Delete VideoSearchApp browser hijacker

VideoSearchApp is a browser hijacker that will make unwanted changes to your browser. The main sign of this hijacker being present is portal.videosearchapp.com set as the homepage. The hijacker isn’t particularly dangerous but its changes are unwanted.

 

VideoSearchApp is advertised as a useful browser extension for finding videos but it’s actually a browser hijackers that will try to redirect you to sponsored websites to generate traffic and revenue. Its presence is immediately obvious because your browser’s settings will be changed. It will change your homepage and new tabs to portal.videosearchapp.com and then force a different search engine on you. These changes are done without your permission and will be difficult to reverse while the hijacker remains installed on your computer.

Browser hijackers aren’t malicious infections, nor do they directly harm the computer. Their primary aim is to redirect you to sponsored websites, and they do that by forcing you to use a questionable search engine that can insert sponsored content into results. The thing about these redirects is that they can lead to potentially dangerous websites that could expose you to malware or scams. The sooner you delete VideoSearchApp browser hijacker, the better. And doing that would be easiest using anti-virus software like WiperSoft.

There’s no reason why you should put up with the changes, seeing as you didn’t even install the hijacker yourself. The hijacker likely came attached to a free program you installed, and you did not notice. This method is called software bundling, and it’s usually used by developers of unwanted programs like hijackers and adware.

Browser hijacker distribution methods

If you want to avoid installing unwanted programs like VideoSearchApp, you need to pay attention when installing freeware. Free programs often have added offers attached to them, especially the ones you download from non-official websites. Those offers (usually adware and browser hijackers) are attached in a way that allows them to install alongside the freeware without needing your explicit permission. What’s worse, while the offers are optional, they are hidden initially.

When installing free programs, opt for Advanced (Custom) settings instead of Default. Advanced settings will make all offers visible, and you will be able to deselect all of them. All you really need to do is uncheck the boxes. Once you have done that, you can continue installing the program.

Keep in mind that most free programs will come with these offers so you always need to be careful of them. Otherwise, your computer will quickly fill up with junk that can be difficult to get rid of.

Can VideoSearchApp browser hijacker harm your computer

As soon as the browser hijacker installs, you will know because your browser’s settings will be changed. The infection can hijack all popular browsers, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and change their settings. In this particular case, portal.videosearchapp.com will be set as your homepage/new tabs. Your default search engine will also be changed to make redirecting you easier. These changes will be done essentially without your permission and will be irreversible while the hijacker remains installs because it will just keep undoing your changes.

The portal.videosearchapp.com website is supposed to be some kind of helper tool for finding videos. It also has a PDF converter, cryptocurrency and currency converter and calculator shortcuts. It’s essentially identical to a lot of other websites promoted by browser hijackers. It also has a search box. These kinds of websites usually promote questionable search engines that insert sponsored content into search results. This is done in order to redirect users to certain sites to generate traffic and revenue. These redirects are not only annoying but can also be dangerous because you could be redirected to potentially dangerous websites.

Lastly, we should mention that browser hijackers track your browsing. It will collect certain information, such as the sites you visit, what you search for, what content you engage with, as well as your IP address. This information can then be shared with third-parties as well.

VideoSearchApp hijacker removal

The easiest way to remove VideoSearchApp browser hijacker from your computer is by using anti-virus software like WiperSoft. The program would not only find and delete VideoSearchApp hijacker but also undo all setting changes without you doing anything.