How To Remove Custom Search Bar Hijacker

Simple Steps To Uninstall Unwanted Program

Custom Search Bar is a browser hijacker that takes control over well-known web browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Safari, etc. It implants ad-generating objects in the compromised web platform and start showing thousands of ads, pop-ups, and banners during users’ online sessions. Moreover, as a consequence of the presence of this hijacker on your system, you may begin to suffer from page redirects to unknown web places attempting to sell you multiple products and services. And on top of that, it replaces the main search engine, and alters the default starting page and new tab page URL without seeking for any consent.

Quick Glance

Name: Custom Search Bar

Class: Browser Hijacker, Redirect virus

Features: Alters default browser’s settings, shows annoying advertisements and page-redirects users to unfamiliar sites

Danger level: Medium

Signs: Browser changes, unexpected page-redirects, irritating ads display, etc.

Intrusion: Bundled software in general

Custom Search Bar: Depth View

The fake search engine introduced by Custom Search Bar tends to reroute users’ web searches to affiliated websites. This is how the intruder can promote or raise the number of views and visits to a given webpage that has paid to be endorsed. The same also goes for the aforesaid page redirects. And as for the advertisements and other sorts of commercial contents, they are based on the so-called Pay Per Click or Pay Per View scheme. This means that the program developers earn profits based on the number of clicks and views made on these adverts.

That’s why Custom Search Bar ads typically overlay the screen. But there’s more in terms of the ways in which these browser-based infections operate. Ads delivered by them not only can disrupt your online sessions, but can also take you to potentially insecure websites where you might come across dreadful cyber threats like Trojans, spyware, worms, rootkits, ransomware, etc. Furthermore, using such unwanted programs, internet criminals can get their hands on victims’ personal data like credit card details and banking credentials, which can be then misused for evil purposes. With this in mind, remove Custom Search Bar from the PC before it’s too late!

Infiltration Of Hijacking Apps:

The most common method through which browser hijackers sneak into the computer systems is software bundling in which, these PUPs are added into the installers of regular freeware and are presented as free offers. They are not visible and if you decide to install the free application via the Quick or Recommended mode set, you will be installing the hijacker yourself on your computer along with the main software. Instead of this, what you need to do is picking the Custom or Advanced type of installation setup which allows you to untick the checkboxes next to any needless programs.

FAQs

Can Custom Search Bar damage my PC?

It belongs to the category of browser hijacker and such apps are not infamous for significantly damaging the PC systems. It can, however, interrupt your online sessions with annoying ads-generation and page-redirects to different sites. Some of these advertised sites can be harmful or malicious.

Is there way to avoid getting infected?

Internet is full or unwanted or malicious programs that are very difficult to not get interacted with. So, you need to beware of what you are clicking on, what sites you are visiting, what software you are installing, etc. Always have an up-to-date security app installed and perform regular system scans.

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 Custom Search Bar:

Remove the related items of Custom Search Bar 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 Custom Search Bar 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 (Custom Search Bar) 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 Custom Search Bar 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 Custom Search Bar 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 Custom Search Bar 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 Custom Search Bar 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 Custom Search Bar (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.