HoistSearch.com Redirect

What is HoistSearch.com?

The HoistSearch browser application is developed by Hoist Media. This browser app can be downloaded from its homepage, however, it is often 'bundled' with free software downloaded from the Internet. At time of research, this potentially unwanted application was also bundled with fake downloads such as Java, Flash, and browser updates.

Bundling is a commonly-used and deceptive software marketing method. When installed, this toolbar assigns the browser homepage and default Internet search engine settings to hoistsearch.com This website is not related to malware or virus infections, however, the creators of this toolbar have full control over the software, and therefore, are capable of redirecting users to malicious websites at any time.

While bundling is a legal marketing method, users commonly install this toolbar inadvertently without their consent. To avoid installing unwanted toolbars and plug-ins, closely inspect each download step of any free software, since freeware developers often bundle their programs with browser toolbars and add-ons in order to monetize their free software.

The main revenue source of the HoistSearch toolbar, and other similar add-ons, is sponsored Internet search results. HoistSearch toolbar is not a virus or malware, however, it is a potentially unwanted application that adds no significant value and diminishes Internet browser performance. Therefore, you are advised to eliminate this adware from your Internet browser/s.

This add-on is similar to other browser settings-changing adware (which installs together with free software) including, for example, lasaoren, vosteran, torcho, and trovi. The search bar presented by HoistSearch toolbar employs the Google Custom search engine - using this should not lead to computer security infections.

If you have willingly installed trhe HoistSearch app, you need take no further action, however, if you feel that your Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome) redirect to hoistsearch.com without your consent, use the removal information provided to eliminate this adware from your computer.

Deceptive free software installer used in Hoistsearch.com browser hijacker distribution:

HoistSearch app installer:

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Quick menu:

• What is HoistSearch.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Hoistsearch application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Hoistsearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Hoistsearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Hoistsearch.com homepage default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove HoistSearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

HoistSearch.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 "Hoistsearch", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling potentially unwanted programs (that cause browser redirects to the hoistsearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries detected by this program to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.

HoistSearch.com redirect removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser plug-ins:

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 "Hoistsearch", 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 hxxp://www.hoistsearch.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 "Hoistsearch".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hoistsearch.com 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 bars icon (top right of the screen), select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate "Hoistsearch", 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 the "On startup" section click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://www.hoistsearch.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 "Hoistsearch" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hoistsearch.com 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 "Hoistsearch".

Change 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://www.hoistsearch.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: "hoistsearch"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with hoistsearch.com 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 hoistsearch.com 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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