Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Note! Your computer might be affected by Topsearchlinks(.)net and other threats.
Threats such as Topsearchlinks(.)net may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
A new browser hijacking software has been reported to be setting the search engine topsearchlinks(.)net as a home page or a new tab page of user PCs. The suspicious software has a specific character of modifying the web browser of the user’s settings so that it may collect information or display targeted or ad-supported search results.
Name
Topsearchlinks(.)net
Type
Browser Hijacker
Short Description
The software may perform various unwanted activities on the user PC.
Symptoms
The user may witness ad-supported search results plus PC slow-downs and freezes.
Distribution Method
Via other PUPs, installed by bundling or by visiting a suspicious third-party site that is advertising it.
Topsearchlinks(.)net Browser Hijacker – Distribution
To be spread across many users the browser modifying software linked to Topsearchlings(.)net may use a technique called bundling download. This may be the including of Topsearchlinks(.)net software in the free installer of a program users download on a daily basis. You may have encountered bundled software in the installer of a program downloaded from a software providing sites or torrent websites.
The PUP(Potentially Unwanted Program) is usually in one of the installation steps and is added “As a free extra” to the setup. Often users tend to disregard those steps by fast-clicking their way through the installers and sometimes some of those applications do not even have such steps. Instead, they have the install mentioned in the EULA agreement. This is why it is advisable to take caution when it comes to installing new software.
Topsearchlinks(.)net Browser Hijacker In Detail
Once installed on the computer, the program may situate its program files In some of the most often met application folders:
After this is done, this software may then begin to modify the browser by adding an extension to it. This may be observed in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari browsers. Some of the permissions of the extension may allow it to change the new tab page and the home page of the user to Topsearchlinks(.)net – a suspicious search engine which may be a hoax.
When the search engine itself was research, it did not take a long time to establish that it used cookies, and it did not have HTTPs – something highly uncommon for search engines.
Furthermore, it redirected to an Ask(.)com results page which was ad-supported, further suggesting that it could be hoax search engine, since it did not have its own search result database.
Not only this, but the privacy policy of the search engine suggests that there are a lot of third-party links being used, and they do not hold responsibility for them:
This detail may refer to a large number of third-party websites that this hoax search engine may advertise and drive traffic to. Such sites may be dangerous in different ways to the user. The dangers associated with third-party sites that may be advertised through hijackers such as the Topsearchlinks(.)net one may be classified in two subcategories:
Sites that may phish for financial and personal information by scamming the user.
URLs that may infect the user with malware.
Usually, such PUPs are undetected by conventional antivirus software, and this is why we strongly advise that they are removed using an advanced anti-malware software that detects indirect ad-supported risks such as Topsearchlinks(.)net browser hijacker.
Remove Topsearchlinks(.)net Browser Hijacker
To fully be rid of this software from your machine, we advise you to follow the removal instructions below, because they are arranged so that you try the most effective methods and save yourself money on IT experts that will fix your computer. Furthermore, it is advisable to download an anti-malware program that will protect you against future ad-supported applications and malware intrusions.
Delete Topsearchlinks(.)net from Windows and Your Browser
1.Remove or Uninstall Topsearchlinks(.)net in Windows
Remove or Uninstall Topsearchlinks(.)net in Windows.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall Topsearchlinks(.)net 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:
Hold the Windows Logo Button and “R” on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear (fig.1).
In the field type in “appwiz.cpl” and press ENTER (fig.2).
This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall Topsearchlinks(.)net.
2.Remove Topsearchlinks(.)net from Your Browser
Remove Topsearchlinks(.)net from Your Browser.
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla FirefoxRemove a toolbar from Google Chrome Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer Remove a toolbar from Safari
Start Mozilla Firefox Open the menu window
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select Topsearchlinks(.)net and click “Remove”
After Topsearchlinks(.)net is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Start Google Chrome and Open the drop menu
Move the cursor over “Tools” and then from the extended menu choose “Extensions“
From the opened “Extensions” menu locate Topsearchlinks(.)net and click on the garbage bin icon on the right of it.
After Topsearchlinks(.)net is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Start Internet Explorer:
Click “‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and select ‘Manage Add-ons’
In the ‘Manage Add-ons’ window, make sure that in the first window ‘Add-on Types’, the drop menu ‘Show’ is on ‘All add-ons’
Select Topsearchlinks(.)net 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 Topsearchlinks(.)net has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Start Safari
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 Topsearchlinks(.)net Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall Topsearchlinks(.)net. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the Topsearchlinks(.)net will be removed.
Remove Topsearchlinks(.)net automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
1. Remove Topsearchlinks(.)net with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Remove Topsearchlinks(.)net with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove Topsearchlinks(.)net.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove Topsearchlinks(.)net.
Step 1:Click here to go to SpyHunter’s download instruction page. Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser. Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to automatically update.
Step1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Scan Computer Now’ button. Step2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any Topsearchlinks(.)net files, click on the ‘Fix Threats’ button to remove them automatically and permanently. Step3: Once the intrusions on your PC have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart it.
2. Back up your data to secure it against attacks related to Topsearchlinks(.)net in the future
Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data automatically with cloud backup and insure it against any type of data loss on your device, even the most severe. We recommend reading more about and downloading SOS Online Backup.
1. For Windows 7 and earlier 1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 1. Enabling the Windows Defense Feature (Previous Versions)
1-Click on Windows Start Menu 2-Type Backup And Restore 3-Open it and click on Set Up Backup 4-A window will appear asking you where to set up backup. You should have a flash drive or an external hard drive. Mark it by clicking on it with your mouse then click on Next. 5-On the next window, the system will ask you what do you want to backup. Choose the ‘Let Me Choose’ option and then click on Next. 6-Click on ‘Save settings and run backup’ on the next window in order to protect your files from possible attacks by Topsearchlinks(.)net.
1-Press Windows button + R 2-In the window type ‘filehistory’ and press Enter 3-A File History window will appear. Click on ‘Configure file history settings’ 4-The configuration menu for File History will appear. Click on ‘Turn On’. After its on, click on Select Drive in order to select the backup drive. It is recommended to choose an external HDD, SSD or a USB stick whose memory capacity is corresponding to the size of the files you want to backup. 5-Select the drive then click on ‘Ok’ in order to set up file backup and protect yourself from Topsearchlinks(.)net.
1- Press Windows button + R keys. 2- A run windows should appear. In it type ‘sysdm.cpl’ and then click on Run. 3- A System Properties windows should appear. In it choose System Protection. 5- Click on Turn on system protection and select the size on the hard disk you want to utilize for system protection. 6- Click on Ok and you should see an indication in Protection settings that the protection from Topsearchlinks(.)net is on. Restoring a file via Windows Defense feature: 1-Right-click on the encrypted file, then choose Properties. 2-Click on the Previous Versions tab and then mark the last version of the file. 3-Click on Apply and Ok and the file encrypted by Topsearchlinks(.)net should be restored.
Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools
Remove Topsearchlinks(.)net Using Other Alternative Tools
STOPZilla Anti Malware
1. Download and Install STOPZilla Anti-malware to Scan for And Remove Topsearchlinks(.)net. Step 1: Download STOPZilla by clicking here. Step 2: A pop-up window will appear. Click on the ‘Save File’ button. If it does not, click on the Download button and save it afterwards. Step 3: After you have downloaded the setup, simply open it. Step 4: The installer should appear. Click on the ‘Next’ button. Step 5: Check the ‘I accept the agreement’ check circle if not checked if you accept it and click the ‘Next’ button once again. Step 6: Review and click on the ‘Install’ button. Step 7: After the installation process has completed click on the ‘Finish’ button.
2. Scan your PC with STOPZilla Anti Malware to remove all Topsearchlinks(.)net associated files completely. Step 1:Launch STOPZilla if you haven’t launched it after install. Step 2: Wait for the software to automatically scan and then click on the ‘Repair Now’ button. If it does not scan automatically, click on the ‘Scan Now’ button. Step 3: After the removal of all threats and associated objects, you should Restart your PC.
NOTE! Substantial notification about the Topsearchlinks(.)net threat: Manual removal of Topsearchlinks(.)net requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
A new browser hijacking software has been reported to be setting the search engine topsearchlinks(.)net as a home page or a new tab page of user PCs. The suspicious software has a specific character of modifying the web browser of the user’s settings so that it may collect information or display targeted or ad-supported search results.
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove Topsearchlinks(.)net.
1. For Windows 7 and earlier
STOPZilla Anti Malware
