The Onliweb Search is a browser hijacker. It affects browsers and imposes changes to its settings such as search provider by default, new tab page and home page. It’s currently very active spreading on the Internet. Many users have problems with cleaning a computer from Onliweb Search start page and restoring the Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Google Chrome settings.
The Onliweb Search hijacker infection will modify your web-browser’s search provider so that all searches are sent via Onliweb Search, which redirections to Bing, Yahoo or Google Custom Search engine that shows the search results for your query. The devs behind this browser hijacker are utilizing legitimate search provider as they may earn revenue from the ads which are shown in the search results.
The Onliweb Search hijacker is not a virus, but the virus behaves similarly. As a rootkit hides in the system, can make changes to settings of installed internet browsers, and blocks them from modifying. Also this browser hijacker infection can install additional web browser addons and modules that will show ads and popups. And finally, the Onliweb Search hijacker has the ability to gather lots of your privacy data such as what web-pages you’re opening, what you’re looking for the World Wide Web and so on. This information, in the future, can be transferred third party companies.
The Onliweb Search browser hijacker usually affects only the MS Edge, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome. However, possible situations, when any other internet browsers will be affected too. The browser hijacker will perform a scan of the computer for browser shortcuts and change them without your permission. When it infects the web-browser shortcuts, it will add the argument like ‘http://site.address’ into Target property. So, each time you open the web-browser, you will see the Onliweb Search unwanted web page.
To find out how to delete Onliweb Search, we recommend to read the instructions added to this post below. The guidance was developed by experienced security professionals who discovered a solution to remove the annoying Onliweb Search browser hijacker out of the machine.
Remove Onliweb Search from Windows 10 (8, 7, XP)
Not all unwanted software like browser hijacker infection which cause a redirect to Onliweb Search web-page are easily uninstallable. You might see a new home page, new tab, search engine and other type of unwanted changes to the IE, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and MS Edge settings and might not be able to figure out the program responsible for this activity. The reason for this is that many undesired applications neither appear in Windows Control Panel. Therefore in order to fully remove Onliweb Search start page, you need to follow the steps below. Certain of the steps below will require you to exit this web-site. So, please read the step-by-step guide carefully, after that bookmark or print it for later reference.
To remove Onliweb Search, complete the following steps:
- How to manually remove Onliweb Search
- Scan your personal computer and remove Onliweb Search with free tools
- How to block Onliweb Search
- How to prevent Onliweb Search browser hijacker from getting inside your computer
- Finish words
How to manually remove Onliweb Search
If you perform exactly the few simple steps below you should be able to remove the Onliweb Search redirect from the Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Chrome and FF web-browsers.
Remove potentially unwanted programs using Microsoft Windows Control Panel
Some of PUPs, ad supported software and browser hijacker can be removed using the Add/Remove programs tool that is located in the Windows Control Panel. So, if you’re using any version of Microsoft Windows and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to delete it through Add/Remove programs.
- If you are using Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 then click Windows button, next click Search. Type “Control panel”and press Enter.
- If you are using Windows XP, Vista, 7, then click “Start” button and press “Control Panel”.
- It will display the Windows Control Panel.
- Further, click “Uninstall a program” under Programs category.
- It will display a list of all software installed on the machine.
- Scroll through the all list, and remove questionable and unknown software. To quickly find the latest installed apps, we recommend sort applications by date.
See more details in the video tutorial below.
Remove Onliweb Search home page from Firefox
The Firefox reset will keep your personal information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill data and get rid of unwanted search provider and start page like Onliweb Search, modified preferences, extensions and security settings.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as shown in the figure below.
A small menu will appear, press the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, press “Refresh Firefox” button like below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to restore your Firefox web-browser settings to its original state.
Get rid of Onliweb Search from Microsoft Internet Explorer
If you find that IE browser settings such as new tab page, start page and default search provider having been hijacked, then you may return your settings, via the reset browser procedure.
First, start the IE, press ) button. Next, click “Internet Options” as displayed on the screen below.
In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, press Reset button. The Internet Explorer will display the Reset Internet Explorer settings dialog box. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and click Reset button.
You will now need to restart your machine for the changes to take effect. It will remove browser hijacker infection responsible for redirecting your web browser to Onliweb Search web-page, disable malicious and ad-supported web browser’s extensions and restore the IE’s settings like homepage, search engine and newtab page to default state.
Remove Onliweb Search redirect from Chrome
Reset Chrome settings is a easy way to get rid of the hijacker, malicious and adware extensions, as well as to restore the web-browser’s new tab page, home page and search provider that have been modified by hijacker.
- First start the Chrome and press Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will show the Google Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions.
- You will see the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the addon labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Google Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and press the “Reset” button.
- The Chrome will open the reset profile settings page as shown on the image above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this process is finished, your web-browser’s new tab, search provider by default and homepage will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Fix affected web-browsers shortcuts to remove Onliweb Search redirect
Unfortunately, the browser hijacker responsible for Onliweb Search startpage, can also hijack Windows shortcut files (mostly, your web-browsers shortcut files), so that the Onliweb Search home page will be shown when you open the Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and MS Edge or another browser.
Right click on the shortcut of infected web-browser like below.
Select the “Properties” option and it’ll display the shortcut’s properties. Next, click the “Shortcut” tab and then delete the “http://site.address” string from Target field as on the image below.
Then click OK to save changes. Repeat the step for all web browsers which are rerouted to the Onliweb Search intrusive web-page.
Scan your personal computer and remove Onliweb Search with free tools
After completing the manual removal tutorial above all unwanted apps and web browser’s addons which causes internet browser redirects to the Onliweb Search web page should be removed. If the problem with Onliweb Search hijacker infection is still remained, then we suggest to check your system for any remaining malicious components. Use recommended free browser hijacker infection removal apps below.
Scan and free your computer of Onliweb Search with Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM)
We suggest you to run the Zemana Free that are completely clean your computer. Moreover, the tool will help you to get rid of PUPs, malware, toolbars and adware that your personal computer may be infected too.
Download Zemana Anti-Malware on your MS Windows Desktop from the link below.
164113 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After the downloading process is done, start it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana Free will try to update itself and when this process is finished, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the hijacker responsible for Onliweb Search .
This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the Zemana Free is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and click “Next” button.
The Zemana Free will delete hijacker that redirects your browser to undesired Onliweb Search web-site.
How to remove Onliweb Search with Malwarebytes
We recommend using the Malwarebytes Free which are completely clean your system of the browser hijacker. The free utility is an advanced malware removal program designed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It is able to help you get rid of browser hijacker infections, potentially unwanted programs, malware, adware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your PC system for free.
- Installing the MalwareBytes is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes on your MS Windows Desktop from the following link.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326462 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- At the download page, click on the Download button. Your internet browser will show the “Save as” dialog box. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
- Once the download is finished, please close all apps and open windows on your computer. Double-click on the icon that’s called mb3-setup.
- This will start the “Setup wizard” of MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) onto your PC system. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
- When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the MalwareBytes AntiMalware will open and open the main window.
- Further, click the “Scan Now” button to find out hijacker infection responsible for redirecting your web browser to Onliweb Search page. This procedure may take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes Free utility is scanning, you may see how many objects it has identified as being affected by malware.
- Once the scan is finished, MalwareBytes will display a list of found threats.
- Next, you need to click the “Quarantine Selected” button. After finished, you may be prompted to restart the PC.
- Close the Anti-Malware and continue with the next step.
Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.
Remove Onliweb Search redirect from browsers with AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner is a portable little program which requires no hard installation. The program itself is small in size (only a few Mb). AdwCleaner does not need any drivers and special dlls. It’s probably easier to use than any alternative malware removal utilities you’ve ever tried. AdwCleaner works on 64 and 32-bit versions of Windows 10, 8, 7 and XP. It proves that little removal utility can be just as effective as the widely known antivirus applications.
- Download AdwCleaner on your Windows Desktop from the following link.
AdwCleaner download
225301 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
- Select the directory in which you saved it as Desktop, and then click Save.
- After downloading is complete, start the AdwCleaner, double-click the adwcleaner_xxx.exe file.
- If the “User Account Control” prompts, click Yes to continue.
- Read the “Terms of use”, and click Accept.
- In the AdwCleaner window, click the “Scan” to perform a system scan for the browser hijacker related to Onliweb Search redirect. This process may take some time, so please be patient. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
- When AdwCleaner has completed scanning your machine, AdwCleaner will display a list of found items. Review the results once the tool has finished the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply press “Clean”. If the AdwCleaner will ask you to restart your machine, click “OK”.
The step by step guide shown in detail in the following video.
How to block Onliweb Search
It is important to use ad-blocker software like AdGuard to protect your PC system from malicious web sites. Most security experts says that it is okay to stop ads. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to stop Onliweb Search and other intrusive pages.
Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard on your computer from the link below.
26659 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After the downloading process is finished, double-click the downloaded file to start it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as on the image below.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick tutorial as displayed below.
Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will help you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you run your PC system, AdGuard will start automatically and block popup ads, Onliweb Search redirect, as well as other malicious 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 can be found on your desktop.
How to prevent Onliweb Search browser hijacker from getting inside your computer
The Onliweb Search browser hijacker usually gets on your machine in the composition, together with various free programs. In many cases, it can be bundled within the installation packages from Softonic, Cnet, Soft32, Brothersoft or other similar web sites. So, you should run any files downloaded from the Internet with great caution, read the User agreement, Software license and Terms of use. In the process of installing a new application, you should choose a Manual, Advanced or Custom installation type to control what components and additional software to be installed, otherwise you run the risk of infecting your system with an hijacker infection such as Onliweb Search.
Finish words
Now your PC should be clean of the browser hijacker that cause Onliweb Search web-page to appear. Delete AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop ups and unwanted harmful web-sites) and Zemana Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your system for new browser hijacker infections and other malicious software). Probably you are running an older version of Java or Adobe Flash Player. This can be a security risk, so download and install the latest version right now.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove Onliweb Search redirect from the Edge, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Chrome, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.