BlissSearch Virus
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is BlissSearch?
Created by SuperWeb LLC, BlissSearch is a rogue browser add-on claiming to enhance users' Internet browsing experience by enabling comparison shopping, coupons, and adding other useful functions. Although this may seem legitimate functionality, be aware that BlissSearch is considered to be a potentially unwanted application or adware.
This rogue browser extension employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to install on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome) without users' permission.
Following successful infiltration, BlissSearch generates various intrusive online advertisements such as text-link, banner, search, transitional, interstitial, and full-page ads. There is a high probability that clicking these ads will lead to high-risk adware or malware infections.
Furthermore, users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since this rogue browser plug-in records diverse information, which may be personally identifiable. For example: unique identifier numbers, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, search queries entered, URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar details.
This behavior may lead to serious privacy issues or identity theft, and therefore, you are strongly advised to eliminate BlissSearch from your Internet browsers. The developers of this rogue browser plug-in (SuperWeb LLC) have released several hundred potentially unwanted applications identical to BlissSearch (such as Greener Web, Webrunn, and PowerfulBrowse).
This company releases identical browser add-ons under different names with the intention of avoiding detection by legitimate anti-spyware and anti-virus programs. Add-ons such as these provide no value for the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by the display of intrusive online advertisements.
Internet users often infect their PCs with BlissSearch or other similar adware during the download of free software via small programs called 'downlad managers' on freeware download websites (such as soft32.com, softonic.com, download.com, and many others).
These websites use download managers to monetize their free services by offering installation of promoted browser extensions together with the chosen free software. Thus, reckless download and installation of free software risks PC infection with adware or malware.
To avoid installation of BlissSearch or other potentially unwanted applications, closely observe each step of the freeware download process and never accept installation of any additional programs offered.
If you are installing downloaded software, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this step will reveal any bundled applications and allow removal of them from the installation list.
Users who have already installed BlissSearch and observe "Powered by BlissSearch", "Ads by BlissSearch", and "BlissSearch Deals" advertisements when surfing the Internet, should follow this removal guide to eliminate the add-on from their Internet browsers.
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Quick menu:
- What is BlissSearch?
- STEP 1. Uninstall BlissSearch application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove BlissSearch plug-in from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove BlissSearch add-on from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove BlissSearch extension from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove BlissSearch extension from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
BlissSearch 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 "BlissSearch", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes BlissSearch ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove BlissSearch ads from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
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 "BlissSearch", select this entry and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the blisssearch ads, 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: "BlissSearch", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the blisssearch ads, 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", in the opened window remove "BlissSearch".
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with blisssearch ads 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.
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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the blisssearch ads, 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:
Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.
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