VideoSearchz – What is it?

“VideoSearchz” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically promoted as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some special info, as an example, about sporting activity events, make your browser a lot more secure, allow downloading of any video clip, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nevertheless, the “VideoSearchz” plugin is rather pointless due to the fact that all such features are currently integrated to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even professional users are getting caught on such a lure. In specific situations, this hijacker is dispersed together with free apps.

VideoSearchz Search Hijacker

How harmful is VideoSearchz hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, VideoSearchz hijacker is also rather hazardous for browser use. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Video-searchz.com, and also transforms your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the specified symbol).

In addition to aesthetic changes done by VideoSearchz hijacker, you might notice that many of your search questions are redirecting to the suspicious websites, full of links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting increases if you try to start Google search page forcibly.

But all these activities are a lot more frustrating than really harmful. The greatest threat, primarily for individuals who have a great deal of confidential information in their internet browsers, is installed in data gathering functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as various other activities are easily collected by VideoSearchz hijacker.

How to remove VideoSearchz 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 rather easy to deal with. In many cases, they have an independent app that can be found in the list of installed apps. As a result of the particular marketing way of VideoSearchz hijacker, it can be easily tracked and deleted by hand. Nevertheless, if you got VideoSearchz in the bundle with a free program, your PC can be infected with a lot more severe malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you utilize anti-malware programs to deal with the VideoSearchz PUA and all other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of discovering and eliminating a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. However, significant malware, that can exist on your personal computer in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such circumstances, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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

You can see the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to choose any actions against malware, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

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

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be located in the Tools tab.

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing VideoSearchz 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