Bing.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
(updated)
How to eliminate browser redirects to bing.com?
What is bing.com?
Bing.com is a legitimate Internet search engine. This site is developed by a legitimate company and is not related to any virus or malware. Be aware, however, that this site is often promoted by various browser-hijacking potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). These applications infiltrate systems without users’ consent and stealthily modify web browser settings. Furthermore, most track Internet browsing activity and deliver intrusive online advertisements.
Browser hijackers usually target the most popular web browsers - Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. After infiltrating the system, they assign the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL browser settings to bing.com without users' permission. Some even add a URL extension to the shortcut targets of each browser. Therefore, when opening browser/new browsing tabs or simply attempting to search the Internet via the URL bar, users are redirected to bing.com. Continual unwanted browser redirects significantly diminish the Internet browsing experience. Furthermore, browser hijackers are delivered with a number of 'helper objects' (browser extensions/apps) developed to prevent users from returning browsers to their previous states (when users attempt to alter the settings, helper objects automatically reassign them). Note that some browser-hijacking apps assign settings to various sites claiming to be legitimate Internet search engines, however, rather than generating valid search results, these sites simply redirect users to bing.com. Although bing.com poses no threat to users' privacy or computer systems, browser-hijacking apps used to promote this site might do harm. Browser hijackers often generate intrusive online advertisements that not only conceal underlying content, but may also redirect to bogus sites containing infectious content. Therefore, clicking them might cause high-risk adware or malware infections. Browser-hijacking apps are likely to monitor users' Internet browsing activity and gather various browsing-related data. There is a high probability that some of the collected information will be personally identifiable. The developers of browser hijackers share this recorded information with third parties - behavior that might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you feel that your browser settings have been set to bing.com without your consent, uninstall all recently-installed suspicious applications and browser extensions, otherwise you will not be able to change these settings.
| Name | Bing.com virus, bing redirect, bing browser hijacker. |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Detection names | Avast (Win32:Malware-gen), Kaspersky (not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.DealPly.ehqwx), ESET-NOD32 (Win32/InstallCore.Gen.A potentially unwanted), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Users experience unwanted browser redirects to bing.com website. Homepage and default search engine settings can't be changed. |
| 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) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Malwarebytes. |
Most browser-hijacking applications have similar behavior - they falsely claim to enhance Internet browsing simply to trick users to install. After infiltrating the system, these applications provide none of the functionality promised. Browser hijackers are designed solely to generate revenue for the developers. Apps such as Your Online Games Now, Easy Speed Test Access, and Your Classifieds Now display intrusive online advertisements, track users' Internet browsing activity, and cause unwanted browser redirects.
How did bing.com install on my computer?
Browser hijackers are often distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of third party software with regular software/apps. Developers hide installation of PUPs within the 'Custom/Advanced' settings, since many users do not pay enough attention during the download and installation processes. Rushing these processes and skipping most/all steps, often leads to inadvertent installation of adware or browser-hijacking applications.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
There are two main steps you should take to prevent installation of browser hijackers. Firstly, closely observe each step of the software download and installation processes. Secondly, decline all offers to download or install additional programs and opt-out of those already included (since most bundled software is malicious).
Deceptive free software installers promoting bing.com related browser hijackers:
Appearance of bing.com browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is bing.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall potentially unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove bing.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove bing.com redirect from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove bing.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove bing.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Bing.com redirect 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 potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes browser redirects to the bing.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Bing.com homepage and default Internet search engine removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser hijackers (Windows):
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Remove bing.com related Internet Explorer add-ons:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:
This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate text, which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.bing.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open every time you launch 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, then remove "bing".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the browser-hijacking applications, 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:
Remove bing.com related Google Chrome extensions:
Click the Chrome menu 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.
Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:
This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text, which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On start-up" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://www.bing.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
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 "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "bing" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the browser-hijacking applications, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Remove bing.com related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:
Click the Firefox menu 
(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.
Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:
This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text, which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
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, remove hxxp://www.bing.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
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: "the name of the browser hijacker"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with browser-hijacking applications 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 browser-hijacking applications, 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.
Removal assistance:
If you are experiencing problems while trying to remove browser-hijacking applications from your Internet browsers, please ask for assistance in our malware support forum.
Post a comment:
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Outstanding!