WorldSearchPro(.)com is a browser hijacker. It is spreading mainly with bundled free programs and the Websearch.Searchmania(.)info site. The hijacker also generates ads, shows misleading results and redirects. To remove it along with any unwanted programs and get your settings restored, read the article in full.
Threat Summary
| Name | WorldSearchPro(.)com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, Adware, PUP |
| Short Description | Your browsers will have their homepage, new tab and the search engine changed. Sponsored adverts appear in your search results. |
| Symptoms | Shows advertisements, redirects and modifies a browser’s homepage, new tab and search engine. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundle Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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Malware Removal Tool
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss WorldSearchPro(.)com. |
WorldSearchPro(.)com – Distribution Ways
WorldSearchPro could be found inside third-party installer setups. This hijacker can get inside your computer without your knowledge. That is due to it hiding in various freeware installations and bundled packages. Similar packs have additional components selected to be installed by default. Avoiding such installations is possible if you find a Custom or an Advanced menu from where to deselect the components.
WorldSearchPro could also have other ways of distributing itself. Clicking on links, ads or around unknown sites is a sure way to get an unwanted application such as this one. The hijacker is also distributed via redirects from Websearch.Searchmania(.)info. Browsers that are affected: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and Mozilla Firefox.
WorldSearchPro(.)com – Description
WorldSearchPro(.)com is the main web address of the browser hijacker with the same name. It may have a browser extension as it comes with bundled software and free applications in most cases. Another effective way that the hijacker spreads through is the site Websearch.Searchmania(.)info. Websearch is another unwanted app, which has a lot of iterations and is one of the most annoying hijackers ever.
You can see, in the image below, the domain spreading redirects to WorldSearchPro(.)com (notice the banner trying to scare you into clicking):
An extension found throughout the Internet could also be installed. You might get redirected to other websites too. A lot of redirects lead to the following malicious ad sites:
- https://xml(.)adventurefeeds(.)com/click?adv=5649
- https://clickeu(.)teracreative(.)com/st?cipid=7969087
Absolutely all of your searches will get filtered through the WorldSearchPro(.)com web address for each query. You will be redirected to affiliates of WorldSearchPro(.)com if you click on any link from the search results. Sponsored advertising is to be found within every link on the search results page:
As you clearly see in the image above, the search results are only three. They couldn’t be scarcer. What you may not notice is that there are six links on the page. All search results and green info texts are actually links to other places than the ones indicated. Based on your keyword most title names are formed with the phrases “What is…” or ”Are you looking for…” etc.
Trying to trick you into clicking this is a very sophisticated and clever way of hiding links. Advertising content is also present on sites you can you are led from redirects. That content is in the form of pop-up ads, pop-unders, banners, full page advertisements and in-text links. The websites you can get mislead into clicking get revenue on a pay-per-click basis.
The Privacy Policy of WorldSearchPro(.)com is very long and filled with various kinds of mistakes. Aside from that, it is understood that a lot of personal and non-personal information is collected by the hijacker. Everything is disclosed with third-party partners and could be shared to other third-parties.
According to the Policy, the following information may be collected:
- Name, gender and date of birth
- Your IP address and Email address
- Your relationship status, intersts and hobbies
- Your user name, posts and profile pictures
- Educational details and employment information
- The referral source and the length of your visits
- The timing, frequency and pattern of service use
- Browser (version and type)
- Page views and website navigation paths
- Geo location and home address
- Credit card details
- Telephone number
- Operating System (and other such data)
You can see a preview snapshot of the Policy here:
By using the WorldSearchPro(.)com site, and every service associated with it, including any external third-party apps, you grant your consent for personal information collection. Cookies and different tracking technologies are used to aid the creators of the hijacker to gather some of the data mentioned above.
Remove WorldSearchPro(.)com Completely
To remove WorldSearchPro(.)com manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions given below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the browser hijacker, redirects and ads completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such a program helps keep your system safe.
- Guide 1: How to Remove WorldSearchPro(.)com from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of WorldSearchPro(.)com on Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove WorldSearchPro(.)com in Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase WorldSearchPro(.)com from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall WorldSearchPro(.)com from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove WorldSearchPro(.)com from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate WorldSearchPro(.)com from Internet Explorer.
- Guide 8: Disable WorldSearchPro(.)com Push Notifications in Your Browsers.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
About the WorldSearchPro(.)com Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this WorldSearchPro(.)com how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on WorldSearchPro(.)com?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the WorldSearchPro(.)com threat is backed with VirusTotal https://www.virustotal.com/gui/home/upload.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.
References
1.Browser Redirect – What Is It?
2.Adware Is Malicious, and It Uses Advanced Techniques to Infect
3.The Thin Red Line Between Potentially Unwanted Programs and Malware
4.The Pay-Per-Install Affiliate Business – Making Millions out of Adware
5.Malicious Firefox Extensions Installed by 455,000 Users Blocked Updates
How to Remove WorldSearchPro(.)com from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove WorldSearchPro(.)com
Step 2: Uninstall WorldSearchPro(.)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:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)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.
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 WorldSearchPro(.)com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.
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.
Video Removal Guide for WorldSearchPro(.)com (Windows).
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Get rid of WorldSearchPro(.)com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall WorldSearchPro(.)com 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:
2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:
3.In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to WorldSearchPro(.)com:
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 WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)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:
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 WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as WorldSearchPro(.)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.
Video Removal Guide for WorldSearchPro(.)com (Mac)
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Remove WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)com will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups
Eliminate WorldSearchPro(.)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.
Remove Push Notifications caused by WorldSearchPro(.)com from Your Browsers.
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
WorldSearchPro(.)com FAQ
What is WorldSearchPro(.)com?
The WorldSearchPro(.)com threat is adware or browser redirect virus. It may slow your computer down siginficantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What are the symptoms of WorldSearchPro(.)com?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and has poor performance in general.
Symtpom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts reccomend that you check your computer for viruses.
What types of Unwanted Programs are there?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware.
- Browser hijackers.
- Clickers.
- Fake optimizers.
What to do if I have a "virus" like WorldSearchPro(.)com?
Do not panic! You can easily get rid of most adware or unwanted program threats by firstly isolating them and then removing them from your browser and computer. One reccomended way to do that is by using a reputable malware removal software that can take care of the removal automatically for you. There are many anti-malware apps out there that you can choose from. SpyHunter is one of the reccomended anti-malware apps, that can scan your computer for free and detect any viruses, tracking cookies and unwanted adware apps and eliminate them quickly. This saves time when compared to doing the removal manually.
How to secure my passwords and other data from WorldSearchPro(.)com?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your e-mail passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activiites with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these reccomendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
More tips you can find on our website, where you can also ask any questions and comment underneath the articles about your computer problems. We will try to respond as fast as possible.
