Instant Safe Web – What is it?

“Instant Safe Web” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is usually spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to browse some particular information, for example, about sporting activity events, make your web browser much more secure, enable downloading of any video clip, and so on.

However, the “Instant Safe Web” plugin is fairly useless due to the fact that all such features are already integrated to your browser and/or system. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. But occasionally even qualified users are getting caught on such an appeal. In specific cases, this hijacker is spread along with free programs.

Instant Safe Web Search Hijacker

How harmful is Instant Safe Web hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Instant Safe Web hijacker is additionally pretty hazardous for web browser usage. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Instantsafeweb.com, and additionally transforms your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the specified symbol).

In addition to aesthetic modifications done by Instant Safe Web hijacker, you may observe that some of your search inquiries are redirecting to the suspicious sites, full of web links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting rises if you try to open Google search page by force.

However all these actions are much more frustrating than really damaging. The most important hazard, particularly for people who have a great deal of confidential information in their internet browsers, is embedded in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, and various other activities are simply gathered by Instant Safe Web hijacker.

How to remove Instant Safe Web search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are almost always fairly simple to delete. In many cases, they have an independent application that can be seen in the list of installed applications. Because of the certain distribution tactic of Instant Safe Web hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted manually. However, if you got Instant Safe Web in the bundle with a free applications, your system may be infected with much more severe malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware tools to delete the Instant Safe Web PUA and all other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of recognizing and removing various malware, including named hijacker. Nevertheless, serious malware, that can exist on your personal computer in the specified case, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by modifying the Group Policies. To prevent such scenarios, it is far better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all malicious applications on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malware, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can see the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious programs, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for every spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be removed to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be shown, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing Instant Safe Web hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender