How to remove go.mail.ru from the browser's settings

What is go.mail.ru?

go.mail.ru (or inline.go.mail.ru) is a deceptive website claiming to be a legitimate Internet search engine that generates improved search results. Some users believe that go.mail.ru is legitimate and useful, however, this site continually monitors web browsing activity.

Furthermore, developers promote it by employing deceptive software download/installation set-ups designed to modify browser options without permission.

More about go.mail.ru

Set-ups infiltrate Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, assigning the new tab URL/default search engine/homepage options to go.mail.ru. Set-ups append the targets of browser shortcuts with this same URL.

Therefore, when users attempt to search the net via the URL bar or simply open a browser/new browser tab, they are automatically redirected to go.mail.ru. These unwanted redirects significantly diminish the Internet browsing experience and users are unable to return browsers to their previous states.

Set-ups stealthily install a number of "helper objects" (third party programs/browser extensions) to automatically reassign options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, reverting changes performed by set-ups becomes impossible.

Furthermore, helper objects and go.mail.ru track web browsing activity by collecting URLs visited, search queries, pages viewed, IP addresses, geo-locations, and other similar data. The collected information may be personally identifiable and shared by developers with cooperating third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing private information.

Therefore, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to go.mail.ru, uninstall all suspicious programs/browser add-ons (helper objects) and never visit this site again.

Threat Summary:

Name	go.mail.ru browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.
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Similarities with other untrustworthy search engines

There are hundreds of websites that share similarities with go.mail.ru including, for example, luckysearch123.com, hihikal.ru, and webbooks.site. These websites may appear different, however, all have identical behavior.

By offering various so-called 'useful features' (improved search results, access to popular websites, weather forecasts, currency exchange rates, etc.), fake search engines attempt to give the impression of legitimacy. In fact, these sites are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Rather than providing any of the functionality promised, they cause unwanted redirects, collect private data, and deliver no value for regular users.

How did go.mail.ru install on my computer?

To promote go.mail.ru, developers use a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", since they know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip most steps.

Therefore, information regarding modification of browser options is hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes. By skipping this section, users inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify various browser options.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

This situation can be prevented by taking two simple steps. Firstly, never rush when downloading and installing software. Select the "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully analyze each step. Secondly, cancel all additionally-included programs and decline offers to download/install them.

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is go.mail.ru?
• STEP 1. Uninstall potentially unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove go.mail.ru redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove go.mail.ru browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove go.mail.ru homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove go.mail.ru redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Go.mail.ru redirect removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes browser redirects to the go.mail.ru website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

go.mail.ru homepage and default Internet search engine removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser hijackers:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Remove go.mail.ru-related Internet Explorer add-ons:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select such entries and click "Remove".

Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate text, which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.go.mail.ru and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default, then remove "GoSearch".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the go.mail.ru browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove go.mail.ru-related Google Chrome extensions:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:

This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text, which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://www.go.mail.ru and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "GoSearch" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the go.mail.ru browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove go.mail.ru-related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text, which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.go.mail.ru and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "mail.ru"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with go.mail.ru browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the go.mail.ru browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users visit go.mail.ru website?

This page gathers data for its creators. Also, it generates more revenue when the count of its visitors/users is higher.

Is visiting go.mail.ru a threat to my privacy?

It depends on the information that this fake search engine can access. It may cause issues related to online privacy.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Typically, apps of this type are promoted/distributed via browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, etc. Their developers often use social engineering techniques to promote/distribute them. Also, browser hijackers can be included in installers for other programs.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove all browser hijackers. It can remove multiple unwanted apps at once. This feature is useful when more than one browser hijacker is present. In some cases, browser hijackers can reinstall one another. Thus, users cannot remove them manually.

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