How To Remove Nowsearchit.com Hijacker

Complete Steps To Terminate Unwanted Program

Nowsearchit.com is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that pretends to be a legitimate search engine. It claims to enhance users’ web browsing experience by providing most accurate and fast results. However, all these claims are false and this is merely a deception to trick gullible users into installing it and using it as the default engine. Reason why it’s called a PUP because, in most cases, it infiltrates the computer systems stealthily without asking for any permission. Shortly after the intrusion, it hijacks the web browser and assigns itself the new search tool, as well as the homepage and new tab page domain.

Threat Summary

Name: Nowsearchit.com

Category: Browser Hijacker

Features: Changes default browser’s settings without users’ consent, causes page redirects and annoying ads generation

Danger level: Medium

Signs: Browser’s settings being altered, wildly ads flow, automatic page-redirects, etc.

Intrusion: Enters the computer device via bundled freeware, unreliable websites

Nowsearchit.com: Depth Analysis

Browser hijackers like Nowsearchit.com, Sv.ubviabj.cfd, etc. are not among the dangerous PC threats and are far from as destructive as a Trojan or Ransomware. They cannot harm your computer in the same way those dreadful parasites can, as they’re not designed for that. That being said, they are not risk-free either. If you let this hijacking application roam inside your computer free, it may lead to a number of unpleasant issues that won’t be easy to deal with. For example, you will have to suffer from constant ads display and page redirects as long as the program stays inside.

When Nowsearchit.com is running in the background of your system, annoying pop-up ads, banners, in-text links, flashing messages, page redirects will be a common phenomenon. Not only are these commercials very intrusive, but can also be quite risky as they could simply expose you to deadly cyber threats. Having interacted with these advertising contents, you may find yourself on hazardous websites that will attempt to deceive you into installing PUPs and even malware or disclose your personal data to cyber crooks. To avoid these risks, remove Nowsearchit.com from the machine as early as possible.

Infiltration Of Browser Hijackers:

The main method for browser-based parasites to sneak into the computer systems is software bundling. They are included to the installers of regular apps in forms of media players, games, file downloaders, utilities, and so on. If users are not careful enough while downloading and installing freeware, they risk contaminating their PCs with hijacking software pieces. In order to avoid this occurrence, you should be highly vigilant during the installation of any given software. Always choose the Custom or Advanced configuration setting and opt-out the unnecessary programs from the package. This way, you can prevent the intrusion of unwanted applications.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Nowsearchit.com damage my system?

Being a hijacking application, it doesn’t possess the capabilities of a typical virus or malware and thus, cannot damage your computer. All it can do is, severely interrupt your online sessions with regular ads display and page redirects. However, some of its redirects could take you to unsafe web places.

What are the signs of hijacker infection?

Some most common symptoms of browser hijacker infection are modifications in default browser’s settings, constant ads stream and page redirects. Furthermore, you may also notice occasional browser crashes or freezes, sluggishness and unresponsiveness.

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 Nowsearchit.com:

Remove the related items of Nowsearchit.com 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 Nowsearchit.com 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 (Nowsearchit.com) 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 Nowsearchit.com 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 Nowsearchit.com 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 Nowsearchit.com 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 Nowsearchit.com 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 Nowsearchit.com (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.