Toolbars&Hijackers

Qsearch.pw is unpleasant browser search redirect related to Searchmine browser hijacker. It manifests itself in Safari, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox by modifying default search engine and homepage settings. Malware takes control over these settings, as well as new tab settings, with help of QSearch extension or application of the same name. In many cases, the problem can be solved by removing the unwanted app, however, it is, often, hidden from users and has many leftover items in system folders. That is why we recommend you to use special anti-malware tools for Mac offered below. Qsearch.pw is not a virus or worm, it acts more like adware, by providing undesired search results, filled with ads, sponsored links, etc.

Searchmarquis.com or Search Marquis is search site, that causes undesired consequences in browsers. The hijacker can infect Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox on macOS. After infiltration, it modifies settings of the homepage and search engine to http://www.searchmarquis.com. This is intermediary search page with minimalistic design, as you can see in the picture below, that redirects typed queries to Yahoo.com, Bing.com, Baidu, Yandex.ru, depending on the geolocation of the user. The principle of operation of Searchmarquis.com is based on hijacking browsers, referring traffic to affiliate search systems and getting a revenue share. Along with that website has a poor privacy policy and can collect browsing data and sell it to advertising companies.

DuckDuckGo.com is a search engine, that prioritizes users privacy and tries to provide best results and not depending on users interests and browser and search history. It can be installed in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari on Windows and Mac. Often, DuckDuckGo.com is accompanied with an add-on, called DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials. This extension is available in Chrome Store and in Firefox Add-ons catalog. This extension sets up https://www.duckduckgo.com as default search engine and sometimes as homepage. The add-on also ads sites security checking feature and sites privacy analyze. The complete removal of DuckDuckGo.com website from settings is impossible without DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials uninstallation. Below you can find step-by-step instructions to remove DuckDuckGo.com.com from browsers and reset browser settings.

TamperMonkey by Jan Biniok is controversial browser extension, that can be installed in many browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer and some others. It allows users to install and maintain custom scripts in browsers, that can serve different purposes. For example, it may help download music and video content from social networks or filter ads. TamperMonkey also works in symbiosis with other popular plugins to perform certain tasks or expand functionality. However, along with pros users get unpleasant cons. In particular, many users complain, that TamperMonkey installs without their consent. Some users see third-party ads after installing this add-on. Generally, there are concerns about the security and privacy of this application, as it gets access to deep internal browser settings and has a large user database of 10 million users.

TotalRecipeSearch Toolbar by Ask Applications is objectionable browser extension, that is mostly distributed on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox platforms on Windows and Mac. But, in a particular case can be met on Safari, Edge or Internet Explorer. It is a part of the wide-spread Mindspark network, that consists of hundreds of typical toolbars and browser add-ons. Such "browser helper objects" replace default search engine and homepage in affected browsers with hp.myway.com search engine. The main page of this website provides quick access to recipe catalogs, but the basic search engine provides results stuffed by ads and sponsored results, although it is marked as "enhanced by Google". The earning on advertising revenue from in-search ads is a type of monetization TotalRecipeSearch Toolbar uses. In addition, adware gathers access to browsers information, such as history, cookies, settings.

Searchbaron.com is an annoying search redirect, that is caused by adware, installed on your Mac. It manifests itself in Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsers. Searchbaron.com may initiate multiple redirects until it reaches a final destination - search results page. Searchbaron.com redirects are caused by the malicious activity of applications like PasteBoard, Spotlight.app, Space.app. Such apps can be presented by the application, add-on, malicious device profile or just virus file or process. The chain of redirects, that Searchbaron.com starts serves the goal to collect information about user's browsing habits. This data is then actively used by advertising companies to create highly targeted ads.

Searchmine.net (a.k.a. SearchMine) is low-quality search engine related to notorious webcrawler.com developed by InfoSpace Holdings LLC, that provides irrelevant search results filled with ads and sponsored content. Hijacker replaces default browser settings, such as the search engine, the home page, new tab, with new values. All user's searches will be redirected to http://www.webcrawler.com, that delivers results drastically different from familiar Google.com, Yahoo.com, Bing.com. WebCrawler is offering search solutions to monetize audience via a search-based advertising revenue stream and shares revenue with software developers and website owners, that compulsively spread Searchmine.net and other similar malware. The main danger of such services is the loss of online privacy and using gathered data by the malware to send ads and pop-ups.

Ecosia.org or Ecosia is contradictory search engine and browser add-on, that can override default settings of search, homepage and new tab in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari on Windows or Mac OS. On their website, it is stated, that Ecosia is Germany-based internet search engine. It donates 80% of revenue to ecological companies focusing on planting trees. From a technical point of view, this is Bing-affiliated search, that provides results almost identical to Bing.com. The search engine is accompanied by extensions for Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox with more than 2 million users. It is difficult to verify whether the statements of developers are true or false, but actions of Ecosia fall into the category of browser hijackers. Many users complained that Ecosia.org appeared in browsers out of nowhere, without their agreement.