www-searching.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is www-searching.com?
The www-searching.com browser hijacker infiltrates Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) via free software downloads. Browser redirects to the www-searching.com website are caused by 'Search module', a potentially unwanted application created by Goobzo.
Internet users often install Search module adware inadvertently without their consent when downloading and installing freeware.
At time of research, this browser plug-in was distributed using deceptive freeware 'download clients' and fake downloads. For example, fake Java updates or fake Internet browser updates. After successful infiltration, Search module modifies users' Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default search engine fields to www-searching.com
Developers of this add-on claim that it enhances users' Internet browsing experience by enabling convenient Internet searches. While this functionality may seem legitimate, be aware that Search module is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application.
This browser settings-changing adware is also known to track users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, web pages visited, browsing history, and other information.
This monitoring can lead to privacy issues and identity theft. www-searching.com is not technically a virus or malware, however, it is browser settings-changing adware, and therefore, you are advised to eliminate it from your Internet browsers.
| Name | www-searching.com 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. |
The www-searching.com browser hijacker is similar to other browser settings-changing adware, which infiltrates Internet browsers through free software downloads. Examples include trovi.com, default-search.net, mystartsearch.com, and hao123.com.
The Internet search engine (thesmartsearch.net) used by this browser hijacker returns deceptive Internet search results that may lead to installation of additional adware or malware. To avoid installation of browser settings-changing plug-ins such as these, express caution when downloading and installing 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.
Therefore, it is important to inspect each download step and opt-out of adware installation by clicking the 'decline' button. When installing freeware, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any bundled adware listed for installation.
If you experience browser redirects to www-searching.com, use this removal guide to eliminate this browser hijacker from your Internet browsers.
Deceptive free software installers used in www-searching.com (presented as YTDownloader or BrowserAir) browser hijacker distribution:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is www-searching.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Search module application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove www-searching.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove www-searching.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove www-searching.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove www-searching.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
www-searching.com redirect 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 "Search module", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes browser redirects to the www-searching.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
www-searching.com 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 any recently-installed browser add-ons and remove them. Note that by default, there should be no browser extensions.
Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:
This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate text (hxxp://www-searching.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www-searching.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 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 "Search Module".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the www-searching.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 Chrome icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed (potentially unwanted) browser add-ons and click the trash can icon.
Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:
This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www-searching.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"
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://www-searching.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 "Search Module" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the www-searching.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 "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed add-ons. Note that by default, the extensions list in Firefox is empty.
Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:
This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www-searching.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
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://www-searching.com 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: "www-searching.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with www-searching.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 www-searching.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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