According to cyber security experts, Approved Results is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) from the group of Browser hijackers. Once you’re a victim of browser hijacker infection, it takes over your browser such as MS Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Approved Results makes various changes to your web-browser’s settings, including startpage, new tab and search provider by default, and installs unwanted extensions deep inside your system. This is the main reason why you need to delete it from your computer and return your web-browser search engine and start page back to the default.
“Approved Results” makes unwanted changes to browser settings and redirects search queries
When the Approved Results hijacker is installed on a computer, it can:
- set ‘Approved Results’ as search engine, newtab page, and home page;
- prevent users from changing search engine or home page address;
- redirect your queries to sponsored web pages;
- provide altered search results;
- record your search queries;
- periodically redirects to questionable web sites;
- show annoying ads;
- gather World Wide Web surfing habits and sell it to third party companies.
Moreover, adware (also known as ‘adware virus’) may be additionally installed on to your PC system with browser hijacker, which will display a lot of ads, or even massive full page ads that blocks surfing the Net. Often such these ads can recommend to install other unknown and unwanted programs or visit harmful web pages.
Threat Summary
| Name | Approved Results |
| Type | browser hijacker, search provider hijacker, start page hijacker, toolbar, unwanted new tab, redirect virus |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | Approved Results removal guide |
We advise you to remove Approved Results redirect and free your system of browser hijacker ASAP, until the presence of the browser hijacker has not led to even worse consequences. Follow the step-by-step guidance below that will allow you to completely delete Approved Results homepage, using only the built-in Windows features and a few of specialized free utilities.
How to Remove Approved Results from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge (Browser hijacker virus removal guide)
In the few simple steps below we will have a look at the browser hijacker infection and how to remove Approved Results from Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer web-browsers for Windows OS, natively or by using a few free removal tools. Certain of the steps below will require you to shut down this web-page. So, please read the steps carefully, after that bookmark or print it for later reference.
To remove Approved Results, use the following steps:
- How to remove Approved Results manually
- How to get rid of Approved Results with free programs
- Block Approved Results and other undesired web-sites
- Why has my homepage and search provider changed to Approved Results?
- Finish words
How to remove Approved Results manually
Most common browser hijackers may be deleted without any antivirus software. The manual hijacker removal is few simple steps that will teach you how to get rid of Approved Results startpage. If you do not want to get rid of Approved Results in the manually due to the fact that you are not skilled at computer, then you can run free removal utilities listed below.
Uninstall Approved Results associated software by using Windows Control Panel
First, you should try to identify and delete the program that causes the appearance of intrusive ads or web browser redirect, using the ‘Uninstall a program’ which is located in the ‘Control panel’.
Press Windows button 
, then click Search 
. Type “Control panel”and press Enter. If you using Windows XP or Windows 7, then press “Start” and select “Control Panel”. It will show the Windows Control Panel as displayed on the screen below.
Further, click “Uninstall a program” 
It will display a list of all apps installed on your machine. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any dubious and unknown applications.
Get rid of Approved Results from IE
By resetting Internet Explorer web-browser you return your browser settings to its default state. This is basic when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by browser hijacker infection like Approved Results.
First, open the IE. Next, press the button in the form of gear (
). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, press the “Internet Options” similar to the one below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as displayed on the image 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.
Get rid of Approved Results from Mozilla Firefox by resetting internet browser settings
Resetting Firefox web browser will reset all the settings to their original state and will remove Approved Results, malicious add-ons and extensions. When using the reset feature, your personal information such as passwords, bookmarks, browsing history and web form auto-fill data will be saved.
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 displayed on the screen below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button as shown in the figure below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to restore your Firefox internet browser settings to their default values.
Remove Approved Results from Google Chrome
If browser hijacker, other application or extensions modified your Google Chrome settings without your knowledge, then you can delete Approved Results and restore your browser settings in Google Chrome at any time. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
First open the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will show the Google Chrome menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the addon signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Google Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option called “Settings”.
The internet browser will show the settings screen. Another solution to show the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web-browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as shown in the figure below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will show the confirmation dialog box such as the one below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The web-browser will run the process of cleaning. After it’s finished, the web-browser’s settings including default search engine, newtab and startpage back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your computer.
How to get rid of Approved Results with free programs
AntiMalware applications differ from each other by many features such as performance, scheduled scans, automatic updates, virus signature database, technical support, compatibility with other antivirus apps and so on. We recommend you use the following free applications: Zemana AntiMalware, MalwareBytes Anti Malware and HitmanPro. Each of these applications has all of needed features, but most importantly, they can search for the browser hijacker and get rid of Approved Results from the Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, IE and Firefox.
Remove Approved Results redirect with Zemana Free
If you need a free tool that can easily search for and remove hijacker responsible for redirects to Approved Results, then use Zemana Free. This is a very handy application, which is primarily developed to quickly scan for and remove adware software and malware infecting internet browsers and changing their settings.
First, please go to the following link, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM).
164029 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After the downloading process is done, close all applications and windows on your computer. Double-click the install file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up similar to the one below, click the “Yes” button.
It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) on your machine. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once install is complete successfully, Zemana Free will automatically start and you can see its main screen like below.
Now click the “Scan” button . Zemana utility will start scanning the whole system to find out hijacker responsible for redirecting user searches to Approved Results. While the tool is scanning, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.
Once the system scan is finished, Zemana will open a list of all items detected by the scan. In order to remove all threats, simply press “Next” button. The Zemana Free will remove browser hijacker infection that causes web-browsers to display unwanted Approved Results web site. Once finished, you may be prompted to reboot the personal computer.
Remove Approved Results from web-browsers with Hitman Pro
HitmanPro is a free removal utility that can be downloaded and run to remove hijackers, adware, malicious software, PUPs, toolbars and other threats from your machine. You may run this tool to search for threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security program.
Installing the Hitman Pro is simple. First you will need to download HitmanPro on your Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.
Download and use Hitman Pro on your machine. Once started, click “Next” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the browser hijacker infection that cause a redirect to Approved Results webpage. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the HitmanPro utility is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malware..
After HitmanPro has finished scanning your PC system, Hitman Pro will show a list of all threats found by the scan.
In order to remove all threats, simply click Next button.
It will show a prompt, click the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial to remove all malicious software found.
Delete Approved Results search with MalwareBytes
You can remove Approved Results start page automatically through the use of MalwareBytes Anti-Malware. We suggest this free malicious software removal utility because it can easily get rid of browser hijacker, adware software, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes by clicking on the link below.
326382 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
When the download is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the MalwareBytes Free will try to update itself and when this task is done, click the “Scan Now” button . MalwareBytes program will scan through the whole personal computer for the browser hijacker responsible for redirecting user searches to Approved Results. This task may take quite a while, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Free program is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified as threat. Make sure to check mark the threats which are unsafe and then click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The MalwareBytes Free is a free program that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this malicious software removal utility, we advise you to read and follow the step-by-step guide or the video guide below.
Block Approved Results and other undesired web-sites
By installing an ad-blocker application like AdGuard, you’re able to block Approved Results, autoplaying video ads and delete a ton of distracting and intrusive ads on websites.
Click the link below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Windows. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as on the image below.
Follow the prompts. Once the install is complete, you will see a window as displayed in the figure below.
You can click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will help 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 machine, AdGuard will start automatically and stop undesired ads, block Approved Results, 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 AdGuard icon, which is located on your desktop.
Why has my homepage and search provider changed to Approved Results?
These days certain free programs makers bundle optional apps that could be PUPs such as the Approved Results browser hijacker, with a view to making some money. These are not freeware as install an unwanted apps on to your Microsoft Windows computer. So whenever you install a new free application that downloaded from the Web, be very careful during setup. Carefully read the EULA (a text with I ACCEPT/I DECLINE button), select custom or manual setup option, reject all additional applications.
Finish words
Now your PC system should be free of the hijacker infection responsible for changing your web browser settings to Approved Results. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted advertisements and intrusive malicious web sites) and Zemana Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your PC system for new malicious software, hijacker infections and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Microsoft Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijacker infections, malicious applications and adware software are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove Approved Results from your web-browser, then ask for help here.
