How to remove the Pro Search browser hijacker?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
(updated)
Pro Search browser hijacker removal instructions
What is Pro Search?
A browser hijacker is an app that is designed to promote some fake search engine (its address). The Pro Search application is designed to promote tailsearch.com. Also, quite often apps of this type function as data collectors - they gather various information. It is common that users download and install browser hijackers inadvertently, therefore, Pro Search is categorized as potentially unwanted application (PUA).
After installation browser hijackers changes settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage and new tab to an address of a certain fake search engine. In other words, they make sure that users would visit a certain address when they enter search queries into URL bar, open a browser or new tab. It is known that Pro Search does not always change the aforementioned settings, however, it detects when users enter search queries into URL bar and redirects them to tailsearch.com even if it leaves browser settings unchanged. Depending on user's geolocation, tailsearch.com redirects either to google.com or bing.com - it provides results generated either by Google or Bing. In one way or another, it does not generate unique results and that is the main reason why it is called a fake search engine. It is worthwhile to mention that before opening the bing.com page tailsearch.com opens redirects users through my-search.com and search-checker.com, a couple of other shady addresses. In most cases users can remove address of a fake search from browser settings only when a browser hijacker that is designed to promote it is not longer installed on a browser. Another reason not to have Pro Search or any other app of this type installed on a browser and/or computer is that apps of this type tend to be designed to collect various data. Usually they target details like IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, etc. However, in some cases they can be designed to gather confidential, sensitive information as well. The main reason why that is a problem is that collected information could be sold to third parties (potentially cyber criminals) or misused to generate revenue in some other ways. It means that a browser hijacker can be the culprit of problems related to browsing safety, privacy, or even identity theft.
| Name | Pro Search |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Pro Search |
| 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. |
A couple of examples of other browser hijackers that function like Pro Search are DirectStreamSearch, Stop Notifications and ConverterSearchPlus. Usually apps of this type are advertised as useful (as apps that have various features, improve browsing experience, etc.). Nevertheless, most of them not only useless but also can cause various issues. As mentioned in the first paragraph, most of the times users download browser hijackers (and other PUAs) unknowingly.
How did Pro Search install on my computer?
In most cases users download and/or install potentially unwanted applications via download and/or installation setups of other programs. More precisely, when PUAs are integrated in setups as extra offers. As a rule, such offers can be declined before completing downloads and/or installations. It can be done by using "Advanced", "Custom", or other settings of setups, or by unticking certain checkboxes that are available in them. When users download and/or install programs without checking and changing any of the default settings, they download and/or install included PUAs too. In some cases users cause such downloads and/or installations by clicking deceptive advertisements. However, only when they click ads that are designed to execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), questionable websites, etc., should not be used neither to download or install software. Files and programs should be downloaded from official websites and through direct links. Download and/or installation setups that have settings like "Custom", "Advanced" (and/or some checkboxes) should be always checked for offers to download and/or install additionally included applications. Such offers can and should be declined before completing downloads and installations. Advertisements that appear on shady websites (e.g., on pages related to pornography, gambling, adult dating) should not be clicked as well. Quite often those advertisements are designed to open other unreliable pages. In some cases they can be designed to download, install unwanted applications. Any unwanted, suspicious apps (extensions, plug-ins or add-ons) that are already installed on a web browser should be removed. The same should be done with programs of this type that are installed on a computer/operating system. If your computer is already infected with Pro Search, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Tailsearch.com redirects to bing.com via my-search.com and search-checker.com (GIF):
Website promoting Pro Search browser hijacker:
Notification saying that Pro Search can read and change certain data:
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Pro Search?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Pro Search application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Pro Search 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.
Pro Search 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, "Pro Search"), 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.
Pro Search 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 "Pro 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 "Pro Search", 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 pro search 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 "Pro 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 "Pro Search", 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 pro search 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 pro search 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 "Pro Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the pro search 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 pro search redirect from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.
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Outstanding!
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