Remove BestGameSearch: Avoid Unwanted Redirects

BestGameSearch: Simple Delete Process

BestGameSearch is a malicious browser extension that makes changes to default browser’s settings to promote bestgamesearch.com- a fake search engine. It’s a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that usually infiltrates the targeted computers by stealth using deceptive techniques e.g., software bundling and then contributes tons of malicious deeds in the background. By assigning the aforesaid URL as the default search engine, homepage and new tab addresses, it grabs complete control over the entire browser. After that, it starts running intrusive advertising campaigns and redirecting to affiliated sites for which, owners of the sites pay commission to its developers. And this only matters to PUP creators.

BestGameSearch Manipulates Search Results:

As soon as your PC gets infected with BestGameSearch, each time you open a new tab or type something into the URL bar, you are redirected to bestgamesearch.com. It’s a fake search tool that is not even able to deliver results by itself, so it reroutes to both Yahoo and searchlee.com. However, results delivered by it are still not accurate or relevant as they are filled with ads and sponsored links. This nasty hijacker bombards your computer screen with thousands of annoying advertisements all the time and interrupts your web sessions badly.

Ads by BestGameSearch come in several formats such as coupons, deals, pop-ups, offers, banners, discounts etc. They look very eye-catching at the first glance but can be very risky for your system’s security. They may redirect you to several phishing/scam, fake tech support, malware-laden, gaming, gambling and other notorious web portals upon clicked. Visiting on such perilous domains may result in system infections, sensitive data exposure and so on. And thus, avoid interacting with these adverts no matter how attractive or useful they look.

BestGameSearch also has data tracking abilities and can record various information e.g., URLs visited, search queries typed, webpages viewed, personally identifiable details, IP addresses/ geolocations, etc. These details are then shared with third-parties and can be utilized to customize ads, make fraudulent transactions, online purchases and so forth. Therefore, this perilous hijacker may lead to severe privacy issues, identity theft and huge financial losses. All the malicious activities performed by this threat consume enormous amount of memory resources and drag down the overall PC performance severely. Hence, an instant BestGameSearch removal is strongly required from the system.

Distribution Of BestGameSearch:

Typically, browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs are spread through software bundling technique. A bundle is usually downloaded from third-party software vendors and contains installers for more than one apps. If you rush through the installation (ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, choosing Quick or Recommended mode set), all of them will end up on your PC system because they’re preselected for that.

If you want to keep your device free of unwanted programs, you have to be very careful when installing any new software. Read the EULA, then choose the Advanced or Custom installation mode and deselect each and every component that looks at least a bit suspicious or unreliable. Moreover, you should avoid interacting with random ads and other suspicious content while web surfing as they may take you to malware-laden site or trigger direct PUP installations. If your system is already contaminated with this hijacker, you must remove BestGameSearch from the machine as soon as possible.

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 BestGameSearch:

Remove the related items of BestGameSearch 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 BestGameSearch 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 (BestGameSearch) 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 BestGameSearch 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 BestGameSearch 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 BestGameSearch 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 BestGameSearch 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 BestGameSearch (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.