Remove GameSearchIt: Avoid Unwanted Redirects

GameSearchIt: Simple Uninstall Process

GameSearchIt is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that has been categorized as a browser hijacker because it alters preferences and settings of the browsers to control the traffic. The notorious threat modifies the default search engine, homepage, new tab settings to gamesearchit.com. So each time victims try to search for a particular thing online, the fake search tool can redirect the traffic to affiliated portals or insert the results with advertisements, links to commercial sites. This nasty PUP affects web browsers and reroutes to possibly dangerous sites that promote other applications or services and can affect the device significantly.

GameSearchIt Implements Evil Deeds:

GameSearchIt is an extremely annoying and irritating program, even though it is not malicious or hazardous. The PUP itself that causes these modifications resides deep in system folders and can be persistent enough to create trouble while the user tries to clear the system. You should use an appropriate anti-malware tool and clean the machine fully. There is no reason to use this deceptive search provider as a normal service. This perilous hijacker closes your search tabs and gets to change the default engine, sets other preferences to promotional sites, or gamesearchit.com, so the new tab automatically goes to that page.

All the search queries provided by GameSearchIt go through the dubious engine that injects the list of results with advertisements. This nasty PUP triggers various alterations on the web browser directly but also manages to affect functions of the device too. It can show up on the computer as a web browser extension that directly affects the performance of the contaminated machine. Such browser-based intruders can trigger additional installs and inject other unwanted programs without your approval.

If GameSearchIt stays inside your computer for a longer duration, you can suffer from those other threats and have a very tough time while trying to remove this parasite. In some cases, these hijackers can trigger direct installation from promotional content, so the installation process is controlled by the users to some extent. This notorious PUP can monitor the activities of its victims and gather browsing-related as well as personal data like search queries, sites visited, links opened, credit card details, IP addresses, geolocations etc. These details are then sold to third-parties and even cyber crooks and could be employed for generating personalized ads and making fraudulent transactions. So, GameSearchIt removal should not be delayed.

Distribution Of GameSearchIt:

Browser-based threats come to the PC systems without any consents or particular alerts about the installation process. It is because potentially unwanted programs usually get distributed via freeware installation packages, otherwise called bundles. This method is borrowed from marketing and allows more than one programs to get installed at the same time. In most cases, these PUPs get pre-bundled with freeware applications and installed automatically when users choose recommended or quick options instead of Advanced or Custom installs.

The Advanced settings allow the person to control what gets installed and what is not. By selecting this option, you will be able to opt-out the components that rise suspicious or you don’t want to be installed and pick only the one you require. If your machine is already infected with this hijacker, you must remove GameSearchIt from the PC without wasting any time.

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 GameSearchIt:

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