Search.iqasearch.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.iqasearch.com?
Identical to search.mysportsxp.com, search.tv-newtabsearch.com, and a number of other websites, search.iqasearch.com claims to be a legitimate Internet search website that also provides quick access to various social networks.
The appearance of this site is identical to other regular Internet search engines and, therefore, some users believe search.iqasearch.com to be a legitimate website.
In fact, this site is promoted using deceptive browser-hijacking software 'installers' that modify web browser settings without users' permission. In addition, search.iqasearch.com records various Internet browsing-related information.
The software installers mentioned above modify the Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL browser settings by assigning them to iqasearch.com.
After modification, a number of 'helper objects' (apps/browser add-ons) are installed to prevent users from rolling back these changes - when users attempt to modify the settings, helper objects automatically reassign them to search.iqasearch.com. When users open new browser tabs or attempt to search the Internet via the URL bar, they are redirected to iqasearch.com.
Unwanted browser redirects significantly diminish the Internet browsing experience. Furthermore, iqasearch.com redirects users to yahoo.com (a legitimate Internet search engine posing no threat to the system). iqasearch.com gathers various information that might be personally identifiable - this is shared with third party companies and can be misused to generate revenue.
Sharing of personal data can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For this reason, you should uninstall all recently-installed suspicious applications and never visit the search.iqasearch.com website.
There are many deceptive websites virtually identical to iqasearch.com including, for example, srch.bar, do-search.com, and mysurfing123.com. By giving fake promises, these sites trick users into believing that they are legitimate.
Rather than providing the functionality promised, however, these browser hijackers cause unwanted redirects, gather personal data, and deliver intrusive online advertisements. Browser hijackers are designed to generate revenue for the developers - users receive no real value.
How did search.iqasearch.com install on my computer?
Iqasearch.com is promoted as a 'bundle' with other applications. The developers hide installation of bundled software (or in this case, modification of browser settings) within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings, since they are aware that many users skip this section.
Therefore, users who rush the download and installation processes, often inadvertently install rogue software, thereby exposing their systems to risk of further infection and compromising their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
You can prevent this situation by taking two simple steps. Firstly, closely analyze each step of the software download and installation processes using the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings, since bundled software is mostly concealed. Secondly, there is a high probability that additionally-included apps will be malicious - for this reason, they should be cancelled.
Search.iqasearch.com (iQa browser) browser hijacker installer set-up:
Website promoting the search.iqasearch.com browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is iqasearch.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall iQA application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.iqasearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove search.iqasearch.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.iqasearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.iqasearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Search.iqasearch.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 any recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, "Internet Quick Access" or "iQA"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.iqasearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Search.iqasearch.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 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://search.iqasearch.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 "iqasearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.iqasearch.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 menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all 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 start-up" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://search.iqasearch.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 "iqasearch" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.iqasearch.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 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 all 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://search.iqasearch.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: "iqasearch"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.iqasearch.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 search.iqasearch.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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