Remove WorldSearchPro(.)com Browser Hijacker

by Berta Bilbao | May 20, 2016 | 0 Comments ad-supported application, browser hijacker, redirects

Threat Summary WorldSearchPro(.)com – Distribution Ways WorldSearchPro(.)com – Description Remove WorldSearchPro(.)com Completely

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	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
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.

Berta Bilbao

Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.

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

How to Remove WorldSearchPro(.)com from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove WorldSearchPro(.)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 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:

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 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.

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 WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)com from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall WorldSearchPro(.)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 WorldSearchPro(.)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 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:

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 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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for WorldSearchPro(.)com:

Download

SpyHunter for 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.

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 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.