Search.findwide.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.findwide.com?
The findwide virus is a potentially unwanted application that modifies Internet browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) settings by assigning the homepage and default search engine fields to search.findwide.com. Commonly, computer users install the Findwide toolbar without their consent together with free software downloaded from the Internet.
Although this browser extension claims to make Internet browsing more productive by displaying maps and important news, it adds no significant value, causes unwanted browser redirects, and generates intrusive ads.
After successful infiltration, the adware generates the following ads: content, offers for products or services, data, links, articles, graphic or video messages, text, software, music, sound, graphics, and other advertisements.
The search.findwide.com website presents users with a deceptive Internet search engine crowded with dubious sponsored search results - clicking these can result in high-risk malware and virus infections. If your Internet browsers redirect you to this website, your computer is infected with adware. You are advised to eliminate this browser hijacker from your Internet browsers immediately.
The Findwide browser hijacker is similar to other adware that installs without users' consent and causes browser redirects. Examples include Myhoome, ominent, and nationzoom among many others.
While this potentially unwanted application appears to be a low risk security threat, the creators of this adware can redirect findwide.com to malicious sources, thus infecting systems with various malware and Trojans. To avoid installation of the Findwide toolbar (or other potentially unwanted applications), express caution when downloading free software.
Today, most free software download websites employ 'download clients' - small programs offering installation of advertised browser plug-ins together with the chosen free software. Reckless freeware downloading can result in adware infections. When downloading free software, decline installation of any promoted browser extensions by clicking the 'decline' button.
If your Internet browsers redirect you to search.findwide.com, use the removal guide provided to eliminate this browser hijacker from your computer.
Deceptive free software installers used in search.findwide.com browser hijacker distribution:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.findwide.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall FindWide.com application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.findwide.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove search.findwide.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.findwide.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.findwide.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search.findwide.com 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 "Findwide Toolbar", select this entry and click "Uninstall " or "Remove".
After uninstalling potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.findwide.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.
Search.findwide.com redirect removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser plugins:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "FindWide Toolbar", select this entry and click "Remove".
Change homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove search.findwide.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change default search engine:
Click 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 then remove "FindWide".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the findwide toolbar, 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 "Extensions". Locate "FindWide Toolbar", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Change homepage:
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 search.findwide.com 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 the "Search" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "FindWide" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the findwide toolbar, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "FindWide Toolbar".
Change homepage:
To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) and then select "Options", in the opened window, remove search.findwide.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
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: "findwide"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with findwide toolbar 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 findwide toolbar, 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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