How to remove the Best Searcher unwanted application?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
Best Searcher browser hijacker removal instructions
What is Best Searcher?
Best Searcher browser hijacker promotes the tailsearch.com address, a fake search engine. Like most apps of this type, it does it by changing browser settings without user's permission. Also, Best Searcher can read browsing history. It is worthwhile to mention that in most cases users download and install browser hijackers inadvertently, for this reason they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
Best Searcher sets tailsearch.com as the address of a default search engine, homepage and new tab. Simply said, Best Searcher opens tailsearch.com when users enter search queries, open a browser/new window or new tab. Although, in some cases it does not change any settings and opens tailsearch.com when users enter search queries into URL bar. Tailsearch.com is a fake search engine because it redirects users to google.com (displays results generated by Google) or to bing.com via my-search.com and search-checker.com (displays results generated by Bing), it depends on a geolocation of its visitors. This address can be removed from browser settings only when Best Searcher or other app that promotes it is no longer installed.
Furthermore, it is possible that Best Searcher can read not only browsing history but also information like IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, or even personal (sensitive) details. What is worse, its developers could monetize collected data by selling it to third parties (potentially cyber criminals) or misused to generate revenue in other ways, which could cause users problems related to online privacy, browsing safety, or other issues.
| Name | Best Searcher |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Best Searcher |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved 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. |
Some more examples of browser hijackers are NewPDFSearch, PDFConverterSearcher and HDMovieSearch. It is worthwhile to mention that it is common for them to be advertised as legitimate, useful applications that supposed improve browsing experience, have some features, etc. However, most of them do not function as advertised and can cause various problems. As mentioned in the first paragraph, in most cases users download and install browser hijackers unknowingly.
How did Best Searcher install on my computer?
It is common for apps of this type to be distributed by using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". They can be found included as additional offers in certain download and/or installation setups. As a rule, unwanted offers can be declined using "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings, or checkboxes before completing downloads and/or installations. Users allow for included apps to be downloaded and/or installed when they leave those settings unchanged. In some cases PUAs are distributed by designing ads to run certain scripts. Although, those ads cause unwanted downloads and/or installations only when users click them.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Unofficial websites, third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (like torrent clients, eMule), etc., should not be used. Software, or files should be downloaded from official websites and via direct links. Downloads and installations should not be finished without checking if a setups has any "Custom", "Advanced" or other settings that could be used to decline unwanted offers. Ads displayed on shady websites should not be trusted (clicked) as well, it is common for them to be used to promote untrustworthy websites or distribute (downloads and/or install) some unwanted, potentially malicious applications. Suspicious, unwanted extensions, add-ons or plug-ins already that are installed on a browser should be removed from it. The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Best Searcher, 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 Best Searcher browser hijacker:
Notification saying that Best Searcher 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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Best Searcher?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Best Searcher application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Best Searcher 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.
Best Searcher 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, "Best Searcher"), 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.
Best Searcher 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 "Best Searcher" 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 "Best Searcher", 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 best searcher 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 "Best Searcher", 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 "Best Searcher", 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 best searcher 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 best searcher 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 "Best Searcher".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the best searcher 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 best searcher redirect from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.
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Outstanding!
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