Defaultsear.ch Virus
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Defaultsear.ch?
The Defaultsear.ch browser hijacker is promoted using free software downloads 'bundled' with potentially unwanted applications. In this case Internet browser redirects (via Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla FireFox) to this website are caused by free software called Privitize VPN.
Computer users who have installed this freeware using the default installation option ('typical' installation), discover that their Internet browser homepage and default search engine are modified to defaultsear.ch Moreover, after installation of Privitize VPN, users observe many deceptive pop-up and other ads whilst browsing the Internet. These are caused by other bundled adware called MagniPic.
While the default.ch website does not host malware, computer users should express caution when using this site. Do not click the sponsored search results, as these may lead to serious malware and virus infections. Furthermore, websites such as defaultsear.ch usually track Internet users' browsing habits, and thus it is recommended to avoid this site.
If your Internet browser/s redirect you to defaultsear.ch, your computer is infected with adware. Do not use this site for your daily Internet searches and eliminate any adware causing browser redirects from your machine.
Today, Internet browser redirects are a major issue. Many popular download websites (including download.com, softonic.com, and many others) have started using 'download clients', which bundle potentially unwanted applications together with their free software downloads offered.
Users often do not pay close enough attention to the installation or download phase of free software, and thus inadvertently install undesirable adware or experience browser redirect issues.
To avoid browser redirects to defaultsear.ch or any other misleading websites (such as search.babylon.com, delta-search.com, etc.), choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options when dealing with free software - this will allow you to opt-out of installation of any additional browser add-ons.
To remove defaultsear.ch from your browser default search engine and homepage, use the removal instructions provided.
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Quick menu:
- What is Defaultsear.ch?
- STEP 1. Uninstall "toolbar on IE and Chrome", "MagniPic", "PrivitizeVPN" applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Defaultsear.ch redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Defaultsear.ch browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove Defaultsear.ch homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove Defaultsear.ch redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Defaultsear.ch redirect virus removal:
Windows 11 users:
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:
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:
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:
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 "toolbar on IE and Chrome", "MagniPic", "PrivitizeVPN" select each and click " Uninstall" or "Remove"
After uninstalling potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), which causes browser redirects to defaultsear.ch, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries that this program detects to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.
Defaultsear.ch homepage and default search engine removal from browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "privitize Helper Object" and "MiagNyiiPicu", select these entries and click "Remove".
To change your homepage from defaultsear.ch to your preferred domain, click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove defaultsear.ch and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.
Change default search engine:
Click on 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 "Search the web (privitize)".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the defaultsear.ch 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.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate "MiagNyiiPicu", select it and click on the trash can icon
Change your homepage from defaultsear.ch to your preferred domain, click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over defaultsear.ch and click the x symbol. Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change 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" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Search The Web (privitize)" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the defaultsear.ch 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 on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Privitize.com" and "MiagNyiipicu".
To reset your homepage click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window remove defaultsear.ch and enter your preferred domain.
Change 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: "privitize"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with defaultsear.ch 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 defaultsear.ch 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.
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.
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