The ImSearch is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) from the group of browser hijackers. When the Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox is infected by this hijacker, browser’s settings like search provider by default, start page and newtab may be altered without permission. All the time, while the ImSearch is installed, its authors will has the ability to redirect your search queries and gather lots of privacy data about you, everything related to what are you doing on the Net.
ImSearch redirects search queries to Yahoo
While the ImSearch browser hijacker is active, you won’t be able to restore the Internet Explorer, MS Edge, Google Chrome and Firefox’ settings such as search engine by default, startpage and new tab page. If you try to set your home page to be Google, Bing or Yahoo, those settings will be automatically modified by ImSearch with the next PC system reboot. But this does not mean that you should just ignore it or get along with this fact. Because this is not the best option, due to the ImSearch you can have problems with the Chrome, Firefox, IE and Edge, intrusive ads and even user info theft.
Threat Summary
| Name | ImSearch |
| Type | browser hijacker, search engine hijacker, homepage hijacker, toolbar, unwanted new tab, redirect virus |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | ImSearch removal guide |
Thus, it is clear that the presence of hijacker on your personal computer is not desirable, and you need to clean up your system as soon as possible. Follow the step-by-step guidance below in order to get rid of ImSearch from Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and MS Edge.
How to Remove ImSearch search redirect (Virus removal tutorial)
There are a few solutions that can be used to delete ImSearch redirect. But, not all potentially unwanted programs like this browser hijacker can be completely uninstalled using only manual ways. In many cases you are not able to uninstall any hijacker infection utilizing standard MS Windows options. In order to get rid of ImSearch you need complete a few manual steps and use reliable removal utilities. Most experienced security professionals states that Zemana Anti-Malware, MalwareBytes or HitmanPro utilities are a right choice. These free applications are able to scan for and delete ImSearch from your PC system and revert back your web-browser settings to defaults.
To remove ImSearch, use the following steps:
- How to remove ImSearch manually
- How to get rid of ImSearch with freeware
- Run AdBlocker to stay safe online
- How to ImSearch hijacker get installed onto machine
- Finish words
How to remove ImSearch manually
The following instructions is a step-by-step guide, which will help you manually remove ImSearch search from the Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Firefox.
Uninstall potentially unwanted programs through the Microsoft Windows Control Panel
Check out the Microsoft Windows Control Panel (Programs and Features section) to see all installed software. We advise 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 uninstall.
Press Windows button 
, then click Search 
. Type “Control panel”and press Enter. If you using Windows XP or Windows 7, then click “Start” and select “Control Panel”. It will show the Windows Control Panel as shown in the following example.
Further, click “Uninstall a program” 
It will show a list of all programs installed on your PC. Scroll through the all list, and delete any questionable and unknown applications.
Remove ImSearch redirect from IE
First, open the Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear (
). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, click the “Internet Options” as on the image below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as displayed on the screen below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click “Reset” button.
You will now need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Remove ImSearch from Chrome
If you have hijacker problem or the Google Chrome is running slow, then reset Chrome settings can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you a solution to reset your Chrome settings to default values without reinstall. This will also help to delete ImSearch from home page, newtab page and default search engine.
Open the Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (
). It will open the drop-down menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the add-on labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guide: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.
Open the Google Chrome main menu again, click to “Settings” option.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, as displayed below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
Confirm your action, press the “Reset” button.
Get rid of ImSearch redirect from Mozilla Firefox
If the Mozilla Firefox web browser new tab, startpage and search provider are changed to ImSearch and you want to restore the settings back to their original settings, then you should follow the steps below. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
Press 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 such as the one below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to return your Firefox browser settings to their default values.
How to get rid of ImSearch with freeware
If you’re not expert at computers, then all your attempts to delete ImSearch browser hijacker by following the manual steps above might result in failure. To find and remove all of the ImSearch related files and registry entries that keep this browser hijacker infection on your machine, run free anti malware software like Zemana, MalwareBytes and HitmanPro from our list below.
How to automatically remove ImSearch with Zemana
Download Zemana to delete ImSearch automatically from all of your browsers. This is a free software specially created for malware removal. This utility can delete adware software, hijacker from Internet Explorer, Firefox, Edge and Google Chrome and MS Windows registry automatically.
Click the link below to download the latest version of Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) for Microsoft Windows. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop.
164032 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
When the downloading process is finished, close all programs and windows on your system. Double-click the set up file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as on the image below, click the “Yes” button.
It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana AntiMalware on your computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once setup is done successfully, Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown on the image below.
Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the hijacker infection that cause ImSearch web-page to appear. During the scan Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) will search for threats present on your PC.
Once finished, you will be displayed the list of all found items on your machine. Make sure all threats have ‘checkmark’ and press “Next” button. The Zemana Free will delete browser hijacker that developed to reroute your web-browser to the ImSearch web page and add threats to the Quarantine. After the task is complete, you may be prompted to reboot the machine.
Use HitmanPro to get rid of ImSearch
Hitman Pro will help remove browser hijacker that causes browsers to display intrusive ImSearch web-page that slow down your PC system. The hijacker infections, adware and other PUPs slow your browser down and try to force you into clicking on suspicious advertisements and links. HitmanPro removes the browser hijacker and lets you enjoy your machine without ImSearch redirect.
Click the following link to download Hitman Pro. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
When the downloading process is done, open the folder in which you saved it and double-click the Hitman Pro icon. It will run the HitmanPro utility. If the User Account Control dialog box will ask you want to open the program, click Yes button to continue.
Next, click “Next” to detect ImSearch browser hijacker infection and other web-browser’s malicious plugins. While the Hitman Pro is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
Once Hitman Pro completes the scan, you may check all threats found on your system as displayed below.
Review the report and then click “Next” button. It will open a dialog box, press the “Activate free license” button. The HitmanPro will remove browser hijacker responsible for redirecting your web browser to ImSearch webpage and add threats to the Quarantine. When the cleaning process is done, the tool may ask you to reboot your personal computer.
Run MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to get rid of browser hijacker
You can delete ImSearch startpage automatically through the use of MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM). We suggest this free malicious software removal utility because it can easily delete browser hijacker, adware, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
Download MalwareBytes Free on your MS Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.
326384 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once downloading is done, close all apps and windows on your computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s called mb3-setup as displayed on the screen below.
When the setup begins, you’ll see the “Setup wizard” that will help you setup Malwarebytes on your PC system.
Once installation is done, you will see window as shown below.
Now click the “Scan Now” button to start checking your personal computer for the browser hijacker that changes web browser settings to replace your newtab page, home page and search provider by default with ImSearch web-site. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your system and the speed of your personal computer. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) utility is scanning, you may see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malware.
Once that process is complete, you can check all items detected on your personal computer. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The Malwarebytes will now get rid of browser hijacker infection which redirects your web browser to undesired ImSearch web-site and move threats to the program’s quarantine. After that process is complete, you may be prompted to reboot your system.
The following video explains guide on how to remove hijacker, adware and other malware with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM).
Run AdBlocker to stay safe online
It’s also critical to protect your internet browsers from malicious web-pages and advertisements by using an ad blocking application like AdGuard. Security experts says that it’ll greatly reduce the risk of malicious software, and potentially save lots of money. Additionally, the AdGuard can also protect your privacy by blocking almost all trackers.
First, visit the page linked below, then press the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of AdGuard.
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, double-click the downloaded file to run it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as displayed in the following example.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick instructions as shown in the figure below.
Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you launch your machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop undesired ads, block harmful or misleading web sites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, which is located on your desktop.
How to ImSearch hijacker get installed onto machine
These days some freeware makers bundle optional programs which could be potentially unwanted apps such as the ImSearch hijacker, with a view to making some money. These are not free programs as install an unwanted software on to your MS Windows PC system. So whenever you install a new free program that downloaded from the Internet, be very careful during installation. Carefully read the EULA (a text with I ACCEPT/I DECLINE button), choose custom or manual setup method, uncheck all optional programs.
Finish words
Now your computer should be free of the hijacker responsible for redirecting user searches to ImSearch. We suggest that you keep Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) (to periodically scan your personal computer for new browser hijacker infections and other malware) and AdGuard (to help you stop intrusive popup ads and malicious websites). Moreover, to prevent any browser hijacker, please stay clear of unknown and third party apps, make sure that your antivirus program, turn on the option to detect PUPs.
If you need more help with ImSearch related issues, go to here.
