Incognito Search Browser Hijacker

What is blpsearch.com?

Incognito Search is promoted as a feature that allows users to browse the web in incognito mode. I.e., to prevent browsers from saving browsing history, searches, cookies, and so on. In fact, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker.

This app (and others of this type) modifies browser settings, gathers browsing-related information, and delivers ads. Additionally, Incognito Search promotes the blpsearch.com fake search engine.

Most browser hijackers can be installed on popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. After installation, Incognito Search app assigns blpsearch.com as the homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL.

Therefore, people who have this browser hijacker installed on their systems are forced to visit blpsearch.com when they open a browser, new tab, or enter a search query into the URL bar (i.e. attempt to search using the site). As with most apps of this type, it prevents users from undoing the changes (unless it is uninstalled).

Any attempts to change or undo these settings will lead to Incognito Search reassigning them. As mentioned in the introduction, the app promotes a fake search engine (blpsearch.com). It is categorized as fake, since it provides no unique results. If used, it opens search.yahoo.com and displays results generated by Yahoo (a legitimate search engine).

Furthermore, most browser hijackers collect search queries, URLs of visited websites, geo-locations, IP addresses, and other data relating to browsing habits. These apps also record personal/sensitive details. The data is continuously shared with third parties who misuse it to generate revenue. It is possible that some of these third parties might be cyber criminals.

Incognito Search also feeds users with intrusive ads (coupons, banners, surveys, pop-ups, and so on). These can be annoying and clicking them might result in redirects to other untrustworthy, deceptive, or malicious websites.

Threat Summary:

Name	Incognito Search potentially unwanted application
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.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner 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.

SpecialSearchOption, nJoyMovies Search Plus, and mixSportTV Search Plus are just some examples of other browser hijackers. Most applications of this type modify browser settings, cause unwanted redirects, feed users with ads, and collect browsing-related information.

Developers trick people into using these PUAs so they can generate revenue by monetizing the aforementioned actions. Typically, these apps are promoted as useful tools, however, they deliver no real value or the functions promised.

How did Incognito Search install on my computer?

Incognito Search is promoted using a website and also via the "bundling" method. Bundling is the main reason behind most inadvertent installations (people install PUAs such as this unintentionally). Using this method, developers attempt to trick people into downloading/installing unwanted apps together with users' chosen software.

They hide PUAs in "Advanced", "Custom" and other parts of the download/installation set-ups. Therefore, information regarding the presence of unwanted apps in set-ups is not properly disclosed.

Note, however, that developers only succeed in their attempts to trick people into these unintentional installations/downloads if people skip these procedures (installation and download step) without checking all available options. Many leave settings or options unchanged, thus leading to problems.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To avoid unintentional installations of various potentially unwanted applications, download software using official sources/websites and direct links. Do not use third party downloaders, unofficial websites, torrents, eMule, and other Peer-to-Peer networks.

Handle installations and downloads with care: check "Custom", "Advanced" and other options, and opt-out of offers to install unwanted apps. Only then finish the set-up. Do not click ads that are displayed on dubious websites - they often redirect users to pornography, adult dating, gambling and other dubious websites.

Additionally, if you experience unwanted redirects or intrusive ads (randomly), it is possible that a PUA installed. Check installed extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons installed on the browser and remove unwanted apps immediately. Apply this to programs installed on the operating system.

If your computer is already infected with Incognito Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Incognito Search browser hijacker:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ 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 blpsearch.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Incognito Search application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove blpsearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Incognito Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove blpsearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove blpsearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Incognito Search browser hijacker 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 suspicious applications (for example, "Incognito Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the blpsearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Incognito Search browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

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

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://blpsearch.com (or elp.private-searches.com) and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start 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 and then remove "blpsearch" or "elp.private-searches.com".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the incognito search potentially unwanted application, 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:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Incognito Search" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable Incognito Search, look for browser hijacker's URL (hxxp://www.blpsearch.com or elp.private-searches.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.

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 the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "blpsearch.com" or "elp.private-searches.com", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the incognito search potentially unwanted application, 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:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Incognito Search", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.

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, disable "Incognito Search", remove hxxp://blpsearch.com or elp.private-searches.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your 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: "blpsearch.com" (or "elp.private-searches.com")
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with incognito search potentially unwanted application 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 incognito search potentially unwanted application, 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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