Wizesearch.com Redirect Removal

by Gergana Ivanova | May 16, 2018 | 0 Comments redirect, removal guide

Threat Summary Wizesearch.com – Spread Techniques Wizesearch.com – More About Its Impact Wizesearch.com – Privacy Policy How to Remove Wizesearch.com Redirect

This article aims to help you with the removal of Wizesearch.com redirect from affected browser and system. Follow the detailed guide at the end to get rid of this annoying website in full.

Wizesearch.com is a domain that could start to appear in your preferred browser without your consent. Thus, it is classified as a browser hijacker that could compromise the homepage, new tab page as well as default search engine of target browser. With these modifications, it becomes able to push its dubious search engine and trick you into using its services. As a typical hijacker Wizesearch.com aims to obtain sensitive details and use them for advertising purposes. Unfortunately, both your personal and non-personal data could be disclosed with third-parties of unknown origin and misused by malicious intenders.

Threat Summary

Name	Wizesearch.com
Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, PUP
Short Description	Wizesearch.com is the domain associated with browser hijacker that affects commonly used web browsers by modifying the settigns of their homepages, new tab pages and default search engines.
Symptoms	The homepage and new tab page of affected browsers redirect to the main page of the suspicious search engine Wizesearch.com. Many advertisements flood the browser and make it sluggish.
Distribution Method	Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss Wizesearch.com.

Wizesearch.com – Spread Techniques

The reason why your preferred browser redirects you to Wizesearch.com hijacker is most likely a potentially unwanted program installed on the computer. Such programs often compromise computer systems with the help of the installers of free third-party apps available on various torrent websites like The Pirate Bay and online stores for software like Chrome Web Store. So along with the last free program or torrent file, you opened on your PC you might have installed the hijacking app associated with Wizesearch.com as well. When the PUP comes as a part of the installers of desired apps, it is usually hidden in the Advanced or Custom configuration options so that users could miss its presence and get tricked into installing it along with the first app. To prevent the installation of undesired apps like Wizesearch.com you need to select these options and read carefully all the details presented there.

Frequently used web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari could be affected by Wizesearch.com redirect.

Wizesearch.com – More About Its Impact

After infection, the deceptive search engine pushed by Wizesearch.com is set as a default one, and you could see it on your homepage as well as on each new tab window you open. By modifying all these basic browser settings even on system level, the redirect aims to ensure its persistent presence on the infected computer. Have in mind that some of harmful files and objects associated with Wizesearch.com may be hard to find manually especially the ones that compromise Windows registry keys and values there.

Below you can see a picture of redirect’s main page:

The main purpose of Wizesearch.com redirect is to obtain specific details you provide online and spy on your online activities. This could be explained by the fact that its owners need to use the data to set their advertising campaigns and deliver you ads based on your interests. Additional components dropped on your affected PC may help the hijacker to generate adverts and redirect you to suspicious websites that could deliver third-party content or even malware infections.

As regards the search results of Wizesearch.com they are generated by another browser hijacker Safe Finder which was reported by our team back in August 2015. The tricky part is that Safe Finder hijacker tries to imitate the look of Yahoo search results so you can easily miss its logo positioned at the top right corner and continue using its deceptive services. Even though SafeFinder hijacker uses the Yahoo search database to generate results, the owners of this hijacker could modify what you see and flood the results with lots of ads. As a result, you may not be able to see the most reputable websites related to your search queries.

In addition, both hijackers are known to acquire all your search queries as well as browsing history and other specific details that define your browsing habits.

Wizesearch.com – Privacy Policy

The Privacy Policy section of Wizesearch.com site could be accessed by its main domain on the bottom left. Because of the search queries going through the Safe Finder hijacker – its policy also applies here. From reading both policies, you find out that both platforms gather personally and non-personally identifying information. That information can be disclosed to third-parties or even released on dark web forums.

According to the Wize Search policy, information which can be collected is:

The type of your browser
The type of your device
Language preferences
Time stamps
Clicks and visited pages
Facebook Login, Google+, etc. data stored in such social media sites
Email address
Search logs
Operating system
Utilized internet service provider
Other similar information

According to the policy of Safe Finder, the information which can be collected is:

Browser (type and language)
Operating System (type and language)
Your name and address
Geo location and IP address
Date and time of access
Your time zone
Advertisements viewed
Offers and services that interest you
Default search
VPN and Proxy services
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Interaction with social networks
Screen Resolution
Search quires and browsing history
Pages browsed and content viewed

If you are using any services related to Wizesearch.com or Safe Finder, including applications pushed by them, you automatically give your approval for the collection of your data. The policies state that cookies, web beacons, pixel tags and similar technologies can be also used for accumulating data.

How to Remove Wizesearch.com Redirect

The steps listed below will help you to remove Wizesearch.com redirect completely from affected Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, or Safari web browser. The guide that follows will also be helpful for the removal of this nasty program from your Windows system. You will find two removal approaches – manual and automatic. Have in mind that the manual removal steps may not reveal all harmful files dropped on the system. If these files remain on the system you can still experience redirects to Wizesearch.com during browsing sessions. For maximum protection, it is good to scan the system for some leftovers with certified anti-malware tool.

Gergana Ivanova

Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online security.

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Guide 1: How to Remove Wizesearch.com from Windows.
Guide 2: Get rid of Wizesearch.com on Mac OS X.
Guide 3: Remove Wizesearch.com in Google Chrome.

Guide 4: Erase Wizesearch.com from Mozilla Firefox.
Guide 5: Uninstall Wizesearch.com from Microsoft Edge.
Guide 6: Remove Wizesearch.com from Safari.
Guide 7: Eliminate Wizesearch.com from Internet Explorer.
Guide 8: Disable Wizesearch.com Push Notifications in Your Browsers.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

How to Remove Wizesearch.com from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Wizesearch.com

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall Wizesearch.com 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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Wizesearch.com 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 Wizesearch.com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
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.

Step 4: Scan for Wizesearch.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Get rid of Wizesearch.com from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall Wizesearch.com and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to Wizesearch.com:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to Wizesearch.com. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Wizesearch.com. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 Wizesearch.com 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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as Wizesearch.com. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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 Wizesearch.com files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Wizesearch.com, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for Wizesearch.com:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove Wizesearch.com 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Erase Wizesearch.com 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Uninstall Wizesearch.com 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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove Wizesearch.com 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 Wizesearch.com will be removed.

How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.

Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.

Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Eliminate Wizesearch.com 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.