MetaSearch (or MetaSearch Search Engine, MetaSearch hijack, MetaSearch redirect) is a search engine, classified by experts as a browser hijacker, because of its ability to manipulate the search results it presents and redirect the user to predetermined web pages. Most of these websites have the same goal – to increase their web traffic, page rank, and the ones offering different products and services – their sales. Once active, MetaSearch alters the current browser settings, changing the default search engine and homepage to MetaSearch.com. Redirects to quickmetasearch.com, linkshelper.com and similar domains are also possible. MetaSearch is compatible with the commonly used browsers, like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. MetaSearch is activated every time Windows loads on the affected computer. In order to disable the program, experts recommend its removal with a competent anti-malware tool.
MetaSearch – Distribution and Symptoms
Since MetaSearch is not a virus, it is not distributed as one. This potentially unwanted program can be installed manually, or it may end up on your computer bundled with other software you have downloaded online for free. Such potentially unsafe installations are easy to avoid – just select the Custom options and un-check the additionally installed applications, add-ons, plugins, etc. that you do not want to have on your PC.
Next to hijacking your browser and redirecting your searches to predetermined websites, MetaSearch may also track certain information about your IP address and location, your browsing activities, the searches you have performed previously, data you have entered on different web pages and other details.This information may be further transferred to third parties for marketing purposes.
How to Remove MetaSearch from Your PC?
Users who have been experiencing redirects to MetaSearch.com, quickmetasearch.com, linkshelper.com and similar domains are advised to run a full system scan of their computers and remove MetaSearch and other possibly related threats from their systems with the assistance of a trustworthy anti-malware program. Follow the steps provided below to delete MetaSearch permanently and assure the security of your machine.
Spy Hunter FREE scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the malware tool.
1. Remove MetaSearch from your browser
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select MetaSearch and click “Remove“
After MetaSearch is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select MetaSearch to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After MetaSearch has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’
In the new window select ‘Extensions’
Click once on MetaSearch
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall MetaSearch. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the MetaSearch will be removed.
2. Remove MetaSearch automatically with Spy Hunter Malware – Removal Tool.
To clean your computer with the award-winning software Spy Hunter –
It is highly recommended to run a FREE scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter.
- Guide 1: How to Remove MetaSearch from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of MetaSearch from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove MetaSearch from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase MetaSearch from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall MetaSearch from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove MetaSearch from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate MetaSearch from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove MetaSearch from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove MetaSearch
Step 2: Uninstall MetaSearch 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 MetaSearch 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 MetaSearch 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 MetaSearch from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall MetaSearch 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 MetaSearch 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 MetaSearch 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 MetaSearch 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 MetaSearch 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 MetaSearch 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 MetaSearch will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate MetaSearch 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.
