Default-search.net Redirect

What is default-search.net?

The default-search.net website (created by Linkey Inc.) is promoted using browser hijackers that infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads.

After successful installation, this adware modifies browser settings by assigning the homepage and default search engine fields to default-search.net At time of research, this website redirected to yahoo.com causing no security issues, however, creators of this browser hijacker have control over these redirects and are able to change them to other locations at any time.

Having adware such as this installed on your Internet browsers can result in serious malware and virus infections.

Common sources of browser hijackers are free software download websites that employ 'download clients' - small programs used to manage the process of free software download and to monetize these freeware downloads by offering installation of various advertised browser extensions.

Today, most free software download websites (including download.com, softonic.com, soft32.com, etc.) employ small programs called 'download clients', and therefore, Internet users should be attentive when downloading free software.

As well as unwanted redirects, the default-search.net browser hijacker also tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, browser types and versions, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), cookie information, and webpages visited. This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft.

Reckless freeware download can result in installation of various free browser plug-ins leading to unwanted ads and browser redirects. Note that default-search.net, as a web search engine, is completely useless, since all it does is redirects users to search.yahoo.com. In other words, it does not generate any results by itself and thus becomes irrelevant.

Threat Summary:

Name	Default-search.net browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady 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.

The default-search.net browser hijacker is similar to other adware also distributed using dubious free software download clients. Examples include Royal-search.com, Static.flipora.com, and Start.iminent.com among many others. Recent research shows that this browser hijacker installs on browsers together with Linkey adware.

To avoid installation of these potentially unwanted applications, be attentive when downloading free software. If your download is managed by a download client, opt-out of installation of any promoted browser plug-ins by clicking the 'decline' button.

When installing downloaded freeware, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal installation of any bundled software. If your Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) redirect you to the default-search.net website, use the removal guide provided to eliminate this browser hijacker from your computer.

Default-search.net redirecting users to search.yahoo.com once a search query is entered:

Deceptive free software installers used in default-search.net browser hijacker distribution:

"Settings Manager" application (Aztec Media Inc.) blocking attempts to change the browser homepage and default search engine settings:

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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 default-search.net?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Linkey and Settings Manager applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove default-search.net redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove default-search.net browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove default-search.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove default-search.net redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Default-search.net 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 "Linkey" and "Settings Manager" or "Assets Manager" (both created by Aztec Media Inc.), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs (which cause browser redirects to the default-search.net website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Default-search.net browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

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 "Linkey" and other recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://default-search.net 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 your 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 "default-search.net".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the default-search.net browser hijacker, 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 "Linkey" and all other recently installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://linkeyproject.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

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" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "linkeyproject.com" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the default-search.net 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". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Linkey for Firefox", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://default-search.net 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 "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "default-search.net"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with default-search.net 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 default-search.net 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.

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