| Name | Asiasearch.co |
| Type | Browser Hijacker |
| Short Description | The page may look like a regular search engine with links to well-known pages. |
| Symptoms | The user may have the website set as his homepage without his approval. |
| Distribution Method | Bundling. |
| Detection tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By Asiasearch.co |
A new browser hijacker has been seen to affect user PCs on a large scale. It is reported to be associated with the suspicious search engine asiasearch.co which is reported to be insecure. What is more this potentially unwanted program is ad-supported and this is why security researchers often regard it as being unsafe. This is because third-party advertised content is considered as sometimes directly dangerous to the user in the sense of either scamming users out of their money, collect different information or even infect users with malware.
Asiasearch.co Browser Hijacker – How Did I Get It?
One way to install this browser hijacker unknowingly is by a bundled download. Bundled downloads are the sole reason for getting unwanted programs since they are good marketing tool. There are many widely used third-party software providing websites that use bundling to generate profit. But there are some sites that may bundle unhealthy or indirectly dangerous applications to the user PC.
Another way to get this search engine is to click on the button by clicking on the ‘Make Asiasearch your home page’ button.
Asiasearch.co – More about It
Once installed on your computer, Asiasearch.com may situate various tracking technologies on the user PC. Once it has gathered enough information, the suspicious application may set Asiasearch.co as the user’s home page as well as the new tab page. What is more, since the connection is not encrypted you may experience advertisements as your search results that are connected in relevance with your online searches. Side effects for the user PC may vary from slowing down of the PC to dangerous pop-ups that may promote PUPs as well as other unwanted rogue software and also malware.
When it comes to the search engine itself, it was clearly established that the connection to it was not https i.e. encrypted which is highly uncommon for a search engine. More to it than that, the search engine provides its own database with results and it employs several different types of cookies by itself.
Also, the search engine is created by a company called Oxygen Media Group originating from Singapore, which most likely advertises targeted content by vendors and third-parties to users.
The application is also believed to use cookies in order to track different user information:
Targeted advertising based on the user’s online searches, browsing history, clicks as well as other user information is very good because it helps users discover information about products they are looking for in reputable web sites. However this may not be the case with a browser hijacker associated with Asiaseach.co. The hijacker may display reputable web pages but it may also display pages from vendors that use malvertising or advertise scamming websites. What is more, users may be in for it big time because some site simply use the users’ information for their own interests, whether it is financial or personal.
Removing Asiasearch.co Completely
In order to remove Asiasearch.co fully from your PC you should make sure you follow the step-by-step removal manual illustrated below. What is more, it is important to reset the browser’s settings and since this program may also modify some registry values or create such, it is important to scan the registries with a registry clean-up tool as well. For best and easiest clean-up of such browser hijackers, experts strongly advise users to install an advanced anti-malware program because it is also oriented in removing PUPs like Asiasearch.co browser hijacker and related programs. Such software also ensures that no threats from third-party sites may intrude the user PC.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall Asiasearch.co in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program. No matter if you are using Windows 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 get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes 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:
Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall Asiasearch.co.
Step 2: Remove Asiasearch.co 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 Asiasearch.co and click “Remove”
After Asiasearch.co is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select Asiasearch.co 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 Asiasearch.co 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 Asiasearch.co
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall Asiasearch.co. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the Asiasearch.co will be removed.
In order to remove any associated objects that are left after uninstall and detect any other threats, you should:
Step 3: Start Your PC in Safe Mode to Remove Asiasearch.co.
Removing Asiasearch.co from Windows XP, Vista, 7 systems:
1. Remove all CDs and DVDs, and then Restart your PC from the “Start” menu.
2. Select one of the two options provided below:
– For PCs with a single operating system: Press “F8” repeatedly after the first boot screen shows up during the restart of your computer. In case the Windows logo appears on the screen, you have to repeat the same task again.
– For PCs with multiple operating systems: Тhe arrow keys will help you select the operating system you prefer to start in Safe Mode. Press “F8” just as described for a single operating system.
3. As the “Advanced Boot Options” screen appears, select the Safe Mode option you want using the arrow keys. As you make your selection, press “Enter“.
4. Log on to your computer using your administrator account
While your computer is in Safe Mode, the words “Safe Mode” will appear in all four corners of your screen.
Removing Asiasearch.co from Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 systems:
Substep 1:
Open the Start Menu
Substep 2:
Whilst holding down Shift button, click on Power and then click on Restart.
Substep 3:
After reboot, the aftermentioned menu will appear. From there you should choose Troubleshoot.
Substep 4:
You will see the Troubleshoot menu. From this menu you can choose Advanced Options.
Substep 5:
After the Advanced Options menu appears, click on Startup Settings.
Substep 6:
Click on Restart.
Substep 7:
A menu will appear upon reboot. You should choose Safe Mode by pressing its corresponding number and the machine will restart and boot into Safe Mode so you can scan for and remove Asiasearch.co.
Step 4: Remove Asiasearch.co automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
To clean your computer you should download an updated anti-malware program on a safe PC and then install it on the affected computer in offline mode. After that you should boot into safe mode and scan your computer to remove all Asiasearch.co associated objects.
