Probably you are one of those people, who are facing Addonsmash Search and its harmful changes to browser settings, may think that there is something wrong with your personal computer. The constant homepage and search engine redirections may cause the difficulty of surfing the Internet. Your attempts to restore your previous browser’s new tab, start page and search provider by default are usually in vain because returning the Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Edge settings to default states becomes impossible unless you fully delete Addonsmash Search hijacker infection from your PC.
Moreover, the Addonsmash Search browser hijacker can set an unwanted site as your search provider. But, obviously, it does not give you a good search results, as they will consist of lots of ads, links to unwanted and ad web-pages and only the remaining part is search results for your query from the major search engines.
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Also, ‘ad-supported’ software (also known as adware) can be installed on the PC system together with Addonsmash Search hijacker. It will insert a lot of advertisements directly to the sites that you view, creating a sense that advertisements has been added by the makers of the web-site. Moreover, legal advertisements may be replaced on fake ads that will offer to download and install various unnecessary and malicious applications. Moreover, the Addonsmash Search browser hijacker has the ability to gather a wide variety of user information which can be later transferred to third parties.
A malicious software that modifies settings of all your typical web browsers on Addonsmash Search mostly affects only Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge. However, possible situations, when any other web browsers will be affected too. The Addonsmash Search browser hijacker can modify the Target property of internet browser’s shortcuts, so every time you start the browser, instead of your home page, you will see a completely different web site.
We suggest you to clean your computer of hijacker ASAP. Use the guidance below that will allow to delete Addonsmash Search start page and unwanted programs, that can be installed onto your PC along with it.
Remove Addonsmash Search startpage
We can assist you remove Addonsmash Search, without the need to take your PC system to a professional. Simply follow the removal steps below if you currently have the annoying browser hijacker on your machine and want to remove it. If you have any difficulty while trying to remove the browser hijacker, feel free to ask for our assist in the comment section below. Some of the steps will require you to reboot your computer or exit the page. So, read this guidance carefully, then bookmark or print it for later reference.
Manual Addonsmash Search redirect removal
Read this section to know how to manually delete the Addonsmash Search hijacker infection. Even if the few simple steps does not work for you, there are several free malware removers below which can easily handle such browser hijackers.
Removing the Addonsmash Search, check the list of installed applications first
Check out the MS Windows Control Panel (Programs and Features section) to see all installed applications. We suggest to click on the “Date Installed” in order to sort the list of applications by the date you installed them. If you see any unknown and suspicious programs, they are the ones you need to delete.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, press Windows button
, then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter like below.
When the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as on the image below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel like below.
Very carefully look around the entire list of programs installed on your PC. Most likely, one or more of them are responsible for the appearance of advertisements and web-browser redirect to the annoying Addonsmash Search site. If you have many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of harmful software by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it, after that click ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as shown in the figure below.
Once the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to press ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as shown below.
You will see a list of programs installed on your computer. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the software that were installed last. Most likely they responsibility for the appearance of popup ads and internet browser redirect. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. When the application which you need to uninstall is found, simply press on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ as shown on the screen below.
Disinfect the internet browser’s shortcuts
Once the browser hijacker is started, it can also modify the internet browser’s shortcuts, adding an argument such as “http://site.address” into the Target field. Due to this, every time you start the web browser, it will show an unwanted page.
Right click to a desktop shortcut for your internet browser. Choose the “Properties” option. It will open the Properties window. Select the “Shortcut” tab here, after that, look at the “Target” field. The browser hijacker can replace it. If you are seeing something like “…exe http://site.address” then you need to remove “http…” and leave only, depending on the web-browser you are using:
- Google Chrome: chrome.exe
- Opera: opera.exe
- Firefox: firefox.exe
- Internet Explorer: iexplore.exe
Look at the example as shown on the screen below.
Once is complete, press the “OK” button to save the changes. Please repeat this step for web-browser shortcuts which redirects to an annoying sites. When you have completed, go to next step.
Delete Addonsmash Search home page from FF
Resetting your FF is first troubleshooting step for any issues with your browser application, including the redirect to Addonsmash Search web site.
Launch the FF and click the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will display the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you’re unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page like below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The FF will begin a process to fix your problems that caused by the Addonsmash Search hijacker. When, it is done, click the “Finish” button.
Get rid of Addonsmash Search from Chrome
In order to be sure that there is nothing left behind, we suggest you to reset Chrome web-browser. It will restore Chrome settings including homepage, newtab and default search provider to defaults.
First open the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will display the main menu. Further, click the option named “Settings”. Another way to display the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter.
The web browser will show the settings screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and press the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset settings” section is visible, as shown below and press the “Reset settings” button.
The Chrome will show the confirmation prompt. You need to confirm your action, press the “Reset” button. The internet browser will run the procedure of cleaning. After it’s complete, the browser’s settings including start page, newtab page and default search provider back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your PC system.
Get rid of Addonsmash Search home page from Internet Explorer
By resetting Internet Explorer internet browser you revert back your web browser settings to its default state. This is good initial when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by browser hijacker like Addonsmash Search.
First, open the Internet Explorer, then press ‘gear’ icon 
. It will show the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the internet browser, then press the “Internet Options” as shown on the image below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then click the “Reset” button. The IE will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” dialog box. Further, press the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button as on the image below.
Once the process is finished, click “Close” button. Close the Internet Explorer and reboot your PC system for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your internet browser’s new tab page, startpage and search provider by default to default state.
Run free malware removal tools to completely delete Addonsmash Search
Many antivirus companies have designed applications that help detect and remove hijacker infection, and thereby revert back internet browsers settings. Below is a a few of the free programs you may want to run. Your machine can have tons of PUPs, adware and hijackers installed at the same time, so we recommend, if any unwanted or malicious application returns after restarting the system, then boot your PC system into Safe Mode and run the anti malware utility again.
Run Zemana Anti-malware to remove Addonsmash Search
We recommend using the Zemana Anti-malware. You can download and install Zemana Anti-malware to detect and get rid of Addonsmash Search from your machine. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover will automatically scan and detect all threats exist on the PC.
Now you can install and use Zemana Anti Malware to remove Addonsmash Search startpage from your web browser by following the steps below:
Click the link below to download Zemana Anti Malware installer named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup on your personal computer.
164032 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Run the installer after it has been downloaded successfully and then follow the prompts to install this utility on your system.
During installation you can change certain settings, but we recommend you don’t make any changes to default settings.
When install is complete, this malicious software removal tool will automatically start and update itself. You will see its main window as shown on the screen below.
Now click the “Scan” button to start checking your personal computer for the Addonsmash Search browser hijacker and other kinds of potential threats like malware and ad supported software. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the utility is checking, you may see how many objects it has identified either as being malware.
When it has finished scanning your system, a list of all threats detected is produced. Review the scan results and then click “Next” button.
The Zemana AntiMalware will remove Addonsmash Search hijacker related files, folders and registry keys. After the procedure is finished, you may be prompted to restart your computer to make the change take effect.
Scan and free your system of hijacker with Malwarebytes
Manual Addonsmash Search removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the browser hijacker can be not completely removed. We suggest that use the Malwarebytes Free that are completely free your system of browser hijacker. Moreover, the free program will help you to get rid of malicious software, PUPs, adware and toolbars that your machine can be infected too.
Download Malwarebytes by clicking on the link below.
326384 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
After the downloading process is done, close all applications and windows on your computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s called mb3-setup as shown below.
When the setup starts, you will see the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Malwarebytes on your computer.
Once installation is finished, you will see window as on the image below.
Now click the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the Addonsmash Search browser hijacker infection and other kinds of potential threats like malicious software and ‘ad supported’ software. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your PC. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
As the scanning ends, you’ll be shown the list of all found threats on your PC system. When you’re ready, click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The Malwarebytes will now remove hijacker infection that designed to redirect your browser to the Addonsmash Search web-page and move threats to the program’s quarantine. After the cleaning process is finished, you may be prompted to reboot your system.
The following video explains few simple steps on how to get rid of browser hijacker, adware and other malicious software with Malwarebytes Anti-malware.
Double-check for potentially unwanted applications with AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner is a free portable application that scans your computer for adware, potentially unwanted software and browser hijacker infections such as Addonsmash Search and helps get rid of them easily. Moreover, it’ll also help you remove any malicious web-browser extensions and add-ons.
- Download AdwCleaner by clicking on the link below.
AdwCleaner download
225260 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
- After the download is complete, double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once this utility is launched, press “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the Addonsmash Search hijacker infection and other internet browser’s harmful extensions. A system scan may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your machine. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
- Once the scan get finished, it’ll open a scan report. You may move threats to Quarantine (all selected by default) by simply click “Clean” button. It will show a prompt, click “OK”.
These few simple steps are shown in detail in the following video guide.
How to block Addonsmash Search start page
If you browse the Internet, you can’t avoid malicious advertising. But you can protect your browser against it. Download and use an adblocker application. AdGuard is an ad blocking that can filter out a large amount of of the malicious advertising, stoping dynamic scripts from loading malicious content.
- Download AdGuard program by clicking on the following link.
Adguard download
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- When downloading is complete, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- Once the installation is finished, press “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop popups, pages such Addonsmash Search, as well as other harmful or misleading web sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon named AdGuard, which can be found on your desktop.
Tips to prevent Addonsmash Search and other unwanted applications
The majority of hijackers like Addonsmash Search come bundled with free applications or even paid software which Web users can easily download online. The setup files of such software, most commonly, clearly display that they will install third-party software. The option is given to users to block the installation of any optional software. So, in order to avoid the installation of any hijackers: read all disclaimers and install screens very carefully, select only Custom or Advanced installation mode and uncheck all optional applications in which you are unsure.
To sum up
Now your PC should be free of the Addonsmash Search redirect. Uninstall AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your computer for new malicious software, browser hijackers and ‘ad supported’ software) and AdGuard (to help you block unwanted advertisements and harmful web sites). Moreover, to prevent browser hijackers, please stay clear of unknown and third party applications, make sure that your antivirus program, turn on the option to scan for PUPs (potentially unwanted programs).
If you need more help with Addonsmash Search home page related issues, go to our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
