Unfortunately, browser hijackers are becoming an increasingly serious problem these days. Gaining control of your browser can be very financially beneficial for a hacker, especially considering the volume of information that passes through it. One of these threats is the QSearch browser hijacker.
QSearch is known to be a potentially unwanted program, but while some users recognize it as a threat, others simply shrug it off as a minor annoyance. Let’s look into what QSearch is, what it does, and how to remove QSearch from your MacBook.
What is QSearch?
QSearch is a browser hijacker that takes over and changes various browser settings. In addition to being a nuisance, these unauthorized changes can lead to serious privacy issues and data theft by redirecting you to malware-infected sites and ad-infested search engines.
Browser hijacker malware can also change your homepage and downgrade your browser security settings, making it easier to spread. And, of course, it can introduce other forms of malware, which can cause even more damage and havoc. It would be never-ending.
Is QSearch a virus?
QSearch is not considered a virus but a form of malware. A virus spreads and jumps from device to device, determined to infect as many machines and networks as possible. It finds multiple ways to find new victims, such as emailing itself to its victims’ contacts and looking for other machines on networks.
By contrast, QSearch, like other browser hijackers, doesn’t aim to infect other computers. Instead, it firmly embeds itself in the target browser and stays there. It may, however, trick the victim into eventually releasing another form of malware, which could be a virus.
How the QSearch hijacker can infect your browser
So, how does QSearch malware find its way onto your browser in the first place? It can actually happen more easily than you think. This can occur through:
- Malware-infected weblinks in emails and SMS messages
- Infected email attachments
- Malware hidden inside legitimate software, known as a trojan
- Deceptive ads, also known as adware
- Pirated and/or cracked software and apps
- Software and apps downloaded outside of the Mac App Store
How to recognize QSearch malware
Fortunately, there are some potential giveaways that QSearch — or some other form of browser hijacker — is on your computer. Do you recognize any of the following?
- Your computer is grinding to a halt or even crashing.
- Your browser is so slow that it’s virtually unusable.
- Your search queries are being redirected to strange search engines.
- Your browser is using an inordinate amount of CPU and memory.
- Your homepage has been changed.
- Your browser visits are being redirected to other websites.
- Your browser security settings have been downgraded or even completely disabled.
- A new browser profile has appeared.
How to remove QSearch effectively from your Mac
The best way to quickly and effectively get rid of QSearch malware is to use CleanMyMac powered by Moonlock Engine. It’s a lightweight, powerful tool that can detect and destroy malware, as well as optimize your Mac’s performance.
Once you’ve signed up for the trial version of CleanMyMac and installed it on your Mac, simply do the following:
- Click the Protection feature on the left. This opens the malware removal tool.
- Choose Configure Scan to dive into the settings and choose your scan options. We highly recommend ticking everything. At the very least, choose Deep Scan. This guarantees a thorough search.
- Click the Scan button to start the QSearch removal process.
- CleanMyMac will now start systematically searching your Mac, looking for all traces of QSearch. It may also find other threats on your MacBook that you were unaware of.
- When the QSearch browser hijacker has been found, CleanMyMac will show it to you on a list of identified threats. Select them all and click Remove.
It would be an excellent idea to run 1 or 2 more scans with CleanMyMac for further protection. This helps ensure that any remaining traces of QSearch are found and eradicated.
Next, you can also use the Optimize feature to remove all unneeded files. Some of these files may be linked to QSearch, and removing them will complete the job.
How to remove QSearch from a browser
In a previous article, we took a deep dive into how to remove a browser hijacker. The following are some highlights on how to remove browser hijackers from major web browsers.
How to remove QSearch from Chrome
Chrome is arguably the most popular browser out there, so it makes sense to start with that.
- Go to Settings > Extensions > Manage Extensions. Scan the list of extensions like QSearch and remove any that you don’t recognize or that look suspicious.
- Go to Settings > On Startup. Click “Open a specific set of pages.” Remove all the ones you don’t recognize. The browser hijacker has likely added its own pages here.
- Navigate to Settings > Search Engine. Change the default browser back to your preferred one. QSearch will certainly have changed this.
- Go to Settings > More Tools > Clear Browsing Data. This will wipe the slate clean.
- Optionally, you can go to Settings > Reset Settings and simply put the browser back into its original state, just like when you first installed it.
Get rid of QSearch from Safari
Getting rid of QSearch on Safari is just as easy.
To remove a browser hijacker from Safari, follow these steps:
- Go to Safari > Settings > Extensions and remove QSearch malware or any unauthorized extensions.
- Go to Settings > General. Select what you want to see on your Home page.
- Navigate to Settings > Search. Change the default browser back to your preferred one.
- Choose Safari > Clear History. Select All History and wipe everything.
Ways to delete QSearch from Firefox
Finally, let’s look at the QSearch removal method in Firefox.
- Go to Tools > Add-Ons & Themes and remove any extensions QSearch installed.
- Go to Settings > Home. Select what you want to see on your homepage.
- Navigate to Settings > Search. Change the default browser back to your preferred one.
- Choose Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies & Site Data. Click Clear Data and wipe everything.
How to avoid browser hijackers like QSearch in the future
Once you’ve gotten rid of QSearch, you’ll obviously want to take steps to avoid it in the future. The good news is you can stay safe if you follow these steps.
Figure out how you got the malware
You first need to find out how QSearch got onto your browser in the first place. If it was a trojan hiding inside of other software, remove that software immediately. If you determine that the source was an infected email attachment, delete it right away.
Never install apps or software from unknown developers
The Mac App Store only sells software that has been tested and verified by Apple. You can reduce the risk of accidentally downloading malware such as QSearch by only downloading apps from the Mac App Store.
Never click on links from unknown individuals
The most common method of browser hijacker infection is when victims click on phishing links that lead to malware downloads. Therefore, if you ever receive a link from an unknown person — or a person you know but don’t fully trust — don’t click it.
Install all browser and OS updates
Malware takes full advantage of vulnerabilities in browsers and operating systems. By installing security updates as quickly as possible, you make it more difficult for malware to gain a foothold on your system.
QSearch may be written off by some as a pest and a nuisance, but as we’ve demonstrated, it can be a lot more than that. Your private browsing data can be stolen and sold to third parties. Your personal data can be taken, and you could be tricked into buying malware-infested software for non-existent problems.
If you suspect that you have a browser hijacker, then don’t dilly-dally. Get rid of QSearch immediately before it can dig its digital claws in.
This is an independent publication, and it has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. MacBook, Mac, and the Mac App Store are trademarks of Apple Inc.
