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How to uninstall Hide My History and Your Search Tool

Also Known As: hidemyhistory.co redirect
Damage level: Medium

What is Hide My History?

Hide My History is the name of a browser hijacker, a potentially unwanted application (PUA) that promotes hidemyhistory.co, the address of a fake search engine.

Generally, browser hijackers promote these addresses by changing certain browser settings. Furthermore, most apps of this type operate as information tracking tools and collect browsing data. Generally, people download and install browser hijackers (and other PUAs) inadvertently. Note that Hide My History is installed together with another PUA called Your Search Tool.

hidemyhistory.co browser hijacker

Typically, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by assigning their addresses as the homepage, new tab and default search engine URLs. Hide My History sets them to hidemyhistory.co.

In summary, apps such as Hide My History ensure that users visit fake search engines such as hidemyhistory.co when they open a browser, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar. To remove fake search engine addresses from browser settings it is necessary to uninstall the browser hijacker that initially made the changes.

Otherwise, it will prevent any changes to the settings. In this particular case, uninstalling Hide My History can prevent hidemyhistory.co from being opened. Most browser hijackers gather information.

For example, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, geolocations, IP addresses, and other browsing data, however, some can access and record personal, sensitive information. Furthermore, the developers sell the information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it in other ways.

Browser hijackers (including Hide My History and Your Search Tool) should not be downloaded or installed. Users of these apps are exposed to risk of problems relating to privacy and browsing safety. Some browser hijackers also record details that could be misused to steal users' identities.

Threat Summary:
Name Hide My History
Threat Type Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s) Hide My History
Supposed Functionality This app supposedly keep users' searches (browsing data) private.
Promoted URL hidemyhistory.co
Serving IP Address (hidemyhistory.co) 52.22.128.194
Affected Browser Settings Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine.
Symptoms Manipulated internet browser settings (homepage, default internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the internet using their search engines.
Additional Information Hide My History is distributed with another PUA called Your Search Tool.
Distribution methods Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers.
Damage Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)

To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner.
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There are many browser hijackers on the internet. Some examples are Cranchit, Online Templates and Private Tab. Most promote fake search engines and track information.

Developers advertise them as useful apps, which supposedly deliver various features, improve the browsing experience, etc., however, few operate as promised. Generally, apps of this type are useless and simply cause problems.

How did Hide My History install on my computer?

Browser hijackers and other PUAs are distributed by including them into the set-ups of other programs as "additional offers". This distribution method is known as "bundling" and is used to trick people into downloading and installing PUAs together with other software that they wish to acquire.

In most cases, offers to download and install additionally-included apps are listed in settings such as "Advanced", "Custom", and "Manual", however, many people fail to check and change these settings before completing the process. Leaving the settings unchanged allows download and installation of additional PUAs by default.

PUAs are sometimes downloaded and installed through deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts, however, this can happen only if the ads are clicked.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (eMule, torrent clients), unofficial pages and other such tools and channels are used to distribute unwanted software. Therefore, they should not be used to download or install your software. All programs and files should be downloaded from official pages and via direct links.

Note that download/installation set-ups often contain settings such as "Advanced" and "Custom". Check these settings and dismiss any offers to download or install additional, unwanted software before finishing the process. Never click ads that are displayed on dubious web pages, since they can open various untrusted, potentially malicious websites.

In some cases, they cause download/installation of unwanted software. Remove all unwanted, suspicious extensions, add-ons and/plug-ins that are installed on the browser.

Also remove any programs of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Hide My History, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Hide My History browser hijacker:

Website used to promote Hide My History browser hijacker

Hide My History asks permission to be added to the browser (and to read and change various data):

hide my history browser hijacker asks for a permission to access and modify data

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Quick menu:

Hide My History browser hijacker removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

hidemyhistory.co browser hijacker uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "Hide My History", "Your Search Tool"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Hide My History browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing hidemyhistory.co related Internet Explorer extensions

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options 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:

Removing hidemyhistory.co from Internet Explorer homepage

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://hidemyhistory.co 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:

Removing hidemyhistory.co from Internet Explorer default search engine

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options 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 "Hide My History" (and "Your Search Tool").

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hidemyhistory.co 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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

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

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

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

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing hidemyhistory.co related Google Chrome extensions

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

Change your homepage:

Removing hidemyhistory.co from Google Chrome homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Hide My History" (and/or "Your Search Tool"), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.hidemyhistory.co) 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:

Removing hidemyhistory.co from Google Chrome default search engine

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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 "hidemyhistory.co", 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 hidemyhistory.co redirect, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

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

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

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

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing hidemyhistory.co related Mozilla Firefox extensions

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Hide My History" (and/or "Your Search Tool"), as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

Removing hidemyhistory.co from Mozilla Firefox homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window disable "Hide My History" (and/or "Your Search Tool"), remove hxxp://hidemyhistory.co and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

Removing hidemyhistory.co from Mozilla Firefox 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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the Mozilla Firefox switch about:config entry button button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with hidemyhistory.co redirect removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

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

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

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

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

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

removing browser hijacker from safari step 2 - removing extensions

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

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 3 - changing homepage

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.

removing browser hijackers from safari step 4 - changing the default Internet search engine

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...

resetting safari step 1

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

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 2

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 3

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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 Microsoft Edge (Chromium) puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hidemyhistory.co redirect, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

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

Summary:

declining installation of browser hijackers while downloading free software sampleA 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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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

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Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

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