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Go.next-search.net Redirect

Also Known As: Go.next-search.net browser hijacker
Damage level: Medium

What is go.next-search.net?

Go.next-search.net is an Internet search portal created by ClientConnect Ltd. This site presents users with a search bar and links to popular websites and social networks. While go.next-search.net seems legitimate and poses no direct virus or malware threat, be aware that the owners of this website promote it using deceptive marketing techniques.

Commonly, redirects to go.next-search.net are a consequence of computer users installing free software, various add-ons, toolbars, and plug-ins on their Internet browsers. This particular browser hijacker is called Search Protect and redirects to the go.next-search.net website.

Commonly, Search Protect installs on computers during download of freeware. To avoid installation of Search Protect, check each installation window of free software downloads, unchecking any options relating to Internet browser homepage or default search engine modification.

go.next-search.net browser hijacker

Recently, redirects to go.next-search.net were caused by installation of Flash Player and other popular free software (VLC, Java, etc.).

The developers of these free programs have no connection with go.next-search.net - redirections to this website are caused by deceptive freeware 'download clients' and 'installers', which bundle Search Protect with freeware selected by users for download.

The search bar used within the go.next-search.net website is a customized Bing search engine - each time a user clicks the sponsored links, revenue is generated and shared with the search engine and website referring the traffic.

At time of testing, this website posed no direct malware threats, however, this situation may change at any time, and therefore, you are strongly advised to eliminate any unwanted browser redirects from your computer immediately.

Threat Summary:
Name Go.next-search.net browser hijacker
Threat Type Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Supposed Functionality Enhanced web search results.
Serving IP Address 34.199.155.24
Affected Browser Settings Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Detection Names Avira (Malware), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Symptoms Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit 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 browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)

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The go.next-search.net browser hijacker is identical to previous variants that redirected Internet users to the trovi.com and search.conduit.com websites.

To avoid installation of browser settings-changing adware such as this, express caution when downloading free software, since today, most freeware download websites employ deceptive 'download clients' in attempts to trick users into installing advertised browser plug-ins together with the chosen free software.

In most cases, advertised browser extensions add no real value, and moreover, cause browser redirects and generate intrusive ads. When downloading free programs, closely inspect each download step and decline installation of any promoted browser plug-ins.

When installing downloaded freeware, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any bundled adware listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. If you experience browser redirects to the go.next-search.net website, use this removal guide to eliminate the Search Protect browser hijacker from your Internet browsers.

Go.next-search.net SearchProtect application used to block user attempts to change Internet browser settings (homepage and default Internet search engine):

searh protect application

Screenshot of a deceptive free software download client promoting the go.next-search.net (Search Protect) browser hijacker:

go.next-search.net browser hijacker installer

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:
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Quick menu:

Go.next-search.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.

search protect uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window: look for "Search Protect" (by Client Connect LTD) select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes browser redirects to the go.next-search.net website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries detected by this program to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.

Go.next-search.net homepage and default search engine removal from browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Remove potentially unwanted extensions:

Removing go.next-search.net related Internet Explorer extensions

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select such entries and click "Remove".

Change homepage:

Remove go.next-search.net from Internet Explorer homepage

Click on the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options". In the opened window, remove hxxp://go.next-search.net and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.

Change default Internet search engine:

Remove go.next-search.net from Internet Explorer default search engine

Click on the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options 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 "Go.next-search.net".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the go.next-search.net browser hijacker, 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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove unwanted browser extensions:

Removing go.next-search.net from Google Chrome extensions

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change homepage:

Remove go.next-search.net from Google Chrome homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In "On startup" section click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://go.next-search.net and click the x symbol. Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change default Internet search engine:

Remove go.next-search.net from Google Chrome default Internet search engine

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings", in the "Search" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "go.next-search.net" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the go.next-search.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:

Remove unwanted browser extensions:

Removing go.next-search.net related Mozilla Firefox extensions

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Change homepage:

Removing go.next-search.net from Mozilla Firefox homepage

Click on the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://go.next-search.net and enter your preferred domain.

Change default Internet search engine:

Remove go.next-search.net from Mozilla Firefox default Internet 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: "go.next-search.net"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with go.next-search.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 go.next-search.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.

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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.

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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.

QR Code
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