How to remove ProSearch browser hijacker and the redirects it causes

What kind of software is ProSearch?

ProSearch is a browser hijacker discovered during a routine investigative session. When inspecting a Torrenting website that uses rogue advertising networks, our researchers were redirected to a scam page using adult-oriented and video game themed lures. The webpage promoted a malicious installer containing ProSearch. Note that such setups may be bundled with other suspect software.

Browser hijackers modify browser settings to generate redirects to fake search engines. This software is also known to spy on users' browsing activity.

ProSearch browser hijacker overview

Typically, browser-hijacking software assigns promoted websites as browsers' default search engines, homepages, and new tab/window URLs. Due to these modifications, users can be forced to visit the endorsed page whenever they enter a search query into the URL bar or open a new browser tab/window.

At the time of research, ProSearch promoted the findflarex.com fake search engine. Webpages of this kind usually cannot provide search results, so they lead users to legitimate Internet search sites (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.). However, findflarex.com redirects to boyu.com.tr – another fraudulent search engine.

Boyu.com.tr can generate search results, but they are inaccurate and may include sponsored, unreliable, deceptive, and potentially malicious content. It is noteworthy that redirects might differ since they can be influenced by factors like user geolocation.

Furthermore, browser hijackers often utilize persistence-ensuring mechanisms to complicate their removal. The ProSearch browser extension uses the "Managed by your organization" Google Chrome feature for this purpose.

What is more, software within this classification usually has data-tracking abilities, and this might apply to ProSearch. Targeted information may include: URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, browser cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, etc. This vulnerable information can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

In summary, browser-hijacking software is associated with system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	ProSearch
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Detection Names (installer)	ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Generik.KWWFEQX), Ikarus (PUA.MSIL.Chromex), Rising (Adware.Agent!1.1034C (CLASSIC)), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Browser Extension(s)	ProSearch
Promoted URL	findflarex.com
Detection Names (findflarex.com)	alphaMountain.ai (Suspicious), Bfore.Ai PreCrime (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (findflarex.com)	104.21.35.227
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

SmartSearch, QuickSearch, SearchPlus, FastFind, and MaxSearch are just some of our newest articles on browser hijackers. This software usually appears legitimate and innocuous. Users may be enticed to download/install it by promises of various "handy" functionalities. However, these functions seldom works as advertised, and in most cases – they do not work at all. Keep in mind that operational features alone do not prove a software's legitimacy or safety.

How did ProSearch install on my computer?

We downloaded an installation setup containing ProSearch from a scam page, which initially offered downloadable pornographic content. After the "Proceed To Download" button was pressed, the site loaded a different page presenting the download as "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" video game.

It is pertinent to mention that browser hijackers may have "official" promotional webpages, wherein they are described as legitimate and useful tools.

Most visitors access websites that endorse browser-hijacking software via redirects caused by intrusive ads, pages using rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, mistyped URLs, and installed adware.

"Bundling" – the marketing technique that involves packing ordinary program installers with unwanted/malicious additions – is also used to distribute browser hijackers. These pre-packed setups can be downloaded from freeware and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other suspicious sources.

The risk of allowing bundled content into the device is increased by inattentiveness when installing (e.g., ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).

Intrusive advertisements proliferate this software as well. Some of the adverts can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We highly recommend researching software prior to downloading or purchasing. Additionally, all downloads must be made from official and verified channels. When installing, we advise studying terms and options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplementary apps, extensions, tools, etc.

Another recommendation is to be careful while browsing since the Internet is rife with well-disguised fraudulent and dangerous content. For example, despite their harmless appearance – intrusive ads redirect to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, pornography, gambling, etc.).

In case of continuous encounters with advertisements/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 ProSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Appearance of findflarex.com redirecting to the boyu.com.tr fake search engine (GIF):

Screenshot of the permissions asked by ProSearch browser hijacker:

Screenshots of the website promoting ProSearch browser hijacker:

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▼ 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 ProSearch?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove ProSearch browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove findflarex.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove findflarex.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

ProSearch 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.

ProSearch browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove ProSearch 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 "ProSearch" and other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

If the extension is locked (you see the "Your browser is managed by your organization" feature enabled) read this article for detailed removal instructions.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "ProSearch", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.findflarex.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 "findflarex.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 prosearch 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 "ProSearch", 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 "ProSearch", remove hxxp://findflarex.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 prosearch 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 prosearch 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 websites like findflarex.com and boyu.com.tr?

Software that produces rogue redirects is developed for profit. In other words, the developers generate revenue through redirects to websites like findflarex.com, boyu.com.tr, and others.

Is visiting findflarex.com or boyu.com.tr a threat to my privacy?

Fake search engines (e.g., findflarex.com, boyu.com.tr, etc.) usually gather and sell information about their visitors. Therefore, visiting such pages is considered a minor privacy threat.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are primarily proliferated via deceptive promotional webpages, online scams, freeware and free file-hosting websites, bundled installers, P2P sharing networks, intrusive advertisements, and spam browser notifications.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove ProSearch browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate detected browser-hijacking applications. Keep in mind that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be ideal, 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 deny access to removal-related settings or undo user-made changes. Therefore, browser hijackers must be eliminated thoroughly and all at once.

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