The Online Insider is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) from the category of browser hijackers. After its installation, it may impose certain unwanted changes to current settings of all your typical browsers. It will set Online Insider as your newtab page, homepage and search engine by default. Thus, if you start any of the browsers, it will always be display this undesired page. Moreover, when you create a new tab, the Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge may be also redirected to Online Insider web-site.
In addition, the Online Insider browser hijacker can also modify the search provider selected in the web browser. When you try to search on the infected web-browser, you will be presented with search results, consisting of ads and Google (or Yahoo, or Bing) search results for your query. Among these search results can occur links that lead to unwanted and ad sites.
Also, adware (also known as ‘ad-supported’ software) can be installed on the system together with Online Insider browser hijacker. It will insert a huge number of advertisements directly to the sites that you view, creating a sense that ads has been added by the creators of the web-site. Moreover, legal ads can be replaced on fake advertisements which will offer to download and install various unnecessary and malicious software. Moreover, the Online Insider hijacker has the ability to gather lots of your data which may be later transferred to third parties.
The Online Insider browser hijacker mostly affects only the Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer and MS Edge. However, possible situations, when any other browsers will be affected too. The browser hijacker will perform a scan of the system for internet browser shortcuts and modify them without your permission. When it infects the web-browser shortcuts, it’ll add the argument such as ‘http://site.address’ into Target property. So, each time you start the web browser, you will see the Online Insider unwanted page.
We suggest you to free your machine of hijacker as quickly as possible. Use the few simple steps below which will assist to remove Online Insider and adware, that may be installed onto your computer along with it.
Remove Online Insider (removal guide)
The following guide will help you to remove Online Insider from the Chrome, FF, Microsoft Edge and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Moreover, the guidance below will allow you to remove malware such as PUPs, ad-supported software and toolbars that your computer may be infected. Please do the guidance step by step. If you need assist or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Read it once, after doing so, please print this page as you may need to exit your web-browser or restart your computer.
How to delete Online Insider start page without any software
Steps to remove Online Insider browser hijacker without any software are presented below. Be sure to carry out the step-by-step instructions completely to fully delete this intrusive Online Insider .
Delete suspicious programs using Microsoft Windows Control Panel
In order to remove PUPs such as this browser hijacker infection, open the Microsoft Windows Control Panel and click on “Uninstall a program”. Check the list of installed programs. For the ones you do not know, run an Internet search to see if they are adware, browser hijacker infection or PUPs. If yes, uninstall them off. Even if they are just a programs that you do not use, then removing them off will increase your personal computer start up time and speed dramatically.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, click the Windows button , then click Search . Type “Control panel”and press Enter.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, press “Start” and select “Control Panel”.
It will show the Windows Control Panel like below.
Next, click “Uninstall a program”
It will show a list of all applications installed on your machine. Scroll through the all list, and remove any suspicious and unknown applications. To quickly find the latest installed applications, we recommend sort programs by date in the Control panel.
Disinfect the web-browser’s shortcuts to remove Online Insider
When installed, this hijacker infection may add an argument similar to “http://site.address” into the Target property of the desktop shortcut for the Google Chrome, Firefox, IE and Microsoft Edge. Due to this, every time you open the internet browser, it will open the annoying homepage.
Right click on the web browser’s shortcut, click Properties option. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text “http://site.address” that has been added here. Remove everything after .exe. An example, for Google Chrome you should remove everything after chrome.exe.
To save changes, click OK . You need to clean all web-browser’s shortcuts. So, repeat this step for the Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge and Internet Explorer.
Delete Online Insider search from Chrome
Run the Reset internet browser tool of the Chrome to reset all its settings like new tab, start page and search engine by default to original defaults. This is a very useful utility to use, in the case of web-browser hijacks such as Online Insider.
- First, launch the Google Chrome and click the Menu icon (icon in the form of three horizontal stripes).
- It will display the Google Chrome main menu, press the “Settings” menu.
- Next, click “Show advanced settings” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, click the “Reset settings” button.
- The Chrome will show the reset settings prompt as shown on the screen above.
- Confirm the web-browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Remove Online Insider from Firefox by resetting browser settings
Resetting your FF is good initial troubleshooting step for any issues with your web-browser application, including the redirect to Online Insider web page.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as shown on the screen below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button as on the image below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to return your Firefox internet browser settings to its original state.
Remove Online Insider start page from Microsoft Internet Explorer
If you find that Internet Explorer web browser settings like new tab, start page and search engine by default having been hijacked, then you may return your settings, via the reset web-browser process.
First, start the IE. Next, click the button in the form of gear (). It will display the Tools drop-down menu, press the “Internet Options” as displayed in the figure below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then press the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as displayed in the figure below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then press “Reset” button.
You will now need to restart your machine for the changes to take effect.
Online Insider automatic removal
Manual removal is not always as effective as you might think. Often, even the most experienced users may not completely remove hijacker infection from the infected PC. So, we suggest to check your PC for any remaining malicious components with free browser hijacker removal software below.
Use Zemana to remove Online Insider redirect
Zemana highly recommended, because it can scan for security threats such ‘ad supported’ software and hijacker infections that most ‘classic’ antivirus applications fail to pick up on. Moreover, if you have any Online Insider hijacker removal problems which cannot be fixed by this tool automatically, then Zemana Free provides 24X7 online assistance from the highly experienced support staff.
Download Zemana Free on your personal computer by clicking on the following link.
164031 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Once the download is done, launch it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana Free will try to update itself and when this process is complete, press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the hijacker infection that modifies web browser settings to replace your new tab page, startpage and search engine by default with Online Insider web site.
This task may take quite a while, so please be patient. During the scan Zemana will detect all threats present on your PC system. All found items will be marked. You can remove them all by simply press “Next” button.
The Zemana AntiMalware will get rid of hijacker that cause a redirect to Online Insider site.
Scan and clean your computer of browser hijacker with Malwarebytes
We suggest using the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your personal computer of the hijacker. The free utility is an advanced malware removal application designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It’s able to help you get rid of browser hijackers, potentially unwanted applications, malicious software, ‘ad supported’ software, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your computer for free.
- Please download MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) by clicking on the following link. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326383 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- At the download page, click on the Download button. Your web-browser will open the “Save as” dialog box. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
- Once the downloading process is finished, please close all software and open windows on your PC. Double-click on the icon that’s called mb3-setup.
- This will open the “Setup wizard” of MalwareBytes Free onto your system. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
- When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the MalwareBytes AntiMalware will open and open the main window.
- Further, press the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) utility will start scanning the whole machine to find out hijacker that designed to redirect your web browser to the Online Insider web page. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your PC. When a threat is found, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.
- As the scanning ends, MalwareBytes Free will open a scan report.
- You may move threats to Quarantine (all selected by default) by simply click the “Quarantine Selected” button. After finished, you may be prompted to reboot the machine.
- Close the Anti Malware and continue with the next step.
Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.
Get rid of Online Insider browser hijacker infection and malicious extensions with AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner is a free portable program that scans your machine for adware, potentially unwanted applications and browser hijacker infections such as Online Insider and helps remove them easily. Moreover, it’ll also help you remove any malicious browser extensions and add-ons.
Download AdwCleaner from the link below. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.
225259 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
Once the downloading process is finished, open the file location. You will see an icon like below.
Double click the AdwCleaner desktop icon. When the tool is started, you will see a screen as shown below.
Further, click “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the hijacker infection that cause Online Insider web site to appear. Depending on your computer, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. Once that process is done, AdwCleaner will open a screen which contains a list of malware that has been found as displayed below.
You may move items to Quarantine (all selected by default) by simply click “Clean” button. It will open a prompt like below.
You need to click “OK”. Once finished, the AdwCleaner may ask you to reboot your computer. When your personal computer is started, you will see an AdwCleaner log.
These steps are shown in detail in the following video guide.
Use AdBlocker to block Online Insider and stay safe online
Run ad blocking application such as AdGuard in order to stop ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install harmful and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons that affect your PC system performance and impact your machine security. Browse the Web anonymously and stay safe online!
- Download AdGuard application from the link below.
Adguard download
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- After the download is done, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- After the setup is finished, click “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will help you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you run your PC system, AdGuard will run automatically and stop popups, web-pages such Online Insider, as well as other harmful or misleading sites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon named AdGuard, which is located on your desktop.
How can you prevent your system from the attack of Online Insider browser hijacker
Most commonly, the Online Insider browser hijacker come bundled with the setup files from a free hosting and file sharing web sites. So, install a free applications is a a good chance that you will find a bundled hijacker. If you don’t know how to avoid it, then use a simple trick. During the install, choose the Custom or Advanced installation option. Next, press ‘Decline’ button and clear all checkboxes on offers that ask you to install additional programs. Moreover, please carefully read Term of use and User agreement before installing any software or otherwise you may end up with another unwanted program on your personal computer such as this browser hijacker.
Finish words
Now your computer should be free of the hijacker which changes internet browser settings to replace your new tab, homepage and search engine by default with Online Insider web site. Remove AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep Zemana AntiMalware (to periodically scan your computer for new browser hijackers and other malware) and AdGuard (to help you block annoying popup advertisements and harmful web pages). Moreover, to prevent hijackers, please stay clear of unknown and third party software, make sure that your antivirus application, turn on the option to find PUPs (potentially unwanted programs).
If you need more help with Online Insider related issues, go to our Spyware/Malware removal forum.