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How to remove qimp.net from the settings of your browser

Also Known As: qimp.net browser hijacker
Damage level: Medium

What is qimp.net?

We have inspected qimp.net and determined that it is a questionable search engine. It is worth noting that search engines like qimp.net are often promoted through browser hijacking (extensions known as browser hijackers). Users should avoid search engines promoted through such methods.

qimp.net browser hijacker

More about browser hijackers and search engines like qimp.net

In most cases, browser hijackers are designed to replace the default search engine, homepage, and (or) new tab page with a fake or unreliable one. Thus, when users open a browser or a new tab and enter search queries, they land on a specific search engine. It is worth noting that fake search engines usually redirect users to other (reliable or unreliable) search engines.

Since qimp.net is promoted using dubious methods, we classified it as a questionable search engine. Questionable search engines may display unreliable or malicious advertisements and search results. Users could be redirected to phishing sites, pages hosting malicious content, or other shady sites, compromising their online security.

Also, search engines like qimp.net often track user activity, collecting information such as search queries, browsing history, IP addresses, etc. This data can be sold to third parties or misused in other ways, posing a risk to user privacy. Sometimes, shady search engines can be capable of accessing sensitive data like passwords.

Additionally, these search engines can be difficult to remove, as they might employ techniques to resist elimination and reappear after being removed. The same applies to browser hijackers (extensions promoting such search engines). Overall, it is advisable not to trust qimp.net and extensions or apps promoting questionable search engines.

Threat Summary:
Name qimp.net browser hijacker
Threat Type Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Supposed Functionality This search engine is supposed to provide accurate and reliable search results
Affected Browser Settings Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Detection Names N/A (VirusTotal)
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), dubious websites, and similar channels.
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.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dubious search engines can cause issues related to online privacy and security. They are often distributed through deceptive methods, can be difficult to remove, and disrupt the user experience. Given these concerns, users should avoid using suspicious search engines and rely on reputable search engines, like google.com, bing.com, or others.

More examples of shady search engines are searchersgood.com, search-quickly.com, and findflarex.com.

How did qimp.net promoting software install on my computer?

In most cases, users download and install/add browser hijackers via software bundles (during installations of other programs). It happens when users do not reject optional installations (do not change the settings provided in installers). Typically, browser hijackers and other extensions or apps of this kind are bundled with free or questionable software.

Additionally, browser hijackers can infiltrate browsers via deceptive advertisements and pop-ups on dubious sites, ads displayed by adware, notifications from shady pages, third-party app stores, downloads from P2P networks, unofficial websites, and similar channels.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

Always download software and applications from official websites or authorized app stores, and avoid downloading apps with no or negative reviews. During software installation, choose custom or advanced settings instead of the default ones and deselect unwanted apps/offers. Do not click on ads or pop-ups presented on questionable web pages, and do not allow such sites to send notifications.

Regularly update your operating system, web browser, and other installed software. Install reputable antivirus and (or) anti-malware software and regularly scan your computer for threats, such as browser hijackers. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Qimp.net shows results (GIF):

qimp.net search results

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ 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:

qimp.net redirect removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

qimp.net browser hijacker uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

qimp.net redirect removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove qimp.net browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing qimp.net related Google Chrome extensions

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Removing qimp.net from Google Chrome homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.qimp.net) 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:

Removing qimp.net from Google Chrome default search engine

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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 "qimp.net", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

  • If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the qimp.net browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing qimp.net related Mozilla Firefox extensions

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Removing qimp.net from Mozilla Firefox homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable malicious extension (if present), remove hxxp://qimp.net and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

Removing qimp.net from Mozilla Firefox default search engine

In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the Mozilla Firefox switch about:config entry button button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with qimp.net browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, firefox menu icon in the opened menu, click Help.

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

removing browser hijacker from safari step 2 - removing extensions

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 3 - changing homepage

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.

removing browser hijackers from safari step 4 - changing the default Internet search engine

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...

resetting safari step 1

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 2

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 3

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) 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 Microsoft Edge (Chromium) puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the qimp.net browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

  • If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

declining installation of browser hijackers while downloading free software sampleA 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on qimp.net browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users visit qimp.net website?

The purpose of forcing users to visit the qimp.net website is primarily to generate revenue for its creators. This can be achieved through increased web traffic, advertising networks, and data collection.

Is visiting qimp.net a threat to my privacy?

Yes, visiting qimp.net can threaten your privacy. Such search engines are known for collecting personal data, displaying potentially malicious ads, and exposing users to security risks (unreliable pages).

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

These extensions are distributed in various ways, including software bundles, P2P networks, third-party app stores, unofficial pages, unreliable notifications from shady pages, deceptive ads, and similar methods.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove detected browser hijackers and other unwanted applications. Manual removal is often ineffective because when multiple hijackers are added/installed, they may reinstall each other. Therefore, it is necessary to remove all hijackers at once.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

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