Removal instructions for software causing redirects to favoritesearches.com

What kind of website is favoritesearches.com?

Favoritesearches.com is a fraudulent search engine. Typically, websites of this kind cannot provide search results and redirect to legitimate search engines. Favoritesearches.com is no exception. Users may begin experiencing redirects to these fake webpages when a browser hijacker is installed on their device.

How do browser hijackers promote favoritesearches.com?

Browser-hijacking software modifies browser settings (e.g., homepage, default search engine, new tab/window, etc.) in order to endorse illegitimate search engines. Due to these modifications, users can be forced to visit the promoted website (e.g., favoritesearches.com, etc.) when they open a new browser tab/window or perform a Web search via the URL bar.

Fake search engines usually cannot generate search results, so they redirect to genuine Internet search sites. At the time of research, favoritesearches.com landed on the Yahoo search engine (search.yahoo.com). It is pertinent to mention that this webpage could land elsewhere, as factors like user geolocation might impact redirects.

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

What is more, fraudulent search engines and browser-hijacking software usually collect sensitive information. This software can target browsing and search engine histories, Internet cookies, account log-in credentials (usernames/passwords), personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so forth. The gathered information can be shared with or sold to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

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

Threat Summary:

Name	favoritesearches.com browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Detection Names	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	35.82.105.196
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.

Fake search engine examples

Browser-searching.com, rewindsearch.com, and tn-search.com are merely a couple examples of our newest articles on fake search engines.

These sites and the software endorsing them usually appear legitimate and innocuous. They can also offer "useful" and "advantageous" functionalities. However, these functions seldom work as promised, and in most cases – they are completely nonoperational.

It must be stressed that even if a webpage or an app/extension works as advertised – that alone does not prove legitimacy or safety.

How did favoritesearches.com promoting software install on my computer?

Browser hijackers are promoted on legitimate-looking download webpages and scam sites. They are most commonly accessed through redirects generated by intrusive ads, websites using rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, misspelled URLs, and installed adware.

"Bundling" – the marketing technique that involves parking regular program installers with unwanted/malicious supplements – is also used to distribute browser hijackers.

The risk of unintentionally permitting access for bundled content into the system is increased by downloading from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and third-party sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and by being inattentive when installing programs (e.g., ignoring terms, skipping sections, using "Easy/Express" settings, etc.).

Browser-hijacking software is spread by intrusive advertisements as well. Some of these adverts can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that carry out downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

It is essential to research software and download it only from official/verified channels. When installing, we advise reading terms, exploring available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, extensions, features, tools, etc.

Another recommendation is to be careful when browsing, as fraudulent and malicious online content usually appears legitimate and harmless. For example, intrusive advertisements may look innocuous – however, they redirect users to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, adult dating, etc.).

Should you keep experiencing ads and/or redirects of this kind, check the device and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Appearance of favoritesearches.com redirecting to the Yahoo 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 favoritesearches.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove favoritesearches.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove favoritesearches.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove favoritesearches.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

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

Favoritesearches.com redirect removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove favoritesearches.com 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 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.favoritesearches.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 "favoritesearches.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 favoritesearches.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://favoritesearches.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 favoritesearches.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 favoritesearches.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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on favoritesearches.com browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users to visit favoritesearches.com website?

The motivation behind developing software that produces rogue redirects is profit. In other words, the developers/publishers can generate revenue through redirects to websites like favoritesearches.com.

Is visiting favoritesearches.com a threat to my privacy?

Most likely, yes. Websites classed as fake search engines (e.g., favoritesearches.com, etc.) tend to collect and sell information about their visitors.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser-hijacking software is predominantly distributed via bundled installation setups, online scams, deceptive promotional pages, freeware and free file-hosting sites, P2P sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive advertisements.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate all browser-hijacking applications that are present. It must be mentioned that manual removal (performed without security programs) might be ineffective, especially when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. Browser-hijacking software might also be capable of denying access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes. Hence, it is paramount to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.

▼ Show Discussion