How to uninstall FlashSearch from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

What is FlashSearch?

The cyber threat analysts have determined that FlashSearch is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) from the family of Browser hijackers. A common tactic used by the developers behind PUPs is to modify web browser’s settings such as new tab, startpage and search engine by default so that the affected internet browser goes to a web site under the author’s control. Complete the tutorial below to get rid of FlashSearch and protect you from other browser hijackers and PUPs.

Typically, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs promote fake search engines by setting their address as the startpage or search engine of the affected browser. In this case, the FlashSearch browser hijacker changes the browser settings to flashsearch.club. That is, in other words, this browser hijacker is created for the sole purpose of forcing the user to visit the flashsearch.club address when the user opens the homepage or uses the search provider. Therefore, the only way to remove a browser redirect to this unwanted website is to completely get rid of the browser hijacker associated with it. The reason for this is that potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers often block the ability to change browser settings, thus preventing the user from restoring the start page and search engine. For example, in this case, to delete flashsearch.club from the address of the homepage and search engine, the user needs to uninstall FlashSearch.

In addition to the above, it is able to gather lots of sensitive info about you which can be later transferred third party companies. You do not know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe. And of course you completely don’t know what will happen when you click on any advertisements on the FlashSearch web-page.

As evident, PUPs does not really have beneficial features. So, we suggest you delete FlashSearch from MS Edge, Chrome, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox immediately. This will also prevent the browser hijacker from tracking your online activities. A full FlashSearch removal can be easily carried out using manual or automatic method listed below.

How can a browser hijacker get on your device

Browser hijackers and PUPs such as FlashSearch can get installed to your internet browser or computer when you visit a webpage and click an Install button, or when you download and run a questionable program, or when you install free software that includes a PUP (potentially unwanted program). Be very attentive when installing any apps and make sure you deselect any options for third-party programs that you do not want.

Threat Summary

Name	FlashSearch
Type	redirect virus, start page hijacker, search engine hijacker, browser hijacker, PUP
Associated domains	flashsearch.club
Affected Browser Settings	home page, newtab page URL, search provider
Distribution	fake software updaters, free applications installation packages, misleading pop up advertisements
Symptoms	Unwanted advertisements appear on web-sites that you are visiting. You keep getting redirected to unfamiliar web-sites. Your personal computer starts automatically installing unwanted apps. Unwanted web-browser plugins or toolbar keep coming back. Unexpected changes in your web-browser such as using a new default search provider.
Removal	FlashSearch removal guide

How to remove FlashSearch from computer

In the steps below, we’ll try to cover the IE, MS Edge, Chrome and Firefox and provide general help to get rid of FlashSearch hijacker. You may find some minor differences in your Microsoft Windows install. No matter, you should be okay if you follow the steps outlined below: delete all suspicious and unknown programs, reset browsers settings, fix web browsers shortcuts, use free malware removal tools. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to exit your browser or restart your personal computer.

To remove FlashSearch, use the following steps:

1. Removing the FlashSearch, check the list of installed applications first
2. Remove FlashSearch from Google Chrome
3. Remove FlashSearch hijacker from Microsoft Internet Explorer
4. Remove FlashSearch from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings
5. Automatic Removal of FlashSearch
6. How to stop FlashSearch redirect

How to manually get rid of FlashSearch

Manually removing the FlashSearch browser hijacker is also possible, although this approach takes time and technical prowess. You can sometimes locate hijacker in your computer’s list of installed applications and uninstall it as you would any other unwanted program.

Removing the FlashSearch, check the list of installed applications first

Some PUPs, browser hijacking software and adware can be removed by uninstalling the free programs they came with. If this way does not succeed, then looking them up in the list of installed applications 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’.

Remove FlashSearch from Google Chrome

If hijacker, other application or extensions replaced your Chrome settings without your knowledge, then you can get rid of FlashSearch redirects and restore your web browser settings in Google Chrome at any time. However, your saved passwords and bookmarks will not be changed or cleared.

1. First, run the Google Chrome and click the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
2. It will open the Google Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
3. You’ll see 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 steps: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
4. Now open the Chrome menu once again, press the “Settings” menu.
5. Next, click “Advanced” link, which located at the bottom of the Settings page.
6. On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
7. The Chrome will show the reset settings prompt as shown on the image above.
8. Confirm the internet browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
9. To learn more, read the article How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.

Remove FlashSearch hijacker from Microsoft Internet Explorer

The Microsoft Internet Explorer reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked or you have unwanted extensions or toolbars on your internet browser, that installed by a malware.

First, run the Internet Explorer. Next, press the button in the form of gear (). It will display the Tools drop-down menu, click the “Internet Options” as shown on the screen below.

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

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

Remove FlashSearch from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings

Resetting Firefox web-browser will reset all the settings to their default state and will remove FlashSearch, malicious add-ons and extensions. However, your saved passwords and bookmarks will not be changed, deleted or cleared.

First, launch the Mozilla Firefox. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will open the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button ().

In the Help menu press the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as displayed on the screen below.

Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.

Automatic Removal of FlashSearch

Run malware removal tools to remove FlashSearch automatically. The freeware tools specially created for hijacker, adware software and other potentially unwanted applications removal. These tools may get rid of most of browser hijacker from Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. Moreover, it can remove all components of FlashSearch from Windows registry and system drives.

Remove FlashSearch browser hijacker with Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM)

Zemana is a malicious software removal utility created for Microsoft Windows. This utility will help you delete FlashSearch hijacker, various types of malware (including adware and potentially unwanted programs) from your PC. It has simple and user friendly interface. While the Zemana AntiMalware does its job, your device will run smoothly.

Now you can install and use Zemana to get rid of FlashSearch browser hijacker from your web-browser by following the steps below:

Visit the following page to download Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) setup file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup on your device. Save it directly to your MS Windows Desktop.

Start the installer after it has been downloaded successfully and then follow the prompts to setup this tool on your PC system.

During installation you can change certain settings, but we suggest you do not make any changes to default settings.

When installation is complete, this malicious software removal utility will automatically launch and update itself. You will see its main window as on the image below.

Now click the “Scan” button for checking your computer for the FlashSearch browser hijacker. This task may take some time, so please be patient. When a malicious software, adware software or PUPs are found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is finished.

As the scanning ends, Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) will show a list of all threats found by the scan. Review the report and then click “Next” button.

The Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) will begin to get rid of FlashSearch hijacker. When disinfection is finished, you can be prompted to restart your PC system to make the change take effect.

Get rid of FlashSearch browser hijacker from web browsers with Hitman Pro

Hitman Pro is a free tool which can search for FlashSearch hijacker. It’s not always easy to locate all the junk programs that your computer might have picked up on the Internet. Hitman Pro will search for the adware, browser hijackers and other malicious software you need to erase.

Installing the Hitman Pro is simple. First you’ll need to download Hitman Pro on your computer from the following link.

When the downloading process is done, open the folder in which you saved it and double-click the Hitman Pro icon. It will start the Hitman Pro tool. If the User Account Control dialog box will ask you want to open the application, click Yes button to continue.

Next, click “Next” to perform a system scan with this utility for the FlashSearch browser hijacker. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the HitmanPro utility is checking, you can see number of objects it has identified as being infected by malware.

After the scan get completed, Hitman Pro will show a list of all items detected by the scan as on the image below.

In order to remove all items, simply click “Next” button. It will show a prompt, press the “Activate free license” button. The HitmanPro will remove FlashSearch browser hijacker and move the selected threats to the program’s quarantine. When the procedure is finished, the tool may ask you to restart your computer.

Run MalwareBytes to remove FlashSearch browser hijacker

Manual FlashSearch hijacker removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the browser hijacker can be not fully removed. We suggest that run the MalwareBytes Anti Malware that are completely free your PC system of hijacker. Moreover, this free program will help you to get rid of malicious software, PUPs, adware and toolbars that your personal computer may be infected too.

Visit the following page to download the latest version of MalwareBytes AntiMalware for Microsoft Windows. Save it on your Desktop.

When downloading is finished, close all software and windows on your PC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named MBSetup as on the image below.

When the installation begins, you will see the Setup wizard that will help you install Malwarebytes on your PC.

Once install is done, you’ll see window as on the image below.

Now click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes Free program will scan through the whole computer for the FlashSearch hijacker. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware tool is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malicious software.

After finished, a list of all threats found is created. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and click “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now begin to remove FlashSearch browser hijacker. After the task is done, you may be prompted to restart your personal computer.

The following video explains tutorial on how to get rid of hijacker, adware and other malware with MalwareBytes Free.

How to stop FlashSearch redirect

The AdGuard is a very good adblocker application for the Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and MS Edge, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of annoying ads, popunders, pop ups, intrusive new tabs, and even full page ads and web-site overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can stop the FlashSearch automatically or by using a custom filter rule.

1. Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard by clicking on the following link. Save it on your Desktop.
   
   

   Adguard download
   26627 downloads
   Version: 6.4
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: November 15, 2018
   
2. After downloading it, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. Once the setup is complete, press “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC system, AdGuard will start automatically and stop undesired advertisements, block FlashSearch, as well as other harmful or misleading websites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon called AdGuard, which is located on your desktop.

Finish words

After completing the steps shown above, your personal computer should be clean from this hijacker and other malicious software. The Google Chrome, Edge, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox will no longer display the FlashSearch web-site on startup. Unfortunately, if the guide does not help you, then you have caught a new hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help.

Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the FlashSearch browser hijacker.