How to remove the Mazy Search browser hijacker

What is Mazy Search?

Mazy Search is a browser hijacker which changes certain browser settings to browser.mazysearch.com (the address of a fake search engine). As well as promoting this sites, Mazy Search also adds the "Managed by your organization" feature to Google Chrome browsers.

Most browser hijackers also track information relating to users' browsing habits. Commonly, people download and install apps of this type inadvertently and, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). This particular app is distributed through a deceptive installer, an unofficial activation ('cracking') program.

Mazy Search promotes browser.mazysearch.com by assigning it as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. The main purpose of this is to ensure that people visit this address when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.

When used to search, browser.mazysearch.com displays results generated by Google (it simply redirects users to google.com). Therefore, it does not generate any unique results, and is thus redundant and useless.

Furthermore, most browser hijackers prevent users from removing the address of the fake search engine from the aforementioned settings, as long as they are installed. Therefore, browser.mazysearch.com can be removed from settings only when Mazy Search is no longer installed.

Another reason to uninstall Mazy Search and other apps of this type is that they often record browsing data. For example, IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, etc. In some cases, they are capable of gathering sensitive details as well.

The information might be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misused to generate revenue in other ways. Having an app such as Mazy Search installed on the browser and/or computer can thus cause problems relating to privacy, browsing safety or even identity theft. Therefore, never download or install any browser hijackers.

Threat Summary:

Name	Mazy Search
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names (deceptive installer)	Avast (Win32:AdwareSig [Adw]), BitDefender (Adware.GenericKD.43245734), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of MSIL/Adware.TekhNetvork.A), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.MSIL.KabanInst.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Browser Extension(s)	Mazy Search;
Supposed Functionality	This app supposedly improves the browsing experience.
Promoted URL	browser.mazysearch.com
Serving IP Address (browser.mazysearch.com)	163.172.119.234
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.
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. ▼ 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.

Mazy Search is virtually identical to CapitaSearch and shares similarities with many other apps of this type (e.g., Easy Email Checker, Track Net Speed, Stream Radio Live). Most browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing browser settings. They also collect browsing data. Never trust these apps and remove those already installed immediately.

How did Mazy Search install on my computer?

Typically, people download and install apps such as Mazy Search and other potentially unwanted applications inadvertently. Commonly, apps of this type are distributed through the set-ups of other programs. I.e., by including them into set-ups as 'additional offers'.

In most cases, these offers are mentioned in settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and "Manual". When users download and install programs without checking and changing the default settings, they often allow included PUAs to infiltrate. This PUA distribution method is known as "bundling".

Sometimes unwanted downloads and installations are caused by clicking deceptive ads that execute certain scripts. Research shows that Mazy Search is distributed through an unofficial activation ('cracking') tool designed to illegally activate Adobe Photoshop. Note that these tools are illegal and can also install malware (e.g., some ransomware, Trojan).

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are strongly advised to download files and programs only from official websites and using direct links. Other channels are often employed to distribute unwanted, potentially malicious applications.

Examples of dubious download/installation channels are third party downloaders, installers, unofficial websites, free file hosting pages, and Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule). You are advised to check download/installation set-ups and decline offers to download or install additionally-included apps before completing the process.

Never trust intrusive ads that appear on dubious websites - they can open other web pages of this kind or even execute scripts to download or install unwanted applications.

Remove any suspicious apps (extensions, add-ons, plug-ins) installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system immediately. If your computer is already infected with Mazy Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

browser.mazysearch.com redirects to google.com (GIF):

Deceptive installer (unofficial Adobe Photoshop activation tool) used to distribute Mazy Search:

Notification stating that Mazy Search can read and change certain data:

Mazy Search browser hijacker managing Google Chrome:

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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 Mazy Search?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Mazy Search application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove browser.mazysearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Mazy Search browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove browser.mazysearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove browser.mazysearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Mazy 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, "Mazy Search"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Mazy 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://browser.mazysearch.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 "Mazy Search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the browser.mazysearch.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 "Mazy 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 "Mazy Search", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.browser.mazysearch.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 "browser.mazysearch.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 browser.mazysearch.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 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 "Mazy 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 "Mazy Search", remove hxxp://browser.mazysearch.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with browser.mazysearch.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 browser.mazysearch.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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