Removal instructions for the Nano Search browser hijacker

What kind of software is Nano Search?

Nano Search is a browser extension that promises a privacy-focused search engine. This piece of software operates as a browser hijacker. It makes alterations to browser settings and generates redirects. Additionally, there is a high likelihood that Nano Search spies on users' browsing activity.

Nano Search browser hijacker overview

In most cases, browser hijackers assigned the addresses of promoted websites as browsers' default search engines, homepages, and new tab/window URLs. Due to these modifications, every single time a new browser tab/window is opened or a search query is entered into the URL bar – it results in redirects to the endorsed webpage.

Typically, browser-hijacking software promotes fake search engines. These pages cannot provide search results, so they redirect to legitimate Internet search websites.

While Nano Search does modify browser settings, it generates redirects that land directly on the genuine Bing search engine (bing.com). It is pertinent to mention that this extension could cause different redirects, as they may be impacted by factors like user geolocation.

Furthermore, browser hijackers often utilize persistence-ensuring techniques, such as blocking access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes – to prevent browser recovery.

What is more, software within this classification usually has data-tracking functionalities, and this might be true of Nano Search. Information of interest may include: URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, etc. This sensitive data can then be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

To summarize, the presence of browser-hijacking software like Nano Search on devices may lead to system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Nano Search
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Nano Search
Supposed Functionality	Access to a privacy-oriented search engine
Promoted URL	bing.com
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

Basketball Apps Srch Tab, DailyDoseQuote, Ai Quick Links, Smart Seeker, YOUSearch, FindFast Search – are merely some examples of browser hijackers we have examined recently.

This software rarely appears suspicious; it tends to look legitimate and innocuous. Users are lured into downloading/installing browser hijackers by the "useful" features that they offer. However, these functionalities are usually fake and nonoperational.

Yet even if a browser extension or an app works as indicated by its promotional material – that is not definitive proof of either legitimacy or safety.

How did Nano Search install on my computer?

Browser hijackers are proliferated using the bundling marketing tactic – packing regular program installation setups with unwanted/malicious supplements.

Downloading from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and treating installations with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of inadvertently permitting access for bundled content into the system.

Additionally, browser-hijacking software is spread by intrusive advertisements. Once clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent.

Browser hijackers can also have "official" promotional pages, and they are pushed through scam websites. Most visitors access them via redirects generated by sites using rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, misspelled URLs, intrusive ads, or installed adware.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We strongly advise researching software and downloading it from official/verified channels. When installing, we recommend reading terms, exploring available options, using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opting out of all additions (e.g., apps, extensions, features, etc.).

Due to the legitimate and harmless appearance of fake and dangerous online content – we also advise being vigilant while browsing. An example of this are intrusive advertisements, which despite their innocuous appearance redirect to unreliable and questionable websites (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.).

If you keep encountering adverts and or redirects of this kind, inspect the system and immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Nano Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Appearance of Nano Search redirecting to the Bing search engine (GIF):

Permissions asked by Nano Search 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:
▼ 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 Nano Search?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Nano Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove bing.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove rogue redirects from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Nano Search 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.

Nano Search browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove Nano Search 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 "Nano Search" 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 "Nano Search", look for the promoted URL (hxxp://www.bing.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 "bing.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 nano search 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 "Nano Search", 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 "Nano Search", remove hxxp://bing.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 nano search 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 nano search 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 bing.com website?

Redirects are a way to generate revenue. In cases where the redirects land on genuine websites, this promotion is typically done by scammers who seek illegitimate commissions through the abuse of the sites' affiliate programs.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are mainly distributed through bundled installers, freeware and free file-hosting websites, online scams, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive adverts.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Nano Search browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate installed browser-hijacking apps. Keep in mind that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be ideal, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may simply reinstall it. Browser-hijacking software might also be capable of blocking access to removal-related settings and/or undoing user-made changes. Hence, browser hijackers must be removed thoroughly and all at once.

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