How to remove Conf Search Browser Hijacker

Conf Search designed to make several unwanted modifications in browser’s settings

Conf Search is another dubious application categorised as browser hijacker. This nasty application is designed to promote addresses of some fake search engines like Conf-Search.com by modifying the default homepage, new tab URLs and search engines of your browser. It is capable of infecting your main browser including Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari and other browsers. Also, this dubious application adds ‘Managed by your organization’ feature on your browser like Google Chrome browser. This feature offers cybercriminals to monitor your online activities and collect your browsing-related data or other sensitive data.

As mentioned, Conf Search rough application changes your browser’s settings to ‘Conf-Search.com’. This fake search engine claims to help you to quick access to various popular websites with improved results. But it is bogus at all. It shows results generated by some legitimate search engine like Google, Yahoo or Bing. It doesn’t show unique results means it delivers results generated by other search engine that’s why it is called as bogus results. It is not safe to search the web with this bogus search engine.

If you notice this bogus search engine in your browser’s settings, then you should at first try to remote the malicious files/programs associated with this malware from browser and/or system. Once cybercriminals behind this malware gain access to your computer, they can make several unwanted modifications in your browser’s settings and/or system’s settings without your knowledge. It also attempt to block PC Protection software/adblocker software installed in your computer to avoid the detection of malicious activities related to this malware.

Conf Search browser hijacker also has data tracking capability. They can collect your some sensitive information such as IP address, URLs search, login ID & password of your various online accounts, browser history, search queries, banking information and more details. They can also share these collected data to other attackers or third-party to generate some income from them. In sort, this rough application can’t be trusted. So, it is important to find and remove Conf Search related malicious files in computer as soon as possible.

How did you get Conf Search in computer?

You download/install this kind of malicious application by clicking malicious advertisements, visiting scam/malicious sites, or by potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) already installed in your computer. In some cases, PUAs are distributed through other software package as additional offers. This false marketing mechanism of packaging regular or legitimate software with PUAs, adware or malware is known as Software Bundling Method- the mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals. However, it is possible to avoid the installation of all malicious additions included in software package. To do so, you should read terms & conditions given in software package, choose ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ settings, remove all unnecessary programs or malicious additions by unticking their checkboxes. This way, you can block all malicious additions included in software package from installing.

 How to protect your system against PUAs, adware or malware?

You should be alert while browsing internet and avoid downloading/installing or purchase any applications from unofficial/unsafe websites, peer-to-peer file sharing network, fake software updaters, installers and downloaders, and other third-party sources. You should always try to download any applications from official/verified sources, and choose ‘Custom/Advanced/Manual’ settings in software package setup during installation if you want to avoid browser hijackers or malware. Additionally, you should have powerful antivirus software installed in your computer with latest update that could help you to find and remove all types of threats including latest malware in computer.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Conf Search:

Remove the related items of Conf Search using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Conf Search issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Conf Search) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Conf Search removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter. In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Conf Search still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Conf Search plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”. Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Conf Search removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Conf Search (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications. Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.