This article aims to help you with the removal of Incognito Searches extansion from affected browser and system. Follow the detailed guide at the end to get rid of this annoying website in full.
Incognito Searches browser extension is considered to be a potentially undesired one as many users notice it in their browsers without remembering of ever installing it. It could be also treated as a harmful program due to the fact that it is designed to spy on your online activities and keep a record off them on its servers. In case of infection, the extension could alter some basic browser settings which in turn may result in changed homepage, new tab page and default search engine.
Threat Summary
| Name | Incognito Searches |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, PUP |
| Short Description | A questionable browser extension that alters main browser settings without your knowledge. It collects sensitive details and send them to connected servers. |
| Symptoms | An icon added by the extension appears next to the browser Browser slowdowns occur due to increased number of online ads.td> |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Incognito Searches. |
Incognito Searches – Spread Techniques
As a typical potentially unwanted program Incognito Searches browser extension invades computer browsers and systems with the help of various shady techniques of distribution. So the reasons that might have caused its appearance in the browser are recently installed free app, downloaded torrent file, visited corrupted web page, clicked dubious ad, and installed browser extension.
Bad actors often use the attractiveness of free third-party apps as an exploit of human psychology. It is a well-known fact that many users prefer to download and install free apps without paying the needed attention during their installation process. And that’s why many malicious intenders incorporate the installation code of potentially undesired programs like Incognito Searches into their installers and then release them across the web.
To make it trickier they usually set the extras to install by default by keeping their hidden. So if you often choose to follow the regular configuration steps instead of the Advanced or Custom ones you might have missed the existence of the undesired program and install it unintentionally. In case that you want to avoid the installation of PUPs like Incognito Searches always choose the Advanced or Custom setup approach. By doing it you will be able to unmark all that you don’t need before you proceed further with the installation.
Frequently used web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, Opera and Safari could be affected by Incognito Searches nasty extension.
Incognito Searches – More Details About the Infection
Once Incognito Searches obtains access to a target browser it automatically receives the following permissions:
- Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
- Change your search settings to: feed.incognitosearches.com
- Manage your apps, extensions, and themes
When Incognito Searches receives all these permissions it becomes able to alter main browser settings and push its deceptive services during each browsing session. Some of the changes may affect your preferred browser homepage, new tab page and default search engine. They may be all set to display the main page of any nasty browser hijacker that provides rogue search engine and search results full of ads.
One of the main purposes of Incognito Searches for sure is data collection. By obtaining certain details from affected browsers and sending them to its servers it enables its owners to configure their advertising campaigns in a way responds to your interests. Once you become an object of their aggressive advertising campaigns based you may start to experience significant browser slowdowns and even browser crashes. You need to be extra careful with all ads that appear in the browser as some of them may land you on compromised web pages that install severe malware infections directly on your PC.
How to Remove Incognito Searches Browser Extension
In order to remove the undesired and potentially harmful Incognito Searches and all associated files from your PC make sure to complete all the steps listed in the removal that follows. The guide presents both manual and automatic removal instructions that combined will help you to remove this undesired program in full. The automatic approach guarantees maximum efficiency as a scan with an advanced anti-malware tool reveals the exact location of all malicious files and objects created by Incognito Searches. The results enable you to access and remove all harmful files from the infected PC. Have in mind that files associated with this PUP may be detected with different names than Incognito Searches.
In case that you have further questions or need additional help, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact us via email.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Incognito Searches from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Incognito Searches from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Incognito Searches from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Incognito Searches from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Incognito Searches from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Incognito Searches from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Incognito Searches from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Incognito Searches from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Incognito Searches
Step 2: Uninstall Incognito Searches and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Incognito Searches on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Incognito Searches there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of Incognito Searches from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Incognito Searches and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Incognito Searches via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Incognito Searches from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase Incognito Searches from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall Incognito Searches from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Incognito Searches from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Incognito Searches will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Incognito Searches from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
