Private Search online popup virus – How to remove (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge)

If you’re reading this article, it means that you are seeing the Private Search online popup offering install an questionable browser extension and your web browser began opening a ton of pop-up ads. All of these problems with your machine caused by adware (also known as ‘ad-supported’ software), which is often installs on the PC with the free programs. You probably want to know how to delete this ad supported software as well as get rid of Private Search online pop-up ads. In the step-by-step instructions below we will tell you about how to solve your problems.

The full text of the Private Search online popup is:

Recommended Extension
Please add Private Search online

Add the Private Search extension to Chrome by clicking the
“Add To Chrome” button.
Private Search enables you to browse the internet without letting search providers track your history. Private Search Chrome extension is free to download directly from the Chrome Web store. Our basic version of the service will be offered free of charge. By clicking ‘Add To Chrome’ you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and to change Chrome’s Default Search.

While your PC is infected with the ad supported software, the Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer may be redirected to Private Search online annoying web page. Of course, the adware may not cause damages to your files or Windows system, but it may show a large amount of annoying ads. These ads will be injected within the content of pages that are you opening in your web browser and can be varied: pop-up ads, in-text ads, different sized banners, offers to install an questionable software. The advertisements will appear on all web sites, including web-pages where previously you have never seen any ads.

Most often, the Private Search online adware affects the most common browsers such as the Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Edge. But such the malicious software as well may infect another web-browsers by changing its shortcuts (adding an argument such as ‘http://site.address’ into Target field of a browser’s shortcut). So every time you run the web browser, it will redirect to the unwanted Private Search online site. Even if you setup a new startpage, an annoying site will be the first thing you see when you launch the FF, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge.

We suggest you to delete ad supported software and clean your system from Private Search online pop-up ads as quickly as possible, until the presence of the adware has not led to even worse consequences. You need to follow the steps below that will allow you to completely remove the reroute to Private Search online unwanted site, using only the built-in Windows features and a few of specialized free tools.

How can you prevent the Private Search online pop-ups

Most often, the free programs installer includes the optional potentially unwanted software such as this ad supported software. So, be very careful when you agree to install anything. The best way is to select the Custom, Advanced or Manual install mode. Here disable (uncheck) all optional applications in which you are unsure or that causes even a slightest suspicion. The main thing you should remember, you do not need to install the optional applications which you don’t trust! The only thing I want to add. Once the free applications is installed, if you delete this software, the Private Search online adware will not be removed. This must be done by yourself. Just follow the step-by-step instructions below.

How to manually remove Private Search online pop-up

This useful removal guide for the Private Search online popup virus. The detailed procedure can be followed by anyone as it really does take you step-by-step. If you follow this process to remove Private Search online popup ads let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.

1. Uninstall suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel
2. Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts to remove Private Search online redirect
3. Delete Private Search online pop-ups from Firefox
4. Remove Private Search online advertisements from Chrome
5. Remove Private Search online pop-up ads from Internet Explorer
6. Get rid of unwanted Scheduled Tasks

Uninstall suspicious and unknown software by using Windows Control Panel

We recommend that you start the personal computer cleaning process by checking the list of installed programs and remove all unknown or suspicious applications. This is a very important step, as mentioned above, very often the malicious software such as adware and browser hijackers may be bundled with free software. Remove the unwanted applications may remove the unwanted ads or internet browser redirect to unknown or annoying pages.

It will show the Windows Control Panel as on the image below.

Next, click “Uninstall a program”
It will display a list of all software. Scroll through the all list, and delete any suspicious and unknown applications. To quickly find the latest installed programs, we recommend sort applications by date of installation in the Control panel.

Disinfect the browser’s shortcuts to remove Private Search online redirect

When the adware is started, it can also change the browser’s shortcuts, adding an argument like “http://site.address” into the Target field. Due to this, every time you start the browser, it will be redirected to an annoying ads.

To clear the browser shortcut, right-click to it and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text that begins with “http://” which has been added here. You need to remove it.

When the argument is removed, click the OK button. You need to clean all shortcuts of all your web-browsers, as they may be infected too.

Delete Private Search online pop-ups from Firefox

If the FF settings have been modified by the Private Search online popup virus, then resetting it to the default state can help you to get rid of the reroute onto unwanted ad pages.

First, run the Mozilla Firefox and press button. It will show the drop-down menu on the right-part of the web browser. Next, press the Help button () as shown on the image below.

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

It will show the confirmation dialog box, click the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Firefox will begin a procedure to fix your problems that caused by the adware. When it is finished, click the “Finish” button

Remove Private Search online pop-up from Chrome

Reset Google Chrome settings is a easy way to delete the malicious and ad-supported extensions, as well as to restore the internet browser’s home page, newtab page and search provider by default that have been changed by adware.

1. Open the Google Chrome, then press the Menu icon (icon in the form of three horizontal stripes).
2. It will display the Google Chrome main menu. Click the “Settings” menu.
3. Next, press the “Show advanced settings” link, that located at the bottom of the Settings page.
4. Further, press the “Reset settings” button, which located at the bottom of the Advanced settings page.
5. The Chrome will display the reset settings dialog box as shown on the image above.
6. Confirm the browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
7. To learn more, look the article How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.

Remove Private Search online pop-up ads from Internet Explorer

In order to remove the Private Search online pop-up ads you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, that was when the Windows was installed on your personal computer.

First, run the IE, then click ‘gear’ icon . It will display the drop-down menu on the right part of the web browser, then press the “Internet Options” as shown on the image below.

In the “Internet Options” screen, you need to select the “Advanced” tab and press the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Microsoft Internet Explorer settings” dialog box as shown on the screen below. Next, press the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. After that, click the “Reset” button.

When the procedure is done, press “Close” button. Close the Internet Explorer and restart your PC for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your internet browser’s settings to default state and disable ‘ad-supported’ extensions.

Get rid of unwanted Scheduled Tasks

Once installed, the ‘ad supported’ software can add a task in to the Windows Task Scheduler Library. Due to this, every time when you launch your machine, it will show Private Search online annoying page. So, you need to check the Task Scheduler Library and get rid of all tasks that have been created by adware.

Press Windows and R keys on your keyboard together. It will display a prompt that called Run. In the text field, type “taskschd.msc” (without the quotes) and press OK. Task Scheduler window opens. In the left-hand side, click “Task Scheduler Library”, as on the image below.

In the middle part you will see a list of installed tasks. Select the first task, its properties will be open just below automatically. Next, click the Actions tab. Necessary to look at the text which is written under Details. Found something such as “explorer.exe http://site.address” or “chrome.exe http://site.address” or “firefox.exe http://site.address”, then you need delete this task. If you are not sure that executes the task, then google it. If it’s a component of the malicious applications, then this task also should be removed.

Further press on it with the right mouse button and select Delete as shown below.

Repeat this step, if you have found a few tasks that have been created by adware. Once is complete, close the Task Scheduler window.

Remove Private Search online pop-up with Malwarebytes

Remove Private Search online advertisements manually is difficult and often the adware is not completely removed. Therefore, we recommend you to use the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your system. The Malwarebytes is a reputable malware removal application. It can automatically detect and remove the adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) of the your personal computer. Moreover, this free program will help you to remove web-browser hijackers, malware and toolbars that your computer may be infected too. You can follow the step-by-step guide below to remove the Private Search online popup virus completely.

Download Malwarebytes Free by clicking on the link below.

Once downloaded, close all applications and windows on your computer. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named mb3-setup like below.

When the installation starts, you will see the “Setup wizard” that will help you install Malwarebytes on your computer.

When setup is complete, you will see window as shown on the image below.

Now click on the “Scan Now” button . This will begin scanning the whole PC to find out Private Search online adware that causes the redirect to unwanted web pages. This task can take some time, so please be patient.

When it has finished scanning, make sure all entries have “checkmark” and click “Quarantine Selected” button. The Malwarebytes will begin removing the adware related files, folders, registry keys. When the disinfection is complete, you may be prompted to reboot the personal computer.

The following video explains the steps above on how to get rid of ‘ad supported’ software with Malwarebytes Anti-malware.

Block Private Search online advertisements and other annoying web-pages

To increase your security and protect your computer against new annoying advertisements and malicious web-sites, you need to use program that blocks access to harmful ads and web pages. Moreover, the program can stop the open of intrusive advertising, which also leads to faster loading of web sites and reduce the consumption of web traffic.

Download AdGuard program from the following link.

Once the download is done, start the file named adguardInstaller. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen like below.

Follow the prompts. When the setup is done, you will see a window as shown in the figure below.

You can press “Skip” to close the setup application and use the default settings, or press “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 computer, AdGuard will run automatically and stop pop-ups, Private Search online pop-ups, as well as other malicious or misleading web sites. 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 Windows desktop.

Delete Private Search online advertisements and malicious extensions with AdwCleaner.

If MalwareBytes cannot remove the Private Search online popup virus from your computer and the Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, FF and Microsoft Edge, then we suggests to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal tool for ad-supported software, browser hijackers, PUPs and toolbars.

Download AdwCleaner from the link below.

After downloading is finished, open the file location. Double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once this utility is started, you will see a screen such as below.

Now, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the malicious extensions and Private Search online adware that shows lots of annoying ads. Once the scan is finished, it will display a scan report as shown below.

Review the report and then press “Clean” button. It will open a prompt. Click “OK”. Once the cleaning process is finished, AdwCleaner may ask you to restart your system.

Look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the AdwCleaner to delete ‘ad supported’ software, browser hijackers and other malicious applications.

Finish words

Now your computer should be free of the Private Search online advertisements. Remove AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted popup ads and annoying dangerous web-sites) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your computer for new malware and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new harmful software and ad supported software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove Private Search online pop-up virus from your computer, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.