How to uninstall Cosa APP+ from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

What is Cosa APP+?

According to security researchers, Cosa APP+ is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) from the family of Browser hijackers. Typically, browser hijackers make changes to the default homepage and search engine of user web-browsers, making it difficult to change them back. Browser hijackers may also include unwanted ads and popups to show up in the infected internet browsers. Browser hijackers are usually installed with freeware or shareware downloaded from third-party web-sites; they can also be found inside legitimate webpages and software.

The Cosa APP+ browser hijacker will change your web-browser’s search engine so that all searches are sent via tailsearch.com that redirects to Bing, Yahoo or Google Custom Search engine which shows the search results for your query. The developers of this hijacker are using legitimate search provider as they may make revenue from the ads which are displayed in the search results.

Another reason why you need to remove Cosa APP+ is its online data-tracking activity. It can gather personal data, including:

• IP addresses;
• URLs visited;
• search queries/terms;
• clicks on links and ads;
• internet browser version information.

If you noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, we advise you to perform step-by-step guide below to get rid of browser hijacker and remove Cosa APP+ from Internet Explorer, Edge, Google Chrome and Firefox.

How can a browser hijacker get on your PC system

Usually, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs gets into your personal computer as part of a bundle with free applications, sharing files and other unsafe software which you downloaded from the Web. The PUPs authors pays software creators for distributing broser hijackers within their software. So, bundled software is often included as part of the installer. In order to avoid the install of any browser hijackers like Cosa APP+: select only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation option and reject all additional apps in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	Cosa APP+
Type	PUP, home page hijacker, redirect virus, browser hijacker, search engine hijacker
Associated domains	tailsearch.com
Affected Browser Settings	new tab URL, search engine, startpage
Distribution	freeware installers, malicious popup advertisements, fake update tools
Symptoms	Unwanted advertisements appear on web pages that you are visiting. Every time you perform an Internet search, your internet browser is redirected to another website. Unwanted application installed without your consent. New web browser extensions suddenly added on your browser. Your web-browser homepage or search engine keeps changing or is not set to Google anymor.
Removal	Cosa APP+ removal guide

How to remove Cosa APP+ (removal guide)

In the steps below we will demonstrate how to remove Cosa APP+ from Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Edge web-browsers for Microsoft Windows OS, natively or by using free malware removal tools. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to exit your internet browser or restart your device.

To remove Cosa APP+, execute the steps below:

1. How to manually delete Cosa APP+
   • Deleting the Cosa APP+, check the list of installed applications first
   • Delete Cosa APP+ from IE
   • Get rid of Cosa APP+ from Firefox
   • Remove Cosa APP+ from Chrome
2. Automatic Removal of Cosa APP+
   • How to delete Cosa APP+ with Zemana
   • Get rid of Cosa APP+ search from browsers with Hitman Pro
   • Run MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to delete Cosa APP+
3. Block Cosa APP+ and other unwanted web sites
4. To sum up

How to manually delete Cosa APP+

The useful removal guidance for the Cosa APP+ search. The detailed procedure can be followed by anyone as it really does take you step-by-step. If you follow this process to remove Cosa APP+ redirect let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.

Deleting the Cosa APP+, check the list of installed applications first

Some PUPs, browser hijacking applications and adware can be uninstalled by uninstalling the freeware they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed apps in Microsoft Windows Control Panel. Use the “Uninstall” command in order to remove them.

Windows 7	Windows 8
Click ‘Start’. In the Start menu select ‘Control Panel’. Find and select ‘Programs and Features’ or ‘Uninstall a program’. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.	Press and hold Windows key and hit X key. Select ‘Programs and Features’ from the menu. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.
Windows 10	Mac OS
Press and hold Windows key and hit X key. Select ‘Programs and Features’ from the menu. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.	On the top menu select ‘Go’, then ‘Applications’. Drag an unwanted application to the Trash bin. Right-click on the ‘Trash’ and select ‘Empty Trash’.

Delete Cosa APP+ from IE

In order to restore all internet browser new tab page, startpage and default search provider you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, that was when the Windows was installed on your PC.

First, start the IE. Next, click the button in the form of gear (). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, press the “Internet Options” like the one below.

In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then press the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window like below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click “Reset” button.

You will now need to reboot your personal computer for the changes to take effect.

Get rid of Cosa APP+ from Firefox

This step will allow you get rid of Cosa APP+, third-party toolbars, disable malicious plugins and restore your default home page, newtab and search provider settings.

First, open the Mozilla Firefox and click button. It will display the drop-down menu on the right-part of the internet browser. Further, click the Help button () like below.

In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the browser adress bar and press Enter. It will show the “Troubleshooting Information” page like below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.

It will show the confirmation dialog box. Further, click the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Firefox will begin a process to fix your problems that caused by the Cosa APP+ hijacker. Once, it is done, click the “Finish” button.

Remove Cosa APP+ from Chrome

The browser hijacker can alter your Google Chrome settings without your knowledge. You may see an unwanted website as your search engine or homepage, additional add-ons and toolbars. Reset Google Chrome internet browser will help you to delete Cosa APP+ and reset the unwanted changes caused by hijacker. It will save your personal information such as saved passwords, bookmarks, auto-fill data and open tabs.

1. First run the Google Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
2. It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
3. You will see the list of installed addons. If the list has the addon labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guide: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
4. Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
5. You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
6. Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
7. The Chrome will open the reset profile settings page as on the image above.
8. Next press the “Reset” button.
9. Once this task is finished, your web-browser’s search engine by default, newtab page and homepage will be restored to their original defaults.
10. To learn more, read the article How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.

Automatic Removal of Cosa APP+

Many antivirus companies have developed software that help detect and delete browser hijackers, and thereby revert back browsers settings. Below is a a few of the free applications you may want to run. Your computer may have a lot of PUPs, adware and browser hijackers installed at the same time, so we suggest, if any unwanted or harmful program returns after restarting the device, then start your personal computer into Safe Mode and run the anti malware utility again.

How to delete Cosa APP+ with Zemana

Zemana AntiMalware is free full featured malicious software removal tool. It can scan your files and Microsoft Windows registry in real-time. Zemana can help to delete Cosa APP+ hijacker, other potentially unwanted applications and adware. It uses 1% of your device resources. This tool has got simple and beautiful interface and at the same time best possible protection for your PC system.

1. Download Zemana on your MS Windows Desktop by clicking on the link below.
   
   

   Zemana AntiMalware
   164032 downloads
   Author: Zemana Ltd
   Category: Security tools
   Update: July 16, 2019
   
2. At the download page, click on the Download button. Your internet browser will display the “Save as” prompt. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
3. When downloading is done, please close all programs and open windows on your PC. Next, launch a file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup.
4. This will launch the “Setup wizard” of Zemana onto your PC system. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
5. When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the Zemana AntiMalware will start and show the main window.
6. Further, click the “Scan” button to scan for hijacker that changes web-browser settings to replace your homepage, search engine and newtab with Cosa APP+ web page. This procedure can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the Zemana program is checking, you may see how many objects it has identified as threat.
7. After the system scan is complete, Zemana Free will open a list of found items.
8. Review the results once the utility has finished the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply press the “Next” button. The utility will remove Cosa APP+ and move the selected items to the Quarantine. When disinfection is done, you may be prompted to restart the PC system.
9. Close the Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) and continue with the next step.

Get rid of Cosa APP+ search from browsers with Hitman Pro

Hitman Pro is a free portable program that scans your computer for adware, PUPs and hijackers such as Cosa APP+ and allows remove them easily. Moreover, it will also allow you remove any harmful web-browser extensions and add-ons.

Visit the page linked below to download HitmanPro. Save it on your Desktop.

After the download is complete, open the directory in which you saved it and double-click the HitmanPro icon. It will start the Hitman Pro tool. If the User Account Control prompt will ask you want to open the program, click Yes button to continue.

Next, press “Next” to perform a system scan for the Cosa APP+ hijacker. This task may take quite a while, so please be patient. During the scan Hitman Pro will search for threats exist on your device.

After finished, HitmanPro will display a list of detected threats similar to the one below.

Review the scan results and then click “Next” button. It will show a dialog box, click the “Activate free license” button. The Hitman Pro will remove Cosa APP+ and move the selected items to the Quarantine. Once that process is done, the utility may ask you to restart your computer.

Run MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) to delete Cosa APP+

You can remove Cosa APP+ automatically with a help of MalwareBytes Free. We suggest this free malicious software removal utility because it can easily get rid of browser hijacker, adware, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.

MalwareBytes Free can be downloaded from the following link. Save it on your MS Windows desktop or in any other place.

After the downloading process is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the MalwareBytes Free will try to update itself and when this process is finished, click the “Scan” button to search for the Cosa APP+ browser hijacker. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your device and the speed of your device. During the scan MalwareBytes will search for threats present on your personal computer. Next, you need to click “Quarantine” button.

The MalwareBytes is a free program that you can use to delete all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this malware removal tool, we suggest you to read and follow the few simple steps or the video guide below.

How to stay safe online

One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop any unwanted web-sites using only built-in MS Windows capabilities. However, there is a program out that you can use to block intrusive browser redirects, ads and pop-ups in any modern browsers including Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Chrome and Edge. It’s named Adguard and it works very well.

AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link. Save it on your Desktop.

After downloading is complete, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen like below.

Follow the prompts. Once the installation is complete, you will see a window as displayed in the figure below.

You can click “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that 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 launch your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted ads, block harmful or misleading web pages. 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.

To sum up

Now your PC system should be clean of the Cosa APP+ hijacker. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup ads and intrusive harmful websites) and Zemana Free (to periodically scan your personal computer for new malicious software, browser hijackers and adware software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for MS Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new hijackers, harmful software and adware software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove Cosa APP+ from your browser, then ask for help here.