How to remove Wowsearch browser hijacker from PC

Simple steps to delete Wowsearch

Wowsearch is notorious computer infection that has been detected as browser hijacker. This nasty malware has been created by group of cyber hackers in order to make illegal profit by showing sponsored search results, unwanted pop-up ads and redirecting your searches on its partner websites. This browser hijacker is mainly designed to promote an address of fake search engine by modifying certain web browser settings. However, it has been noticed that user download and install this app accidentally and that is why it has been categorized as potentially unwanted applications. Further, remember that this type of app is also designed to operate as information tracking tools.

Details about Wowsearch

Moreover, Wowsearch can hijack all famous and mostly used webs browsing software such as Edge, Google chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Safari and many other related browsers. After intrusion, it can install some malicious extensions on your browser and modify settings to keep doing its malicious activities smoothly. It will make several unwanted changes in order to promote search.wowsearch.net which is described as address of fake search engine. When users use this site to search the web they will get redirected to unreliable websites. Further, it claims to enhance your web browsing experience by showing relative ads and searches but it will bombard your browser with lots of annoying ads as well as unwanted redirection. This is the reason why this search engine is fake and useless.

Thus, to remove its address from aforementioned browser settings you are advised to uninstall Wowsearch as soon as possible. Another reason why this type of app should not be installed is that it has data tracking ability. Usually, they monitor users browsing activity/habit and collect information including IP addresses, pages viewed, entered search queries, geo-location and other similar details. in one way or another, all gathered details are shared with third parties who might be cyber criminals who misuse those data in order to generate revenue. Therefore, presence of data tracking apps on computer leads to serious privacy issues, financial losses and even leads to identity theft. So, to keep computer harmless and secured it is strongly recommended not to download and install Wowsearch and other similar type of apps.

Short description

Name: Wowsearch

Type: Browser hijacker, PUP, toolbar, unwanted new tab

Short Description: Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements.

Functionality: This browser hijacker supposed to improve web browsing experience by providing best searching results.

Symptoms: Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your PC.

Distribution: free software installers, deceptive pop-up ads, harmful hyperlinks, porn or torrent sites and many other deceptive tricks.

Affected browser settings: default search engine, new tab URL, homepage

Damage: decreased computer performance, display lots of unwanted advertisements, loss of private information and redirect to dubious websites.

Removal: In order to delete Wowsearch and all infiltrated malware infections, we recommend you to use some reliable antimalware removal tool.

Intrusion tactics of Wowsearch:

Usually, Wowsearch enters into your system by using various different methods. Mostly, it gets inside through bundles of free third party programs, suspicious websites, harmful links, misleading ads or popup and by using other deceptive tricks. Once installed successfully, it will deactivate all your security programs like antivirus software, firewall security, control panel, command prompt and other important application. So, you must be various cautious before clicking on misleading advertisements or go for fake online survey that promises to provide you exciting prizes.

How to avoid installation of PUAs?

The key to system safety is carefulness therefore you must always pay close attention while downloading/installing any applications as well as browsing internet. All software should only be downloaded by using official and trustworthy websites. Other untrustworthy tools like third party installer, peer to peer networks, unofficial pages and other similar sources should be avoided as they often monetized by using this tools to distribute potentially unwanted or even malicious apps. While installing any program, it is important to read terms, explore all possible options, use custom or advance settings and opt out from all supplementary apps or tools. The most important thing avoid clicking on intrusive ads that are displayed on dubious pages as they redirect people to harmful websites that contain lots of infections.

Remove Wowsearch

Complete removal threat of this malware has been described below under this article in step by step manner. Go through it so that you will not find any trouble while performing virus removal process. So, we suggest our readers to use some reliable antimalware removal tool such as Spyhunter that has the capability to remove Wowsearch and all installed browser hijackers immediately from the infected machine.

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 Wowsearch:

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