How to remove the Funsearch app from a browser and computer?

Funsearch browser hijacker removal instructions

What is Funsearch?

Funsearch is a browser hijacker that promotes a fake search engine, the quicknewtab.com address. As a rule, apps of this type hijack browsers by modifying some of the browser's settings. Also, most of them collect browsing data and/or other details. Typically, users do not download and install browser hijackers intentionally, therefore, app like Funsearch are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

In most cases browser hijackers modify settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage and new tab - they change those addresses to an address of their fake search engine. Funsearch promotes the quicknewtab.com address, however, it does not always modify browser's settings. When Funsearch does not change any settings, then it detects when users enter search queries into URL bar and redirects them to quicknewtab.com. Depending on geolocation, quicknewtab.com redirects either to google.com or bing.com (via my-search.com and search-checker.com). Simply said, Funsearch promotes a fake search engine that displays results generated either by Google or Bing. Most browser hijackers are designed to not to allow users to stop redirects to a certain address (or addresses) as long as they are installed. In other words, users can remove address of a fake search engine from browser's settings only when a browser hijacker that promotes that address is no longer installed on a browser and/or computer. As mentioned in the introduction, most browser hijackers collect various data. Typically, they target details related to user's browsing habits, for example, IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited pages, entered search queries. Although, such apps can be designed to collect sensitive information as well. Moreover, their developers could misuse user's data to generate revenue (e.g., collected data could be sold to third parties, potentially cyber criminals). Therefore, users who have their browsers hijacked by such apps may become victims of identity theft, encounter problems related to online privacy, browsing safety, etc.

Threat Summary:

Name	Funsearch
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Funsearch
Supposed Functionality	Improved browsing experience
Promoted URL	quicknewtab.com
Serving IP Address (quicknewtab.com)	104.18.59.184
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.

Here are a couple of examples of other apps that are classified as browser hijackers too: GetSearchConverter, IncognitoSearcher and GetIncognitoSearch. In most cases they are designed to promote some fake search engine and can be designed to collect browsing data (or other information) as well. Simply said, browser hijackers are designed only to generate revenue for their developers.

How did Funsearch install on my computer?

One of the most popular ways to distribute potentially unwanted apps is to integrate them in download and/or installation setups of various (mainly free) programs as additional offers. Usually users can find and decline such offers via their "Custom", "Advanced", "Manual" or other settings, or by unticking certain checkboxes. If users finish downloads and/or installations without declining those offers, they download and/or install PUAs together with programs that have those apps included in their download and/or installation setups. This distribution method for PUAs is known as "bundling". Also, sometimes PUAs can be distributed via advertisements by designing those ads to run certain scripts. However, in such cases users cause unwanted downloads and/or installations only if they click those ads.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Software (and files) should not be downloaded from unofficial pages, via torrent clients, eMule and other Peer-to-Peer networks, third party downloaders, etc., or installed through third party installers. It should be downloaded only from official, trustworthy web pages and via direct links. Download and/or installation setups that contain settings and/or checkboxes should be checked for offers to download and/or install PUAs. Ads on dubious websites should not be clicked. It is common that they open untrustworthy websites or cause downloads, installations of unwanted apps. Any unwanted, unknown or suspicious extensions, add-ons or plug-ins that are installed on a browser or programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system should be removed/uninstalled. If your computer is already infected with Funsearch, we recommend running a scan with Malwarebytes for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Quicknewtab.com redirects to bing.com (via my-search.com and search-checker.com) ( GIF):

Website promoting Funsearch browser hijacker:

Notification saying that Funsearch can read browsing history:

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

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

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

Funsearch 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 "Funsearch" 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 "Funsearch", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.quicknewtab.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 "quicknewtab.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 funsearch 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 "Funsearch", 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 "Funsearch", remove hxxp://quicknewtab.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 funsearch 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 funsearch 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://quicknewtab.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 "Funsearch".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the funsearch 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 funsearch redirect from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.

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