Remove Pro Search browser hijacker

Simple methods to delete Pro Search

Pro Search is described as potentially unwanted program that sneaks into the system during the installation of free software obtained from third party sites. According to its developers, this tool is created and designed in order to help users to find out relevant information immediately. Once installed successfully, such an apps modifies browser settings and continually monitor users browsing activity by collecting data.

Pro Search usually targets popular browsers such as Google chrome, Opera, Edge, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and many others. After infiltration, the hijacker might change the start page, new tab and search settings for the browser applications that you have on your computer system. Although, these changes seem minor but in reality it is very difficult for users to revert them.

Thus, returning to the previous browser settings becomes impossible and users are insisted to visit associated fake search engine when they search query via URL bar. Furthermore, once search query is entered, search.prosearch.com redirect users to bing.com and users end up searching via Bing search engine. Thus, we recommend you to eliminate Pro Search browser hijacker and never visit site like this.

Despite this, Pro Search also causes some privacy concerns as PUP collect lots of non-personally identifiable information. The list of collected data includes:

• IP addresses,
• Visited websites,
• Bookmarks saved,
• Entered search queries,
• List of installed apps etc

After that, developers share the data with third parties whose main aim is to generate revenue. These people also make profit by misusing private data. Thus, presence of data tracking apps such as Pro Search might leads to serious privacy issues and even lead to identity theft.

Distribution of Pro Search:

There are two ways through which users infect their system with browser hijackers or other PUPs are software bundling method and intrusive advertisements. Intrusive adverts are designed in order to deliver ads into various forms such as banners, coupons, deals, offers, commercial ads, pop-ups etc, if clicked run scripts that cause PUPs download. In case of bundling, very often PUPs are included in download or installation setups on some freeware programs and distribute the bundled in packages for download offering as a single.

Developers behind this are not truthful enough to directly disclose the installation of unwanted apps as they hide information about it within custom/advanced settings of the installation processes. The installation of unwanted apps during the freeware installation can be avoided by paying close attention to the installation steps and do not get deceived by pre-ticked boxes, grayed-out buttons and other similar tricks used by developers. Most importantly, you must choose advanced or custom installation settings to decline all the unwanted programs before they try to enter into the machine.

How to avoid unwanted applications installation?

The key to computer safety is cautious therefore be attentive when browsing the internet and downloading/installing software. All software downloads should only be done using official websites and via direct links. Avoid using peer to peer networks like torrent clients, eMule etc, questionable sites, third party downloader/installer and other similar that offers rogue apps. Moreover, intrusive ads usually seem legitimate since developers invest lots of money into their designing. Once clicked, these ads usually redirect users to dubious sites. Those ads are usually delivered by adware type applications. Furthermore, use some reliable antivirus software that block malicious sites and ads and provides adequate protection to your system.

Threat summary

Name: Pro Search

Type: Browser hijacker, PUP

Affected browsers: Google chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Edge

Infection means: software bundles, spam email campaigns, commercial sites, malicious links, porn or torrent sites, free file hosting sites, unofficial pages and so on.

Symptoms: changed web browser homepage, search engine and new tab, intrusive ads, redirects, sponsored search results etc.

Damage: installation of other PUPs, money loss, malware infections, personal data disclosure to unknown parties and many other similar.

Removal: Both manual as well as automatic removal tips have been discussed below under this article.

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 Pro Search:

Remove the related items of Pro 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 Pro 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 (Pro 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 Pro 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 Pro 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 Pro 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 Pro 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 Pro 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.