How to remove DefendSearch [Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge]

DefendSearch takes control of the Edge, IE, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox now and I can’t use my internet browsers smoothly, please help! Where does DefendSearch come from? Is there any solution to the problem?? Computer security specialists named the DefendSearch a browser hijacker. It can make changes to the web browser’s start page, newtab page and search provider. If you want to get more information about the browser hijacker infection and know how to completely remove DefendSearch from your web browser, please read through this article.

The DefendSearch browser hijacker takes over your internet browser’s default search provider and controls what will be shown to you whenever you do a searching. Other than the search results, it also provides tons of intrusive ads on the search page. Some of these ads designed to trick you into buying some questionable products and apps. Moreover, sometimes, those ads could redirect you to misleading or harmful web-sites.

Another reason why you need to remove DefendSearch is its online data-tracking activity. It can gather privacy info, including:

• IP addresses;
• URLs visited;
• search queries/terms;
• clicks on links and advertisements;
• web browser version information.

Thus, the hijacker infection is quite dangerous. So, we suggest you remove it from your computer sooner. Follow the instructions presented below to remove DefendSearch from the MS Edge, Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Remove DefendSearch from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge (Virus removal guide)

Fortunately, it is not hard to remove the DefendSearch hijacker. In the following guidance, we will provide two ways to free your PC system of this hijacker infection. One is the manual removal solution and the other is automatic removal way. You can select the way that best fits you. Please follow the removal instructions below to remove DefendSearch right now!

To remove DefendSearch, follow the steps below:

1. Remove DefendSearch related apps through the Control Panel of your computer
2. Remove DefendSearch from Google Chrome
3. Remove DefendSearch redirect from Mozilla Firefox
4. Get rid of DefendSearch from Microsoft Internet Explorer
5. How to remove DefendSearch with free applications
6. Use AdBlocker to block DefendSearch and stay safe online

Manual DefendSearch redirect removal

If you perform exactly the few simple steps below you should be able to get rid of the DefendSearch from the Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge web browsers.

Remove DefendSearch related apps through the Control Panel of your computer

First of all, check the list of installed applications on your PC and remove all unknown and recently installed software. If you see an unknown program with incorrect spelling or varying capital letters, it have most likely been installed by malicious software and you should clean it off first with malicious software removal utility like Zemana Anti-malware.

Carefully browse through the list of installed applications and get rid of all suspicious and unknown applications. We recommend to click ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed programs by date. Once you’ve found anything suspicious that may be the DefendSearch hijacker and other internet browser’s harmful extensions or other PUP (potentially unwanted program), then select this application and press ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious application blocked from removal, then use Revo Uninstaller Freeware to completely remove it from your personal computer.

Remove DefendSearch from Google Chrome

If you are getting DefendSearch instead of your startpage or search provider, then you can try to delete it by resetting Google Chrome to its original state. It will also clear cookies, content and site data, temporary and cached data. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.

1. First start the Google Chrome and press Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
2. It will open the Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions.
3. You will 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 guide: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
4. Now open the Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
5. You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
6. Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
7. The Chrome will open the reset profile settings page as shown on the image above.
8. Next press the “Reset” button.
9. Once this procedure is finished, your web browser’s new tab page, startpage and search provider will be restored to their original defaults.
10. To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.

Remove DefendSearch redirect from Mozilla Firefox

Resetting your Mozilla Firefox is first troubleshooting step for any issues with your web browser application, including the redirect to DefendSearch webpage. It will save your personal information like saved passwords, bookmarks, auto-fill data and open tabs.

Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and press the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as displayed on the screen below.

A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, press “Refresh Firefox” button as shown on the image below.

Follow the onscreen procedure to return your Mozilla Firefox browser settings to their default values.

Get rid of DefendSearch from Microsoft Internet Explorer

The IE reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked or you have unwanted extensions or toolbars on your internet browser, which installed by a malicious software.

First, open the Microsoft Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear (). It will open the Tools drop-down menu, click the “Internet Options” like below.

In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then press the Reset button. The IE will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as on the image 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.

How to remove DefendSearch with free applications

The hijacker may hide its components which are difficult for you to find out and get rid of easily. This can lead to the fact that after some time, the hijacker again infect your PC system and change certain settings of web browsers to DefendSearch. Moreover, I want to note that it is not always safe to remove browser hijacker manually, if you don’t have much experience in setting up and configuring the MS Windows operating system. The best way to look for and get rid of hijackers is to use free malicious software removal software.

Scan and free your computer of DefendSearch with Zemana AntiMalware

Zemana is a malicious software removal tool created for MS Windows. This tool will help you remove DefendSearch browser hijacker infection, various types of malware (including adware and potentially unwanted apps) from your computer. It has simple and user friendly interface. While the Zemana Free does its job, your computer will run smoothly.

Installing the Zemana AntiMalware is simple. First you’ll need to download Zemana Anti-Malware on your personal computer by clicking on the link below.

Once the download is finished, close all software and windows on your personal computer. Double-click the set up file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as shown on the image below, click the “Yes” button.

It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) on your PC system. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.

Once setup is complete successfully, Zemana Free will automatically start and you can see its main screen like below.

Now click the “Scan” button to start scanning your computer for the DefendSearch hijacker and other web browser’s harmful extensions. This process may take quite a while, so please be patient. When a malware, ad supported software or PUPs are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.

After the system scan is done, you will be displayed the list of all detected items on your personal computer. All detected items will be marked. You can remove them all by simply press “Next” button. The Zemana Anti Malware will remove browser hijacker which alters internet browser settings to replace your newtab page, startpage and default search provider with DefendSearch page and add threats to the Quarantine. After disinfection is done, you may be prompted to reboot the personal computer.

Remove DefendSearch home page from web browsers with HitmanPro

HitmanPro is a free utility that can identify hijacker which designed to reroute your web browser to the DefendSearch web page. It’s not always easy to locate all the junk programs that your computer might have picked up on the Internet. HitmanPro will search for the adware, browser hijacker infections and other malware you need to remove.

HitmanPro can be downloaded from the following link. Save it to your Desktop.

Download and use HitmanPro on your machine. Once started, click “Next” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the hijacker infection related to the DefendSearch. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is done..

When Hitman Pro has completed scanning, you will be shown the list of all found threats on your machine.

You may get rid of items (move to Quarantine) by simply click Next button.

It will show a dialog box, click the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial to delete all malware found.

Remove DefendSearch startpage with MalwareBytes Anti Malware

You can remove DefendSearch automatically through the use of MalwareBytes. We suggest this free malware removal tool because it can easily delete hijacker, ad supported software, PUPs and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.

1. Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware from the following link.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware
   326460 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: April 15, 2020
   
2. At the download page, click on the Download button. Your web browser will open the “Save as” dialog box. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
3. After downloading is done, please close all software and open windows on your PC. Double-click on the icon that’s called mb3-setup.
4. This will run the “Setup wizard” of MalwareBytes AntiMalware onto your computer. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
5. When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the MalwareBytes Free will open and display the main window.
6. Further, click the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the browser hijacker related to DefendSearch home page. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.
7. When the scanning is complete, you’ll be opened the list of all found items on your PC system.
8. When you are ready, click the “Quarantine Selected” button. Once that process is finished, you may be prompted to reboot the computer.
9. Close the Anti Malware and continue with the next step.

Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.

Use AdBlocker to block DefendSearch and stay safe online

By installing an ad-blocking program such as AdGuard, you are able to stop DefendSearch, autoplaying video ads and delete a large number of distracting and annoying ads on websites.

Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.

After the downloading process is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown below.

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

You can click “Skip” to close the install application and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that 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 run your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and block advertisements, DefendSearch redirect, as well as other harmful or misleading webpages. 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 desktop.

How can you prevent your computer from the attack of DefendSearch browser hijacker

The majority of browser hijackers like the DefendSearch is bundled within free programs or even paid software which Net users can easily download online. The setup files of such applications, most often, clearly indicate that they will install bundled applications. The option is given to users to stop the installation of any optional software. So, in order to avoid the installation of any hijackers: read all disclaimers and install screens very carefully, select only Custom or Advanced setup mode and disable all optional software in which you are unsure.

To sum up

Now your machine should be clean of the browser hijacker that designed to redirect your internet browser to the DefendSearch web-site. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted pop-up ads and undesired malicious websites) and Zemana Free (to periodically scan your computer for new browser hijackers and other malware). 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 delete DefendSearch home page from the Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and MS Edge, then ask for help here here.