VideoSearchNet Removal

What is VideoSearchNet

VideoSearchNet is a browser hijacker that promotes a highly questionable search engine portal.videosearchnet.com. It’s not a dangerous infection though it’s very annoying. It will make changes to your browser’s settings and set said website as the homepage and search engine. It does that in order to redirect them to sponsored websites. The biggest issue with hijackers, besides that they try to lead you to sponsored sites, is that they could redirect to potentially dangerous pages that hide malware or scams.

Browser hijackers alter search results and insert sponsored content among them. This can get very annoying because your normal browsing is interrupted. Thus, the sooner you remove VideoSearchNet from your computer, the sooner you can go back to normal browsing.

Users usually install browser hijackers accidentally, mainly because they do not how to install programs correctly. We will explain this in more detail in the following section but in short, the hijacker came attached to a free program that you installed. You likely did not notice when installing the freeware. This method is called software bundling, and it’s usually how minor infections like browser hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) install.

Software bundling is how browser hijackers install

Minor infections like adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs usually use software bundling to install on users’ computers. The method allows them to install alongside freeware they’re attached to without needing additional permission. This is why the method is so widely used by unwanted program developers and why it’s so frowned upon by everyone else. Generally, programs that use it are classified as potentially unwanted.

The offers that come attached to freeware as optional but because they’re hidden, most users end up not noticing them, thus allowing them to install. To make them visible, opt for Advanced (Custom) settings when installing programs. If there is anything attached, those settings will also allow you to deselect them. All you need to do is uncheck the boxes of those offers. Once you have done that, you can continue installing the program.

It literally takes seconds to deselect a few boxes and correctly install freeware, especially compared to the time it takes to uninstall these pesky programs. And keep in mind that the majority of free programs you download from those free download sites will have added offers. You can avoid the unwanted offers by downloading programs from official websites.

Is VideoSearchNet harmful?

It should first be mentioned that browser hijackers are not particularly dangerous infections, especially compared to the likes of trojans and ransomware. They mainly focus on trying to redirect users to sponsored websites in order to generate revenue. To do that, they change browser’s settings and set their promoted sites as homepages and default search engines. In this case, portal.videosearchnet.com would be set as your homepage/search engine. This can affect all popular browsers, such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Once the changes have been made, users will be unable to undo them while the hijacker remains installed.

Every time you open your browser, portal.videosearchnet.com will load. The site is pretty basic, it has a side menu with shortcuts to tools like the calculator and a PDF converter. It also has a search box in the middle of the site, and if you were to use it, you’d be shown results generated with a questionable search engine. We don’t recommend clicking on any of those results because you could be redirected to all kinds of questionable websites, some of which could be promoting scams or malware. Those results will be useless to you anyway, since they will be unrelated to what you are searching for.

Lastly, it should be said that browser hijackers track your browsing. VideoSearchNet will track what sites you visit, what you search for, your IP address etc. The information would likely be shared with unknown third-parties as well.

VideoSearchNet removal

The easiest way to delete VideoSearchNet is to use anti-spyware software. The program would take care of everything, without you needing to do anything. However, you can also uninstall VideoSearchNet manually, as long as you can find where the hijacker is located.

Offers

Download Removal Toolto scan for VideoSearchNetUse our recommended removal tool to scan for VideoSearchNet. Trial version of provides detection of computer threats like VideoSearchNet and assists in its removal for FREE. You can delete detected registry entries, files and processes yourself or purchase a full version.

More information about SpyWarrior and Uninstall Instructions. Please review SpyWarrior EULA and Privacy Policy. SpyWarrior scanner is free. If it detects a malware, purchase its full version to remove it.

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Quick Menu

Step 1. Uninstall VideoSearchNet and related programs.

• Windows 8
• Windows 7
• Windows XP
• Mac OS

Remove VideoSearchNet 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.

Uninstall VideoSearchNet from Windows 7

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

Delete VideoSearchNet from Windows XP

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

Remove VideoSearchNet from Mac OS X

Click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications. Select applications folder and look for VideoSearchNet 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.

Step 2. Delete VideoSearchNet from your browsers

• Internet Explorer
• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari

Terminate the unwanted extensions from Internet Explorer

1. Tap the Gear icon and go to Manage Add-ons.
2. Pick Toolbars and Extensions and eliminate all suspicious entries (other than Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Oracle or Adobe)
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.
2. In General Tab remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Press Apply to save changes.

Reset your browser

1. Click the Gear icon and move to Internet Options.
2. Open the Advanced tab and press Reset.
3. Choose Delete personal settings and pick Reset one more time.
4. Tap Close and leave your browser.
5. If you were unable to reset your browsers, employ a reputable anti-malware and scan your entire computer with it.

Erase VideoSearchNet from Google Chrome

1. Access menu (top right corner of the window) and pick Settings.
2. Choose Extensions.
3. Eliminate the suspicious extensions from the list by clicking the Trash bin next to them.
4. If you are unsure which extensions to remove, you can disable them temporarily.

Reset Google Chrome homepage and default search engine if it was hijacker by virus

1. Press on menu icon and click Settings.
2. Look for the “Open a specific page” or “Set Pages” under “On start up” option and click on Set pages.
3. In another window remove malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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.
   

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.
3. Press Reset button at the end of the page.
4. Tap Reset button one more time in the confirmation box.
5. If you cannot reset the settings, purchase a legitimate anti-malware and scan your PC.

Remove VideoSearchNet from Mozilla Firefox

1. In the top right corner of the screen, press menu and choose Add-ons (or tap Ctrl+Shift+A simultaneously).
2. Move to Extensions and Add-ons list and uninstall all suspicious and unknown entries.

Change Mozilla Firefox homepage if it was changed by virus:

1. Tap on the menu (top right corner), choose Options.
2. On General tab delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
3. Press OK to save these changes.

Reset your browser

1. Open the menu and tap Help button.
2. Select Troubleshooting Information.
3. Press Refresh Firefox.
4. In the confirmation box, click Refresh Firefox once more.
5. If you are unable to reset Mozilla Firefox, scan your entire computer with a trustworthy anti-malware.

Uninstall VideoSearchNet from Safari (Mac OS X)

1. Access the menu.
2. Pick Preferences.
3. Go to the Extensions Tab.
4. Tap the Uninstall button next to the undesirable VideoSearchNet 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.
2. Pick the options which you want to reset (often all of them are preselected) and press Reset.
3. If you cannot reset the browser, scan your whole PC with an authentic malware removal software.