What is HideMySearches? And how does it function?
HideMySearches is a questionable search engine that claims to protect a user’s privacy while browsing the web. It also claims to improve the browsing experience of users by generating improved search results. However, what it really brings users is not an enhanced browsing experience and definitely not privacy but modified search results, not improved ones, as well as dozens of ads like pop-ups, banners, in-text links, etc. HideMySearches modifies search results to make room for sponsored content from its affiliated third parties which means that its developers don’t really aim to improve users’ browsing experience but to fill their pockets.
Once installed, HideMySearches will change the default search provider and homepage in the browser. So the next time you open your browser, you will be seeing HideMySearches as the homepage. This kind of behavior is common on browser hijackers and unsurprisingly, HideMySearches is also categorized as one. Needless to say, this program can’t be trusted and isn’t safe to use.
What’s alarming about this browser hijacker though is that it records a couple of information about your browsing-related activities. This information includes not just your browsing history, search queries, ads clicked, etc., but also your IP address. The IP address is considered to be a piece of personally identifiable information. The harvested information by HideMySearches will be used to deliver more ads to users. Some of these ads are even intrusive to the point where it’s hard to close them, while some of them could reroute you to suspicious web pages. So if you wish to browse the web without any program tracking and recording your every move, you have to get rid of HideMySearches as soon as you can.
How is HideMySearches distributed over the web?
In the same way as other browser hijackers, HideMySearches travels the web as a part of software bundles that are usually found on peer-to-peer sharing networks or free sharing sites. Note that installation of such packages without caution can lead to infiltration of unwanted programs like HideMySearches. This is why using the Advanced or Custom setup is recommended as it lets you get rid of any extra add-ons in the package. Thus, you must use it whenever you install any software bundle.
Remove HideMySearches by following the removal instructions provided below.
Step_1: Close the browser infected with HideMySearches but if you are unable to do so, you can close it via Task Manager. Tap Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager and from there, end the browser’s process.
Step_2: Afterwards, you have to flush the DNS cache. To do that, just, right-click on the Start button and click on Command Prompt (administrator). From there, type the “ipconfig /flushdns” command and hit Enter to flush the DNS.
Step_3: After that, restart your computer and then open all the browsers infected by HideMySearches. Reset all the affected browsers to default to their default state.
Google Chrome
- Open Google Chrome, then tap the Alt + F keys.
- After that, click on Settings.
- Next, scroll down until you see the Advanced option, once you see it, click on it.
- After clicking the Advanced option, go to the “Restore and clean up option and click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” option to reset Google Chrome.
- Now restart Google Chrome.
Mozilla Firefox
- Open Mozilla Firefox and tap Ctrl + Shift + A to access the Add-ons Manager.
- In the Extensions menu Remove the unwanted extension.
- Restart the browser and tap keys Alt + T.
- Select Options and then move to the General menu.
- Overwrite the URL in the Home Page section and then restart the browser.
Internet Explorer
- Launch Internet Explorer.
- Next, click the wrench icon for Settings.
- Then click Internet Options.
- After that, go to the Advanced tab.
- From there, click the Reset button. This will reset Internet Explorer’s settings to their default condition.
- Now click OK to save the changes made.
- Restart your computer.
Step_4: Next, tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box and type “appwiz.cpl” in the field and press Enter to open the Programs and Features in Control Panel.
Step_5: From the list of programs installed, look for HideMySearches or any unfamiliar program that could be related to it under the list of installed programs, and once you’ve found it, uninstall it.
Step_6: Edit your Hosts File.
- Tap the Win + R keys to open then type in %WinDir% and then click OK.
- Go to System32/drivers/etc.
- Open the hosts file using Notepad.
- Delete all the entries that contain HideMySearches.
- After that, save the changes you’ve made and close the file.
Step_7: Hold down Windows + E keys simultaneously to open File Explorer.
Step_8: Navigate to the following directories and look for suspicious files associated with the browser hijacker such as the software bundle it came with and delete it/them.
- %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
- %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
- %TEMP%
Step_9: Close the File Explorer.
Step_10: Empty the contents of Recycle Bin.
Congratulations, you have just removed HideMySearches Browser Hijacker in Windows 10 all by yourself. If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit fixmypcfree.com daily.
Now that’s how you remove HideMySearches Browser Hijacker in Windows 10 on a computer. On the other hand, if your computer is going through some system-related issues that have to get fixed, there is a one-click solution known as Restoro you could check out to resolve them.
This program is a useful tool that could repair corrupted registries and optimize your PC’s overall performance. Aside from that, it also cleans out your computer for any junk or corrupted files that help you eliminate any unwanted files from your system. This is basically a solution that’s within your grasp with just a click. It’s easy to use as it is user-friendly. For a complete set of instructions in downloading and using it, refer to the steps below
Perform a full system scan using Restoro. To do so, follow the instructions below.
