search engine is designed to collect your personal information or browsing data.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are commonly spread through social engineering techniques like intrusive ads and browser notifications and bundled with software downloaders and installers.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Style Guru browser hijacker?
Manual removal may not be enough when multiple hijackers are present, or they have made removal settings inaccessible. In these cases, it is necessary to remove all hijackers simultaneously to ensure complete elimination. Combo Cleaner is an effective tool for removing browser-hijacking applications.
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