Stop Vudu Search from hijacking your browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Vudu Search?
Vudu Search is a browser hijacker, advertised as a browser extension, used to enhance web search. It is marketed as a legitimate tool capable of simplifying the search for topics, images, videos and news through the browser's search bar. Yet it is classified as a PUA (potentially unwanted applications) as many users install it inadvertently.
As a browser hijacker, it changes browser settings, forces users to use its fake search engine and gathers data relating to browsing activity.
Most commonly, browser hijackers are designed to affect browsers with the greatest popularity (Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox). They operate by changing browser settings (homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URL), consequently seriously diminishing the browsing experience.
To elaborate: every new tab/window opened and every search done through the URL bar, all redirect to the fake search engine (in case of Vudu Search - feed.vudusearch.com). The changes that browser hijackers make may appear as easily reversible, however in most cases they are not.
The access to certain settings can be denied and even if it is allowed, then all the user alterations made can simply be reset. Therefore, removal of these rogue applications and/or browser extensions/plug-ins is necessary in order to recover hijacked browsers.
It is not unlikely for PUAs (browser hijackers included) to have data tracking abilities. By monitoring browsing habits (URLs visited, pages viewed and queries searched), they can gather personal information (IP address, geolocation and real-life user identity details).
It must be stressed that this information is then passed onto third parties (possibly, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it to generate revenue.
Therefore, presence of PUAs within a device can cause serious browser and systems invasions/infections, as well as lead to severe privacy issues (even culminate in identity theft). To ensure device and user safety, all rogue applications must be removed immediately.
| Name | Vudu Search |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Vudu Search DS |
| Supposed Functionality | Enhancement of web browsing quality. |
| Promoted URL | feed.vudusearch.com |
| Serving IP Address (feed.vudusearch.com) | 65.52.33.232 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| 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. |
There are thousands of browser hijackers out there, many share certain similarities (e.g. SearchBox, PreApp, Live Radio Now and etc.). Most offer some sort of "useful" and "beneficial" features. However, these features rarely function as advertised, if they are functional at all.
It must be stated, that the only goal of PUAs is the creation of profit for their developers; to users they are of no genuine value. Instead of operating as promised, they promote fake search engines, generate redirects to untrustworthy and malicious sites, deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns and gather sensitive information.
How did Vudu Search install on my computer?
Vudu Search has an official website, where it is offered free to download ("add"). However, that is not the only way that unwanted applications spread. They can also be autonomously installed by invasive ads, which can execute scripts designed to make such rogue downloads/installs.
Install packs/bundles are also another mode of PUA proliferation. "Bundling" is a deceitful marketing tactic, by which regular software is packed with undesirable apps.
When installing programs, by ignoring terms and possible options, skipping steps and using pre-set setting - users can unintentionally install PUAs. In summary, caution-less and inattentive approach towards browsing and downloading/installing software are the main caused of PUA invasions.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is recommended to research desired software/browser extensions/features/etc. before installing them, in order to verify their legitimacy. Using official and trustworthy sources for downloading programs (ideally, via direct download links) is preferable.
It is ill-advised to use peer-to-peer sharing networks (BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule, etc.) and other third party downloaders, as they are more likely to bundle their software with PUAs. Install recommendations include: reading terms and exploring possible options, using "Custom/Advanced" settings and opting-out/declining from installing/downloading additional features.
Prudent browsing habits are encouraged (e.g. avoiding suspicious sites and adverts). Intrusive advertisements often appear absolutely legitimate and therefore "harmless", making differentiating them from ordinary ads quite difficult.
However, a telltale sign of their inauthenticity can be the sites they redirect to (like gambling, pornography, adult-dating and other questionable websites).
Should users encounter such adverts/redirects, they are advised to inspect their system and remove all dubious applications and /or browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Vudu Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Vudu Search browser hijacker asking for permissions:
Website promoting Vudu 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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Vudu Search?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Vudu Search application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove feed.vudusearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Vudu Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove feed.vudusearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove feed.vudusearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Vudu 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, "Vudu Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the feed.vudusearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Vudu 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://feed.vudusearch.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 "feed.vudusearch.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the feed.vudusearch.com redirect, 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 "Vudu Search DS" 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.feed.vudusearch.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 disable "Vudu Search DS", look for "feed.vudusearch.com", 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 feed.vudusearch.com redirect, 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Vudu 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 remove hxxp://feed.vudusearch.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: "vudusearch"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with feed.vudusearch.com redirect 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 feed.vudusearch.com redirect, 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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