How to remove the Comet Search browser hijacker

What is Comet Search?

Comet Search is dubious software classified as a browser hijacker. It operates by making modifications to browser settings to promote cometsearch.info (find.cometsearch.info), a fake search engine. Additionally, this browser hijacker adds the "Managed by your organization" feature to Google Chrome browsers.

Comet Search has data tracking capabilities, which are employed to steal information relating to search queries. This browser hijacker is a serious privacy concern. Due to the dubious methods used to proliferate Comet Search, it is classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

Comet Search browser hijacker in detail

Popular browsers with large user bases, such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer are common targets of browser hijackers. They assign the addresses of fake search engines as the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs.

Comet Search makes these alterations to browsers to promote cometsearch.info. Therefore, with this browser hijacker installed, each new browser tab/window opened and search query typed into the URL bar redirects to cometsearch.info.

Rogue search engines are rarely capable of providing search results, and so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Yahoo, Bing, Google and other genuine sites. The web searcher promoted by Comet Search - cometsearch.info - is no exception to this, and simply redirects to the Google (google.com) search engine.

Furthermore, browser hijackers can restrict/deny access to the browser settings and/or reset any permitted changes made. Therefore, recovering an affected browser is impossible without eliminating the browser hijacker first. As mentioned, Comet Search can track data, specifically, typed search queries.

Browser hijackers monetize the collected data (e.g. browsing and search engine histories, IP addresses, geolocations, and even personally identifiable information) by sharing it with and/or selling it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). In summary, the presence of data-tracking software can lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss and identity theft.

To ensure device integrity and user safety, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Comet Search
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Comet Search, CometSearch, Comet.
Promoted URL	cometsearch.info
Serving IP Address (cometsearch.info)	62.210.29.54
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.

Browser hijackers in general

AllRadioSearch, SearchBip, SearchGames4U and NewVideoSearch are some examples of other browser hijackers. They may seem legitimate, and often entice users into download/installation with offers of various "useful" functionality. The advertised features are usually nonoperational, and this is common to most PUAs.

The sole purpose of this unwanted software is to generate revenue for the developers. Regular users receive no real value and can instead experience serious problems. PUAs hijack browsers, force-open untrusted or malicious websites, run intrusive advertisement campaigns and track private data.

How did Comet Search install on my computer?

Browser hijackers, adware-type apps, and other types of PUAs are commonly distributed by integrating them into the download and/or installation set-ups of other programs, so that a proportion of users inadvertently download and install them together with their chosen software. This distribution method is known as "bundling".

Offers to download and install additionally-included apps usually appear in "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings of the set-ups (where they can usually be declined). Many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby granting permission for PUAs to be downloaded and installed by default.

In addition, unwanted downloads and installations are sometimes caused by clicking deceptive advertisements capable of executing certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of unwanted applications

You are advised to research all software before download/installation. Use only official and verified download channels. Unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks (BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule), and other third party downloaders commonly offer harmful and bundled content, and are therefore untrusted and should be avoided.

When downloading/installing, read the terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of additional apps, tools, features, and so on. Intrusive advertisements typically seem legitimate, however, they can redirect to dubious and malicious sites (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and many others).

If you encounter ads or redirects of this kind, inspect the system and remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately. If your computer is already infected with Comet Search, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Comet Search browser hijacker asking for permissions:

The "Managed by your organization" feature added to Google Chrome browsers by Comet Search browser hijacker:

Appearance of Comet Search browser hijacker (GIF):

Deceptive installer promoting Comet Search browser hijacker:

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

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

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

Comet 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://cometsearch.info 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 "Comet Search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the cometsearch.info 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 "Comet 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 "Comet Search" (or simply "CometSearch" or "Comet"), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.cometsearch.info) 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 "cometsearch.info", 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 cometsearch.info 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 "Comet 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 "Comet Search", remove hxxp://cometsearch.info 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 cometsearch.info 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 cometsearch.info 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users visit cometsearch.info website?

The revenue generated through cometsearch.info depends on the number of the page visitors.

Is visiting cometsearch.info a threat to my privacy?

Websites like cometsearch.info (and browser hijackers) can be designed to gather information about their users. Therefore, using them can cause problems related to online privacy.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Usually, browser hijackers are distributed using social engineering tactics (such as browser notifications, intrusive advertisements), downloaders and installers for other software (by bundling them with other programs).

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Comet Search browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate all browser-hijacking applications. It is worth mentioning that when multiple browser hijackers are present, they can reinstall one another. It becomes difficult to remove more than one browser hijacker because all of them have to be removed at once. Combo Cleaner can remove all unwanted apps automatically.

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