Games Search is a browser hijacker that targets Macs

Games Search browser hijacker is also called a redirect virus, and is primarily a Mac infection. It’s not directly damaging, so when it comes to infections, it’s pretty minor. Hijackers want to redirect users to sponsored sites and generate traffic/profit, which is why you shouldn’t consider them as harmless infections. Hijackers use pretty sneaky techniques to install but as soon as they’re in, their presence become pretty obvious. You will be randomly redirected by your browser to random websites, and you will see sponsored content in your search results. However, since not everyone is aware of what specifically is a browser hijacker, they may not connect the weird behaviour with an infection. But a plain search with a search engine of the signs and the website the redirects lead to would point to a hijacker being at fault.

Games Search

The hijacker will not only redirect you, but will also modify browser’s settings. You’ll be redirected to a new homepage/new tabs when you open your browser, and you may find it hard to undo these modifications. To redirect you is why the hijacker changes those settings.

Despite the general belief that browser hijacker are malicious software or viruses, they are not, which is why they cannot install by themselves. While users are normally not aware of this, but they give consent for the hijacker to install themselves. Software bundling is the method used by hijackers and other pests to install, which means they’re attached to free programs as extra offers and may install together with it. Avoiding these unnecessary installation is not difficult, and the next section of the report will clarify how to do it.

It is not the most serious things your system could get infected with, but Games Search deletion ought to still be performed immediately. The hijacker isn’t just going to disrupt your regular browsing, it may also subject you to very unreliable content, including malware and scams.

Browser hijacker spread ways

Free software is often used by browser hijackers in order to install. Bundling programs is what this is called, and it is essentially attaching hijackers (and other similar infections) as additional items to free software. Users are usually not notified about the items but they are set to install alongside, which makes software bundling rather frowned upon. Fortunately, preventing these items from installing is very easy, if you pay attention to how you install freeware.

Picking Advanced (Custom) settings is vital when installing freeware. The additional offers won’t be made visible if you opt for Default settings. All of the items will be unhidden in Advanced, and deselecting everything will be possible. It’s sufficient to simply uncheck the items, and they’ll be prevented from installing. It takes mere seconds to pick Advanced settings and deselect the boxes, while removing infections like browser hijackers would take a much longer time. By paying attention when installing programs, you will block a lot of rubbish programs.

What does the hijacker do

Since they take over Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox and other popular browsers, and then redirect you to weird pages, browser hijackers are rather noticeable infections. Modifications to your browser’s settings will be made by the hijacker so that your homepage is set to its promoted site, and whenever you open your browser, that is the website you will be redirected to. As well as a different homepage, you’ll also have a another search engine. Every time you use your browser address bar for searches, you’ll be redirected to a website the hijacker is promoting and then get your search results. You may notice that the results include sponsored content that has little to do with what you searched for. Hijackers redirect users to certain pages so that traffic and income could be generated. The off redirects make hijackers not only annoying infections but also dangerous. As long as the redirect virus is installed, it isn’t advised to interact with any sponsored or advertisement content. Web pages you’ll be redirected to are not checked, therefore may be dangerous. The sites the hijacker leads you to to might try to fool you into installing malicious software or advertise all types of scams. Keeping a hijacker installed is a bad idea, even if they don’t do direct harm.

We should also say that browser hijackers spy on users, and gather various data related their searches, visited sites, IP address and more. It is doubtful that you want the hijacker to gather that information, let alone share it with unfamiliar third-parties.

In short, the hijacker is quite troublesome because its installation is essentially unauthorized, it makes unwanted browser modifications, and redirects to possibly harmful web pages. Games Search deletion is essential, and the quicker it’s done the better.

How you could remove Games Search from your Mac

It would be best to use anti-spyware programs to remove Games Search. By using anti-spyware software, you can guarantee the threat is deleted completely. You could try to remove Games Search manually, and as long as you understand how to do it that shouldn’t be too complicated. After you uninstall Games Search you ought to be able to restore your browser’s settings without problems.

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Quick Menu

Step 1. Uninstall Games Search and related programs.

Remove Games Search from Windows 8

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel choose Programs and Features and select to Uninstall a software.

Delete Games Search from Windows 8

Uninstall Games Search from Windows 7

Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features → Uninstall a program.

Uninstall Games Search from Windows 7

Delete Games Search from Windows XP

Click Start → Settings → Control Panel. Locate and click → Add or Remove Programs.

Remove Games Search from Windows XP

Remove Games Search from Mac OS X

Click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications. Select applications folder and look for Games Search or any other suspicious software. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash, then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

Games Search removal from MAC OS X

Step 2. Delete Games Search from your browsers

Terminate the unwanted extensions from Internet Explorer
  1. Tap the Gear icon and go to Manage Add-ons. Games Search IE gear
  2. Pick Toolbars and Extensions and eliminate all suspicious entries (other than Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Oracle or Adobe) Games Search IE toolbars and extensions
  3. Leave the window.
Change Internet Explorer homepage if it was changed by virus:
  1. Tap the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of your browser and click Internet Options. Games Search IE gear
  2. In General Tab remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Press Apply to save changes. Games Search IE toolbars and extensions
Reset your browser
  1. Click the Gear icon and move to Internet Options. Games Search IE options
  2. Open the Advanced tab and press Reset. Games Search IE reset browser
  3. Choose Delete personal settings and pick Reset one more time. Games Search IE reset
  4. Tap Close and leave your browser. Games Search IE close
  5. If you were unable to reset your browsers, employ a reputable anti-malware and scan your entire computer with it.
Erase Games Search from Google Chrome
  1. Access menu (top right corner of the window) and pick Settings. Games Search Chrome menu
  2. Choose Extensions. Games Search Chrome settings
  3. Eliminate the suspicious extensions from the list by clicking the Trash bin next to them. Games Search Chrome extensions remove
  4. If you are unsure which extensions to remove, you can disable them temporarily. Games Search Chrome extensions disable
Reset Google Chrome homepage and default search engine if it was hijacker by virus
  1. Press on menu icon and click Settings. Games Search Chrome menu
  2. Look for the “Open a specific page” or “Set Pages” under “On start up” option and click on Set pages. Games Search Chrome settings
  3. In another window remove malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage. Games Search Chrome extensions remove
  4. Under the Search section choose Manage Search engines. When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search websites. You should leave only Google or your preferred search name. Games Search Chrome extensions disable
    Games Search Chrome extensions disable
Reset your browser
  1. If the browser still does not work the way you prefer, you can reset its settings.
  2. Open menu and navigate to Settings. Games Search Chrome settings more
  3. Press Reset button at the end of the page. Games Search Chrome advanced menu
  4. Tap Reset button one more time in the confirmation box. Games Search Chrome reset
  5. If you cannot reset the settings, purchase a legitimate anti-malware and scan your PC.
Remove Games Search from Mozilla Firefox
  1. In the top right corner of the screen, press menu and choose Add-ons (or tap Ctrl+Shift+A simultaneously). Games Search Firefox add ons
  2. Move to Extensions and Add-ons list and uninstall all suspicious and unknown entries. Games Search Firefox extensions
Change Mozilla Firefox homepage if it was changed by virus:
  1. Tap on the menu (top right corner), choose Options. Games Search Firefox reset confirm
  2. On General tab delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default. Games Search Firefox reset confirm
  3. Press OK to save these changes.
Reset your browser
  1. Open the menu and tap Help button. Games Search Firefox help
  2. Select Troubleshooting Information. Games Search Firefox troubleshooting
  3. Press Refresh Firefox. Games Search Firefox reset
  4. In the confirmation box, click Refresh Firefox once more. Games Search Firefox reset confirm
  5. If you are unable to reset Mozilla Firefox, scan your entire computer with a trustworthy anti-malware.
Uninstall Games Search from Safari (Mac OS X)
  1. Access the menu.
  2. Pick Preferences. Games Search Safari menu
  3. Go to the Extensions Tab. Games Search Safari extensions
  4. Tap the Uninstall button next to the undesirable Games Search and get rid of all the other unknown entries as well. If you are unsure whether the extension is reliable or not, simply uncheck the Enable box in order to disable it temporarily.
  5. Restart Safari.
Reset your browser
  1. Tap the menu icon and choose Reset Safari. Games Search Safari reset menu
  2. Pick the options which you want to reset (often all of them are preselected) and press Reset. Games Search Safari reset
  3. If you cannot reset the browser, scan your whole PC with an authentic malware removal software.

Site Disclaimer

2-remove-virus.com is not sponsored, owned, affiliated, or linked to malware developers or distributors that are referenced in this article. The article does not promote or endorse any type of malware. We aim at providing useful information that will help computer users to detect and eliminate the unwanted malicious programs from their computers. This can be done manually by following the instructions presented in the article or automatically by implementing the suggested anti-malware tools.

The article is only meant to be used for educational purposes. If you follow the instructions given in the article, you agree to be contracted by the disclaimer. We do not guarantee that the artcile will present you with a solution that removes the malign threats completely. Malware changes constantly, which is why, in some cases, it may be difficult to clean the computer fully by using only the manual removal instructions.

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