“FlightSearch” is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) that after being installed on your computer it will attach itself to your browser, change its homepage, toolbar, new tab page and search engine. The user may be redirected to unwanted sites and may be shown different advertisements.
| Name | FlightSearch |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | The homepage of your browser may look like a regular search engine with links to well-known pages. It includes a toolbar on top. |
| Symptoms | The user may have his homepage changed without his consent. Sets custom search engine, toolbar and new tab. Shows sponsored advertisements. The user may have installed the application without his approval. |
| Distribution Method | Bundling, Freeware installers, Browser add-on |
| Detection tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected By FlightSearch |
FlightSearch Toolbar – How Did I Get It?
FlightSearch Toolbar usually gets into your computer through third-party installers. It can sneak into your computer without your consent, by concealing itself in freeware installations and bundled packages. In these packages, additional components for installation are not always disclosed properly, and people get tricked into installing potentially unwanted programs such as “FlightSearch”. Sometimes that can be avoided by clicking on the “Advanced” or “Custom” option in an installation setup to see what, exactly, will be installed.
Another way of getting infected is by getting the browser extension installed from its official web page at “free.flightsearchapp.com”. You may also get the extension from different malicious advertisements on the web.
FlightSearch Toolbar – In Detail
“FlightSearch Toolbar” or also known as “FlightSearch” is a browser hijacker. It is developed by Mindspark Interactive Network Incorporated, which is a notorious company that makes browser hijackers, different adware and other PUPs. Another recent toolbar they made is SoccerInferno .
Once, FlightSearch is installed on your machine, it will change different browser settings, such as the homepage, toolbar, new tab and search engine, and may also install a browser extension.
It does that in order to get you to use “FlightSearch” as a default search engine and redirect you to the domain “search.myway.com” that will pop-up whenever you try to make a search or open a new tab. It may redirect you to other sites such as MyWay and Ask.com, and may show you sponsored results with advertisements leading to sites that may have malicious content. From every click you do on the sponsored links and from every redirect, Mindspark and its affiliates make profit.
“FlightSearch” may also collect a lot of information about you, that is personally identifiable, like your name, address, email, telephone number, search queries, websites you visited, your IP address, what have you clicked on, when you login to your computer and so on and so forth. Some of this is disclosed in the Mindspark Privacy Policy, but not included in the setup, nor will you ever see it if you install it in another way.
Another thing that I have spotted is that on the official page of “FlightSearch” there is logo that claims to be a seal by Norton Anti-virus by Symantec, for the highest trust and security, but if you click on the logo, Norton does not validate that seal.
Remove FlightSearch Toolbar Completely
To remove “FlightSearch Toolbar” manually from your computer, make sure to follow the step-by-step removal guide provided below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of this malware completely, you should search for and remove the leftover files with an advanced anti-malware program. Installing such a program will also make sure that your system is safe from other threats you may come across.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall FlightSearch 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 FlightSearch.
Step 2: Remove FlightSearch 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 FlightSearch and click “Remove”
After FlightSearch is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Select FlightSearch 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 FlightSearch 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 FlightSearch
Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall FlightSearch. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the FlightSearch 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 FlightSearch.
Removing FlightSearch 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 FlightSearch 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 FlightSearch.
Step 4: Remove FlightSearch 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 FlightSearch associated objects.
