How to remove Dosearch Lite

Easy methods to delete Dosearch Lite from PCs (Remove Browser Hijacker)

Threat Summary

Threat Name: Dosearch Lite, Dosearch Lite browser hijacker, Dosearch Lite adware

Threat Type: Browser Hijacker, Redirect Virus, Adware, PUA, PUP

Affected browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, IE, Edge

Description: This dubious malware hijacks your main browser by modifying certain settings of your browser.

Distribution methods: Bundles of free software package, malicious advertisements, suspicious hyperlinks

Motives of attackers: Aims to collect your personal information and shares it to illegal ones

Malware removal method: To remove Dosearch Lite or similar infection, we recommended you to scan your computer with powerful antivirus software.

How did potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), adware or malware install on computer?

“Software Bundling Method” – mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals to spread malware or viruses in your computer. PUAs or adware can be downloaded/installed from other software package as additional offers. These malicious additions can easily be seen in “Custom/Advance/Manual” settings in setups of download software package and can easily be removed by unticking their checkboxes in these settings. But in case if you choose “Recommended/Quick/Express” settings in installation setups, then you also allow them to install all the additional programs including malicious additions in machine. On other hand, some malicious advertisements are also designed to run certain scripts to download/install PUAs or adware in your computer.

What is Dosearch Lite? What it does?

Dosearch Lite application is considered as browser hijacker designed to promote “tailsearch.com” – fake search engine. This dubious application promotes “tailsearch.com” by changing several settings in your browser including homepage, new tab URLs and search engine of your browser. It also installs some fake browser helper objects (BHOs) like unwanted plug-ins, extensions or add-ons in your browser that allows the attackers to monitor your online activities and collect your browsing-related data or sensitive information. However, it is potentially unwanted application (PUA) that spreads series of adware in your computer hard drive and starts corrupting major genuine functions or applications of your computer without your knowledge.

“tailsearch.com” – bogus search engine doesn’t generate any unique results. The attackers behind this malware attempts to make several unwanted modifications in your browser’s settings and/or Operating System’ settings and tricks you into installing PUAs or third parties’ applications in your machine. In other words, we can say that you can’t work on your System comfortably as usual like before due to its browser redirects or nasty behaviors. It is also considered as adware that affects your online activities lots by spreads huge amount of ads or popups on your browser. These malicious advertisements can also appear on desktop even when the browser is closed.

These unwanted advertisements are designed to execute malicious scripts to download/install potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) or adware in your computer. In other words, it is not safe for your online privacy & System security. Its main motive is to collect your browsing-related data or sensitive information such as IP address, URLs search, login ID & password of your various accounts, banking information and more details. However, they can share these collected data to other attackers or third parties to generate some revenue from them. So, it is important to delete Dosearch Lite from machine as soon as possible.

Precautionary measures: How to protect your System against PUAs, adware or malware?

To protect your System against malware or viruses, you should keep up-to-date your antivirus software and scan the PC for malware or viruses. You should also keep up-to-date all software including Operating System (OS) and other legitimate software installed in your computer. You should always try to download any applications from official sources or via direct links, and during installation process, choose “Custom/Advance/Manual” settings in setups and remove all the unnecessary programs by unticking their checkboxes in these settings. Any hyperlinks/buttons, ads or popups appeared on untrustworthy site must not be clicked. Hover your mouse over any hyperlinks before click and double-check if the links are belongs to some trustworthy sources.

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 Dosearch Lite:

Remove the related items of Dosearch Lite 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 Dosearch Lite 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 (Dosearch Lite) 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 Dosearch Lite 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 Dosearch Lite 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 Dosearch Lite 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 Dosearch Lite 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 Dosearch Lite (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.