DaleSearch Virus
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Dalesearch.com?
The Dalesearch.com browser hijacker installs together with free software downloaded from the Internet. This website is promoted using DaleSearch toolbar, which often installs on users' Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without their consent.
After successful infiltration, DaleSearch toolbar modifies browser settings by assigning the homepage and default search engine to dalesearch.com Commonly, Internet users install this toolbar inadvertently whilst downloading free software such as VLC media player, Flash Player, Skype, etc.
Computer users should be aware that, today, most popular download websites use 'download clients' to monetize their free software downloads. Download clients offer installation of additional (promoted) browser add-ons together with the chosen freeware.
In the majority of cases, promoted browser plugins are categorized as adware and cause browser redirects, intrusive ads, privacy issues, or even malware infections. Dalesearch.com presents users with a deceptive Internet search engine crowded with sponsored search results that lead to shady websites.
Internet users who have installed this toolbar should not use this search engine for their daily Internet searches - this may lead to serious computer security infections. Technically, DaleSearch toolbar (dalesearch.com) is not a virus, however, it alters Internet browser settings and can cause various security and privacy-related issues.
DaleSearch toolbar is similar to other potentially unwanted applications distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. These applications add little or no value and cause redirects and diminished browser performance. Examples of DaleSearch clones include Babylon toolbar, Delta Search toolbar, Nattly toolbar, and many others.
To avoid installation of these rogue toolbars, Internet users should be express caution when downloading free software. Where possible, download the required program directly from the developer's website.
If you wish to use free software, and your download is manged by a download client, decline any offers to install additional free browser add-ons. If your Internet browser/s already redirect you to dalesearch.com, use the removal guide provided to eliminate this browser hijacker from your computer.
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Quick menu:
- What is Dalesearch.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall BitGuard, Delta Chrome Toolbar and Delta toolbar applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Dalesearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Dalesearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Dalesearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove DaleSearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Dalesearch virus 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 "BitGuard", "Delta Chrome Toolbar" and "Delta toolbar", select each and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling potentially unwanted programs (which cause browser redirects to the dalesearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries that this program detects to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.
Dalesearch.com homepage and default search engine removal from browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "Delta Helper Object" and "Delta Toolbar", select these entries and click "Remove".
Change homepage:
To change your homepage from dalesearch.com to your preferred domain, click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove dalesearch.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.
Change default search engine:
Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default and remove "DaleSearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the dalesearch.com redirect, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate "Delta Toolbar" select it and click on the trash can icon.
Change homepage:
Change Google Chrome homepage from dalesearch.com to you preferred domain - click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In "On startup" section click "set pages", hover your mouse over DaleSearch and click the x symbol. Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change 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 "Search" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "DaleSearch" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the dalesearch.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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Delta Toolbar".
Change homepage:
To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window remove dalesearch.com and enter your preferred domain.
Change default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "dalesearch"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with dalesearch.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 dalesearch.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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