How to remove JustAdblockSearch browser hijacker

Easy tips to delete JustAdblockSearch virus

JustAdblockSearch is a browser hijacker application that is designed to promote a fake search engine named feed.justablocksearch.com. Since most of the users unintentionally download/ install software products of this type, they are also called PUAs or potentially unwanted applications.

After the successful installation, JustAdblockSearch reassigns browsers’ default search engine, new tab/ window and homepage URLs – to feed.JustAdblockSearch.com. Hence, with it installed, web searchers done via the URL bar and new browser tab/ window opened- redirect to this fake web searcher.

Illegitimate web search engines usually cannot generate search results and so they redirect to genuine ones. Feed.JustAdblockSearch.com is not an exception, it redirects to search.yahoo.com (Yahoo search engine).

Despite the results end up to the legit Yahoo web searching tool, the search results are often manipulated and contain various suspicious ads and links. Interacting with any such ads/ links may lead to additional PUA or malware infection, personal data exposure or monetary loss due to unnecessary software/ products subscribing.

Furthermore, the hijacker virus can use persistence-ensuring methods so as to prevent users to restore the changes to the browsers’ settings. Thus, without removing JustAdblockSearch, the restoration of the browsers’ settings is not possible.

What’s more, the apps of this kind have dangerous data tracking potential. This applies for JustAdblockSearch as well. It can collect the data include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISPs, Geo-locations, ISPs, and etc.

The collected data could be later on shared with and/or sold to third parties/ potent crooks. Thus, the presence of the potentially unwanted app on system can result in serious privacy issues, identity theft, monetary loss and even more severe consequences.

To prevent any such issues from happening in future, you should immediately remove JustAdblockSearch from the system. For this, employ a reputable antivirus tool, though manual removal is also possible, the manual removal process would be complicated and a lengthy one.

How did JustAdblockSearch enter my system?

Some PUAs have official download pages. These apps are also spread by using deceptive bundling method in which packing of one app is done with unwanted and malicious addition. Rushed download/ installation leads to their inadvertent installation.

Intrusive advertisements can sometimes cause system infections with potentially unwanted applications. If so, they run certain malicious scripts once being clicked to cause stealthy download/ installation.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

It is advised to research software and download from official and verified channels. Untrustworthy downloading channels such as unofficial and freeware sites, p2p networks and etc- commonly offer dubious and/or bundled content.

When downloading/ installing, it is recommended to read terms, explore items, use Custom/Advanced settings and manually opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers. Intrusive ads can appear legitimate, yet they redirect to various unreliable/ questionable pages.

In case you encounter any such ads/ redirects, the system should be checked and all suspicious apps and extensions must be removed from the system. If the system is already infected, we recommend you use some reputable antivirus tool to remove JustAdblockSearch automatically from the system.

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 JustAdblockSearch :

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