Remove Conf Search browser hijacker

Conf Search is a browser hijacker that will change your browser’s settings and set conf-search.com as the homepage/new tabs. It also changes your search engine to Yahoo search. The main purpose of a browser hijacker is to redirect you to sponsored websites, and it does that by inserting links to them into search results.

 

Browser hijackers are pretty minor infections that make unwanted changes to browser’s settings and try to redirect to sponsored websites. They can usually be identified by the sites they set as homepages. In this case, the hijacker sets conf-search.com as the homepage. The site will load every time you open your browser, and you will be unable to undo these changes while the hijacker remains installed.

Despite the fact the hijacker will not actively try to harm your computer, it’s not something you should leave installed either. The hijacker will interrupt your browsing, make unwanted changes to browser’s settings and could redirect you to potentially dangerous websites. The main purpose of a hijacker is to redirect to sponsored sites but not all of them will be safe. Some of those sites could be harboring malware or promoting scams. Furthermore, the hijacker will track your browsing and collect certain information related to what you do on the Internet.

You should also be aware that the hijacker probably installed via software bundling, meaning it came attached to free software as an extra offer. This method is quite frowned upon because it allows programs to install essentially unnoticed. Because it likely installed this way, we recommend you remove Conf Search browser hijacker from your computer as soon as possible.

Browser hijacker distribution methods

Software bundling is the usual installation method used by minor infections like adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). The way the method works is that programs, usually freeware, often have offers added to them. The offers are usually the mentioned unwanted programs, and they’re permitted to install alongside without requiring additional permission. The main reason why this method is so frowned upon is because the offers are often hidden, in addition to being permitted to install alongside. So in most cases, users aren’t even aware of the fact that something will install alongside the program they’re installing.

Since the offers are optional, you can prevent their installations as long as you know how. If you pay attention when installing free programs, you will be given the option to choose either Default or Advanced settings. If you opt for Advanced (Custom), you will be shown all otherwise hidden offers, and be given the option to deselect all of them. Simply unchecking the boxes is enough to prevent these unwanted installations. Keep in mind that some of those offers may seem useful at first but will end up being some kind of unwanted program that will only take up space on your computer. Deselecting a couple of boxes is much easier compared to having to uninstall the unwanted programs once they’re already inside.

Should you uninstall Conf Search?

Because hijackers change browser’s settings, they are particularly noticeable infections. Popular browsers like Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome will have changed settings, and conf-search.com will be set as your homepage/new tabs. Your default search engine will also be changed. These changes will be irreversible as long as the browser hijacker remains installed.

The site that becomes your homepage is a very typical hijacker homepage site. It has a scenic background and a search box. If you use it to search for something, you will be shown search results generated by Yahoo search. Yahoo is a legitimate search engine so using it is safe but there is no need to use a third-party site like conf-search.com to access it when you go to it directly. The hijacker is essentially misusing a legitimate search engine to generate revenue and collect information. It will track what you search for, what sites you visit, your IP address, etc. This is pretty intrusive bahaviour, particularly because you get nothing from having Conf Search installed.

Conf Search browser hijacker removal

You will find that the easiest way to remove Conf Search browser hijacker from your computer is to use anti-virus software. Anti-virus programs like WiperSoft would not only delete Conf Search browser hijacker but also undo all setting changes. But you can also uninstall Conf Search hijacker manually, as it’s not a particularly serious infection.