What is Cse.google.com

What is Cse.google.com

Cse.google.com is a legitimate custom search tool provided by Google to webmasters. Google Custom Search Engine allows webmasters to put a search engine on a website for users to use when they want to find something on that particular or a similar site. It’s a widely used tool that you likely have encountered many times before. However, multiple users have reported that when they try to search for something via the browser address bar, they get redirected to Cse.google.com and shown weird results. Unfortunately, while Cse is a legitimate tool, it is misused by malicious actors to redirect users to certain sites and generate revenue.

If you are constantly redirected to Cse.google.com when you search for something, it’s likely that you have a browser hijacker installed. Browser hijackers are minor but very annoying infections that change browser’s settings so they can redirect users to questionable search engines and show modified results.

Browser hijackers are generally installed via free software bundles, and most people don’t even notice. Hijackers are attached to freeware as extra offers, and if users do not deselect them, they will be able to install alongside automatically. It’s a rather sneaky method, and programs that use it to install are often classified as potentially unwanted because of this.

In order to remove Cse.google.com redirects, you will need to identify the hijacker. The easiest way to do that would be to use anti-spyware software.

How did a hijacker install on your computer?

Browser hijackers are usually installed on computers accidentally. Free programs often have browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs attached to them in a way that allows them to install alongside without even requiring explicit permission. So when you’re installing freeware, if you do not deselect the offers, they will install alongside.

Fortunately, it is possible to prevent these offers from installing and you can do that by paying attention to the installation process. Most importantly, opt for Advanced (Custom) settings when given the option. Unlike Default, Advanced settings will show you if anything has been added, and you will be able to deselect everything. All you need to do is uncheck all of the offers, and you can then continue the installation.

Since most free programs will have these offers attached to them, it’s important that you always pay attention to how you install programs. You should also deselect all of the offers, even if they may seem useful at first. If a program is using software bundling to install without you noticing, you should ask yourself whether you actually want such a program on your computer.

How dangerous is Cse.google.com

When you install the hijacker, it will proceed to attach itself to popular browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox) and change their settings. The hijacker will change your default search engine so that whenever you search for something via the browser address bar, you’ll be redirected to Cse.google.com and shown modified search results. Search results will include sponsored content, which if clicked on will take you to websites that have little to do with what you were searching for. Hijackers aim to generate revenue, which is why they try to redirect you to those sites.

While the redirects can be very annoying, we should also mention that they can lead you to potentially dangerous websites. The sites could be hiding malware or promoting scams, which is why you should avoid clicking on them. So while hijackers themselves aren’t particularly dangerous, the fact that they can redirect to potentially dangerous websites is quite concerning.

Browser hijackers also spy on users and collect information such as sites visited, what you search for, what ads you click on, your IP address, etc. They can then share that information with unknown third-parties.

Cse.google.com removal

Because you need to identify the hijacker behind all this, it’s recommended to use anti-spyware software to delete Cse.google.com. The program would do everything for you. However, you can try to uninstall Cse.google.com redirects manually, just make sure all of its files are deleted so that it cannot recover itself.