How to remove Kibo Web browser hijacker?

Kibo Web browser hijacker removal instructions

What is Kibo Web?

Kibo Web promotes the tailsearch.com address (a fake search engine). As a rule, apps of this type promote fake search engines by changing certain browser settings. Also, Kibo Web collects information related to user's browsing activities. it is worthwhile to mentioned that browser hijackers are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), it is because users download and installed them unintentionally.

As a rule, browser hijackers are designed to change browser settings such as address of a default search engine, homepage and new tab to an address of some fake search engine like tailsearch.com. Although, Kibo Web does not always changes the aforementioned settings, but it opens tailsearch.com when users enter search queries into URL bar anyway. It is known that tailsearch.com provides results generated by Bing, it redirects users to bing.com via my-search.com and search-checker.com. It can provide results generated by Google as well, the way tailsearch.com functions depends on user's geolocation. In one way or another, tailsearch.com is a fake search engine which does not generate its own, unique results. Typically, address of a fake search engine cannot be removed from browser settings as long as a browser hijacker is installed on a browser. Therefore, tailsearch.com can be removed from settings only when Kibo Web is no longer installed. Another reason not to have Kibo Web or any other browser hijacker installed on a browser and/or operating system is that such apps tend to be designed to gather browsing data. For example, IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, etc. In some cases they can be designed to gather personal, confidential information as well. Moreover, their developers may sell collected information to third parties (potentially cyber criminals) or misuse it to generate it in other ways. Therefore, users who would have such apps installed on a browser and/or computer could have problems related to browsing safety, privacy, become victims of identity theft, and/or experience other issues.

Threat Summary:

Name	Kibo Web
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Kibo Web
Supposed Functionality	Improved web browsing experience
Promoted URL	tailsearch.com
Serving IP Address (tailsearch.com)	104.27.146.124
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 Malwarebytes. ▼ Download Malwarebytes To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Malwarebytes. 14 days free trial available.

There are many apps that are classified as browser hijackers, e.g., HDSportSearchs, AnyMovieSearch and HDMusicStreamSearch. Quite often they are advertised as apps that have some features, improve web browsing experience, and/or are useful in some other way. However, more often than not they are useless to their users and can be the culprit of various problems. In other words, most browser hijackers are designed only to help their developers to generate revenue.

How did Kibo Web install on my computer?

In some cases users download and/or install PUAs like Kibo Web via deceptive advertisements that, when clicked, execute certain scripts. Although, more often users download and/or install PUAs through download and/or installation setups that have PUAs integrated in their setups as additional offers. This distribution method of PUAs is called "bundling". Typically, offers to download and/or install PUAs can be declined in "Custom", "Advanced" or other settings of setups. However, users often download and/or install software without checking and changing the aforementioned settings and that is how they give a permission for included PUAs to be downloaded and/or installed too.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended not to complete any software download and/or installation without checking "Custom", "Advanced and other similar settings of its setup and declining offers to download and/or install unwanted apps. Also, it is advised to download files and/or programs only from official websites and via direct download links. Third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks like eMule, torrent clients and so on, etc., should not be used. Additionally, it is common for advertisements that appear on shady pages to be designed to open unreliable, dubious websites or even cause download and/or installation of some unwanted software. Therefore, such ads should not be clicked as well. If there are some unwanted, suspicious apps (extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins) installed on a web browser, then they should be removed. The same should be done with programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Kibo Web, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Tailsearch.com provides results generated by Google (GIF):

Notification saying that Kibo Web can read browsing history:

Website promoting Kibo Web browser hijacker:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced computer skills. Malwarebytes is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Malwarebytes 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 Malwarebytes. 14 days free trial available.

Quick menu:

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

Kibo Web browser hijacker removal:

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.

Windows XP users:

Click Start, choose Settings and click Control Panel. Locate and click Add or Remove Programs.

Windows 10 and Windows 8 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.

Mac 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, "Kibo Web"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Kibo Web browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

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 "Kibo Web" 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 "Kibo Web", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.tailsearch.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 "tailsearch.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 tailsearch.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 "Kibo Web", 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 "Kibo Web", remove hxxp://tailsearch.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 tailsearch.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 tailsearch.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.

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://tailsearch.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 "Kibo Web".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the tailsearch.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.

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.

Removal assistance:
If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove tailsearch.com redirect from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.

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