How to remove Giphy Search browser hijacker

Complete Giphy Search removal guide

Giphy Search is advertised as a tool that offers search engine for GIF images. However, this app is not more than a browser hijacker which is designed to promote a fake search engine (giphy-search.best) and tracks users’ browsing related data. Since users often download it unintentionally, this app is also called potentially unwanted application.

More about Giphy Search

As a rule, browser hijackers promote addresses of fake search engines simply by assigning them to the browsers’ homepages, new tab pages and default search engine options. Hence, with Giphy Search app installed, users would see the default browsers’ settings get replaced with giphy-search.best- the URL address promoted in this case. With such changes, the users are forced to visit this address all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter any queries on the URL bar. They are not able to return to the previous browsers’ settings options. All their attempts are automatically reset as the browser hijacker is there is to looking after these settings.

It is worthwhile to mention that fake search engines are not capable of displaying their own search results, and so they simply redirect the session to Yahoo, Google, Bing and other legitimate ones. Further, as said, Giphy Search can track users’ browsing session and collect the data related to their web browsing activities/habits. The list of the collected data includes IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISP, Geo-locations, Type of OS and browser used and etc. What is worse, these data could be shared with third parties, potentially cybercriminals in some way or other. They could lead to problems related to browsing safety, online privacy, and even the issues with identity stolen.  Better, if you remove Giphy Search from the browser and the system as soon as possible.

Threat Summary

Name: Giphy Search

Type: Browser hijacker

Symptoms: Alters new tab, homepage, search engine settings, delivers intrusive ads and redirects all in-browser searches

Risks: Exposes users to suspicious and potentially dangerous content, collects and tracks user information

Distribution: Software bundles, deceptive advertisements, p2p and other third party sites

Elimination: To remove Giphy Search, you should check the instructions below. Additionally, you should scan the device with some reputable antivirus tool and reset the browsers if necessary

How did Giphy Search intrude in?

Typically, users download and/or install unwanted apps together with other software download -as in most cases, they are found to be offered as additional components under the download/ install setups of the regular software. This additional app installation offer can be declined through the Custom/Advanced settings. When users leave these settings unchecked and unchanged, they lead to the inadvertent installation of unwanted applications. Intrusive ads can cause PUPs download/ installation. Once clicked on, they run certain scripts designed to cause stealth download/ installation.

How to avoid PUPs intrusion?

All software should be downloaded from official websites and direct links. Any other download and installation sources like third party downloaders, installers, unofficial websites, p2p networks should never be trusted. Also, download and installation setups having Custom/Advanced option should be checked for offers to download/ install additional apps. Additionally, it is advised not to click ads that are displayed on any questionable websites. Such ads can be designed to open shady pages or cause unwanted downloads/ installations.

Giphy Search removal tips

Below, you find both manual and automatic methods to perform Giphy Search removal. However, our recommendation for you is to use later option, especially if you are beginner and have not much experience in removing threats. This is because manual process is quite complete one that requires advanced skill – any mistakes during the process can lead to permanent system damages.

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 Giphy Search:

Remove the related items of Giphy 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 Giphy 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 (Giphy 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 Giphy 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 Giphy 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 Giphy 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 Giphy 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 Giphy 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.