How to remove GameSearchOnline redirect virus

Easy tips to delete GameSearchOnline browser hijacker

GameSearchOnline is browser hijacker application that is designed to promote a fake search engine by doing modifications to browsers’ settings. This app promotes a GameSearchOnline.com fake search engine. Additionally, it has dangerous data tracking potential. Due to dubious techniques used for the distribution, the software is also categorized as potentially unwanted program.

Browser hijacker applications promote fake search engines by assigning their address to browsers’ homepage, new tab pages and search engine options. The GameSearchOnline also does such modifications to promote GameSearchOnline.com. Don’t think these changes as insignificant, as victims reported returning to the previous browser’s settings was not possible to them – the browser hijacker denied/ restricted their access to them.

Hence, the victims left with the only option to serve with GameSearchOnline promoted URL. As said, GameSearchOnline.com is a fake search engine. Typically, such fraudulent web searchers are not capable of providing search results and so they tend to redirect to some legit web searchers. This also applies to the promoted URL in this case as well. The GameSearchOnline.com fake search engine simply redirects to real Yahoo search engine to display search results.

Most browser hijackers have data tracking potential and it is a major chance that GameSearchOnline is not an exception. Thus, the users who keep this app installed will allow the authors to spy on their web session. The PUA developers could interest in collecting IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited and etc for which third party advertisers can pay to them.

Cyber-criminals also demand such data in doing various illicit activities. Thus, this data tracking app can cause the troubles related to privacy, and involve you in identify theft or lead to huge financial loss. To prevent any such issues from happening in future, it is strongly recommended you to remove GameSearchOnline and all related apps immediately from browsers and systems.

How did GameSearchOnline enter my system?

PUAs are often distributed via the download/ installation setups of other products. Bundling is the name given to the deceptive marketing method where packing of one app is done with unwanted and malicious additions. These supplement apps are usually hidden behind Custom/Advanced and similar setups.

When users rush the download and installation processes, they lead to their inadvertent installations. Intrusive ads can also be used to proliferate in PUAs as well. Once clicked on, these ads can execute certain scripts to download/ install these apps without users’ consent. Some PUAs also have official promotional/ download pages.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

It is recommended to research software well before their download/ install and/or purchase. All downloads should have to be done using official and trustworthy sources. Dubious downloading channels such as unofficial and free file  hosting sites, p2p networks and others are commonly used to offer dubious and/or bundled content.

During downloading/ installation, it is advised to read all terms, study possible option, use Custom/Advanced settings and opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers. Intrusive ads can appear ordinary and harmless, but they always open various questionable pages. Thus, it is advised not to click on any such ads that are usually displayed on various shady pages.

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 GameSearchOnline:

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