How to delete JustVideoSearch browser hijacker

JustVideoSearch is a generic browser hijacker infection that makes unwanted changes to the browser’s settings. If justvideosearch.com loads as your homepage every time you open your browser, and all your searches are done via nearbyme.io, you have this browser hijacker installed on your computer. It’s, fortunately, not a serious infection and does not directly harm the computer. It mainly tries to redirect to sponsored websites to generate revenue and traffic. However, it can redirect to dangerous websites, such as ones that conceal malware or promote scams. So while it’s not particularly dangerous, you should remove JustVideoSearch sooner rather than later.

 

 

This browser hijacker belongs to a large family of hijackers. WebSearchStreams, SportSearchNow, WebMusicSearch, and VideoSearchCenter are all from the same family and are mostly identical to one another. They are sometimes promoted as useful extensions that will improve the browsing experience but they don’t actually do anything useful. Their main purpose is to promote questionable websites like justvideosearch.com and dubious search engines nearbyme.io and searchlee.com. These search engines insert sponsored content among legitimate search results, hence why they are considered to be dubious. By altering search results, hijackers try to redirect to sponsored sites.

This particular hijacker will set justvideosearch.com as your homepage and nearbyme.io as your default search engine. As you’ve probably realized already, these changes are done without your explicit permission. The changes also affect all popular browsers, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and are irreversible unless the hijacker is removed first. While the changes are very annoying to deal with, they at least make browser hijackers very obvious infections, which allows users to get rid of them sooner rather than later.

The site set as your homepage is practically identical to all other sites promoted by hijackers from the same family. It has shortcuts to a PDF converter, cryptocurrency and currency converters, and a calculator. But it’s mainly promoting the search box. If you do a search using the box or your browser’s address bar, you will be shown altered results generated by nearbyme.io. All your searches will go through nearbyme.io because it’s been set as your default search engine. If you’ve used it, you likely already noticed that the results are full of ads and lead to questionable websites. Avoid clicking on them because not only will they be unrelated to what you were looking for but could also lead to dangerous content, including malware and scams.

The hijacker’s data collection practices should also be mentioned because JustVideoSearch will track what you search for, what content you click on, your IP address, etc. Hijackers don’t collect personal information but the data they do collect is shared with unknown third parties and used for advertisement purposes. There is really no reason to put up with this kind of behavior, especially considering you get nothing in return.

If you’re wondering how your computer got infected with a browser hijacker, you installed it yourself, though without even realizing it. Hijackers, among other infections like adware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), use software bundling to install. The method allows them to come attached to free software as extra offers and install alongside them without requiring your permission. This makes software bundling a rather questionable installation method and the reason why so many users have to deal with persistent infections.

Browser hijackers install via freeware bundling

Less serious infections like adware, browser hijackers, and potentially unwanted programs often come attached to free software in what’s known as the software bundling method. It’s a method used by unwanted program developers to spread their items because it allows them to sneak in without permission. So if your computer is infected with JustVideoSearch, you probably installed a free program that had it attached. In particular, free software you download from unofficial websites often has added offers. So if you want to avoid junk on your computer, learn how to install free software correctly.

Whatever comes with freeware is optional so it is possible to prevent their installation. However, the offers are hidden, which is why many users simply do not notice them. When an offer is not deselected, it’s permitted to install alongside automatically. When you install a free program, make sure you opt for Advanced (Custom) settings instead of Default. While the installation window will say that you should use Default, do not follow this advice. Default settings will hide all offers, and they will install automatically. However, if you choose Advanced, the offers will be made visible. You will also be able to deselect all of them. The offers may appear useful at first sight but allowing their installation is not a good idea. Software bundling is a highly questionable installation method, and programs that use it should not be allowed to install on your computer. Otherwise, your computer will quickly fill up with junk that can be difficult to get rid of. It’s much easier to uncheck a couple of boxes than it is to later uninstall persistent browser hijackers, adware, and other similar infections.

You may also encounter the hijacker advertised as a useful extension so it’s possible you downloaded it yourself knowingly. If that is the case, we want to remind you to do research before installing programs in the future. A simple search of JustVideoSearch with Google would have been sufficient as it would have shown plenty of results recommending its removal. Doing research before installing programs would prevent your computer from being filled with junk programs.

JustVideoSearch removal

You can use anti-virus software to remove JustVideoSearch, but you can also do it manually because it’s not a serious infection. Though if you have very little experience with uninstalling programs, it would be best to use anti-virus software like WiperSoft. Not only would it delete JustVideoSearch from your computer but also undo all setting changes, returning your browser to normal. When the hijacker is no longer installed, you will be able to change your browser’s settings like normal.