Removal instructions for the Dark Mode Ext browser hijacker

What kind of software is Dark Mode Ext?

Dark Mode Ext is a rogue browser extension that promises to create a dark mode for browsers. Our researchers discovered this piece of software while investigating questionable websites.

After examining Dark Mode Ext, we determined that it is a browser hijacker. This extension modifies browser settings to endorse (via redirects) the find.isearchwithus.com fake search engine. It is pertinent to mention that Dark Mode Ext also spies on users' browsing activity.

Dark Mode Ext browser hijacker overview

Browser-hijacking software assigns the addresses of promoted websites as browsers' default search engines, homepages, and new tab/window URLs.

Dark Mode Ext makes these alterations to browser settings as well. Hence, with this extension installed: Web searches performed via the URL bar and new browser tabs/windows opened – result in redirects to the find.isearchwithus.com website.

It is worth mentioning that browser hijackers commonly utilize persistence-ensuring techniques to complicate their removal and prevent users from recovering their browsers.

Fake search engines usually cannot provide search results, so they redirect to legitimate Internet search websites. Find.isearchwithus.com is not an exception to this; it redirects to the Bing search engine (bing.com). Note that this site could land elsewhere since factors like user geolocation may impact redirects.

As mentioned in the introduction, Dark Mode Ext has data-tracking abilities. Browser hijackers usually target the following information: visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, etc. The collected information can then be monetized through sale to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

In summary, the presence of browser-hijacking software like Dark Mode Ext on devices may result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Dark Mode Ext
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Dark Mode Ext
Supposed Functionality	Dark mode tool
Promoted URL	find.isearchwithus.com
Detection Names (find.isearchwithus.com)	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (find.isearchwithus.com)	18.154.185.6
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).
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Browser hijacker examples

Lucky baro, Bookmark, Quick World Clock, and Coffee Ext are but a few examples of browser hijackers that we have investigated recently. Browser-hijacking software tends to appear legitimate and offers a broad range of features. However, the promised functionalities are usually fake and nonoperational.

It must be stressed that even if a browser extension or an application operates as indicated by its promotional material – that is not a guarantee of either legitimacy or safety.

How did Dark Mode Ext install on my computer?

We acquired Dark Mode Ext from its "official" download webpage. Aside from legitimate-looking promotional pages, browser hijackers are commonly endorsed on scam websites. Users primarily enter these webpages via redirects generated by sites using rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, intrusive adverts, or installed adware.

The bundling marketing technique – packing regular program installation setups with unwanted/malicious additions – is also used to distribute browser-hijacking software.

Download from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and third-party websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installation processes (e.g., used "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system.

Intrusive ads proliferate browser hijackers as well. When clicked on, some of these advertisements can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

It is important to research software before downloading or purchasing it. Additionally, all downloads must be performed from official and trustworthy sources. When installing, we advise reading terms, exploring available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, extensions, tools, and so on.

Another recommendation is to be careful while browsing since fraudulent and malicious online content usually appears genuine and innocuous. For example, while intrusive adverts may look ordinary/harmless – they redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, pornography, adult dating, gambling, etc.).

In case of continuous encounters with such ads and/or redirects, check the system and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Dark Mode Ext, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Permissions asked by Dark Mode Ext browser hijacker:

Website promoting Dark Mode Ext browser hijacker:

Appearance of find.isearchwithus.com redirecting to the Bing search engine (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:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Dark Mode Ext?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Dark Mode Ext browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove find.isearchwithus.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove find.isearchwithus.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Dark Mode Ext 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, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Dark Mode Ext browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove Dark Mode Ext browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate "Dark Mode Ext" 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 "Dark Mode Ext", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.find.isearchwithus.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 "find.isearchwithus.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 find.isearchwithus.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 "Dark Mode Ext", 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 "Dark Mode Ext", remove hxxp://find.isearchwithus.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 find.isearchwithus.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 find.isearchwithus.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 to visit find.isearchwithus.com website?

Redirects to websites like find.isearchwithus.com are generated because cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) profit through them.

Is visiting find.isearchwithus.com a threat to my privacy?

Most likely, yes. Sites like find.isearchwithus.com usually collect information about their visitors in order to sell it to third-parties.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser-hijacking software is primarily proliferated via bundled installers, online scams, deceptive promotional webpages, freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive advertisements.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Dark Mode Ext browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan systems and eliminate detected browser-hijacking apps. Note that manual removal (unaided by security software) might be ineffective, especially when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. What is more, browser-hijacking software might render removal-related settings inaccessible. Hence, it is essential to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.

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