How To Remove MovieSearchTool Browser Hijacker

Easy Guide To Delete MovieSearchTool from System

MovieSearchTool is a kind of fake software that promotes MovieSearchTool.com fake search engine by the alternations to browser settings.  However, it is categorized as a web browser hijacker that has the ability to tracking user’s browsing habits. Most of the users install this annoying application unintentionally so it is also identified as a PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application).

Browser hijacker mainly target popular and widely used web browsers including Firefox, Explorer, Chrome, Safari, Edge and others. It assigned the fake web address MovieSearchTool.com as browser homepage, default search engine and new tab or window URLs.  So that while user search query typed into the URL bars, open new tab or window then redirect to the promoted search engine’s address. It is common that fake web searchers are unable to generate legit search result so they tend to redirect legitimate search engine to Google, Yahoo, Bing and other genuine search engines.

Once the potentially unwanted application gets installed into the System unknowingly then you will see various kinds of annoying and intrusive advertisements in to various formats like as commercial ads, pop-up ads, coupons, banners, discounts etc on the running webpage or the webpage which you most visited. Such ads look very attractive and forces to click on. If you will click on these intrusive ads then you will redirect to questionable and malicious site and potentially unwanted program gets installed into the System. Such ads are mainly designed to diminishes the browsing experience and earn illegal profit on pay per click methods. So users must be ignored and never try to click on displays ads even accidentally.

More Harmful Activities cause By MovieSearchTool:

It corrupts your system files and Windows registries as well as creates new files as a similar name in order to regenerate itself after removal. It disables the System security and privacy by inactivate firewall, task manager, control panel and real antivirus program to keep  itself secure for long time and makes the System defenceless.

Furthermore, it has tendency to track users online browsing habits like as search queries, web histories, cookies and other online details. It may also gather user’s personal and confidential information like as email-id, password, bank account details, IP address, geo-locations etc. The gathered data shared or sold to third parties for identity theft, fake purchasing, fraudulent etc. It takes huge resources of the System memory and slowdown overall performance. Thus it is highly advice to remove MovieSearchTool Virus from infected System as soon as possible.

How did MovieSearchTool Install on your PC?

MovieSearchTool is commonly installed on your System via the bundling method. The deceptive marketing tactic of regular product packing with unwanted or malicious additional setup of third party program is called bundling. Most of the users download or install System Software immediately and ignored their terms, skipped important steps and section such as Custom or Advance options. Such installation trick increases the high risk of the installation of potentially unwanted program.

Once clicked on the malicious ads can execute scripts to download or install potentially unwanted applications. Updating System Software from third party downloader site such as download.com, free file hosting,  peer to peer sharing network could also bring potentially unwanted Application that may leads lots of infections.

 How To Avoiding the Installation of MovieSearchTool:

It is highly recommended, do not download or install system software from unofficial site.   Researches products must be verify their legitimacy before download or install. All software must be downloading or install via official and trustworthy download channels. It is highly recommended to read their terms and license agreements. Use Custom or Advance options as well as other important setting.

Do not click on malicious ads even accidentally because click on them highly risk the installation of unwanted program that leads infections.  Preinstalled System software must be updated through officially activation tool, relevant sources or direct links. Do not trust on dubious download channels such as unofficial and free file hosting website, peer  to peer sharing network like as torrent, eMule, Gnutella and other third party downloaders. System should be scan regularly with reputable antimalware tool. If your System is already infected with this unwanted application then we are highly recommended to remove MovieSearchTool by using automatic removal tool.

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 MovieSearchTool:

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