If an unwanted website called Update-search.com keeps showing up as your home page or search engine then it’s a sign that you accidentally installed a potentially unwanted program (PUP) belonging to the Browser hijackers group on your computer. It is able to hijack your internet browser. You will notice that your internet browser newtab URL, home page and default search provider is changed without your permission to portal.update-search.com. Whenever you search for anything in Google (Bing or Yahoo) you will get redirected to https://feed.update-search.com/. Please read this blog post below for more troubleshooting info. Here’s the complete guidance that would help remove Update-search.com redirect from your web-browser.
When you are performing searches using the web-browser that has been affected by Update-search.com, the search results will be returned from Bing, Yahoo or Google Custom Search. The authors of Update-search.com hijacker are most likely doing this to make advertisement money from the ads displayed in the search results.
Unwanted search ads
And finally, the Update-search.com browser hijacker is able to collect lots of confidential data about you such as what web-pages you are opening, what you are looking for the Net and so on. This information, in the future, can be sold to third party companies.
We suggest you to free your PC of browser hijacker as soon as possible. Use the steps below that will assist to remove Update-search.com redirect and unwanted programs that can be installed onto your PC along with it.
How can Update-search.com get on your personal computer
Browser hijackers and PUPs usually are bundled with various free programs. Most commonly, it can be bundled within the installers from Softonic, Cnet, Soft32, Brothersoft or other similar websites. 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 setup method to control what components and additional apps to be installed, otherwise you run the risk of infecting your computer with a browser hijacker such as Update-search.com.
Threat Summary
| Name | Update-search.com |
| Type | search provider hijacker, browser hijacker, redirect virus, PUP, homepage hijacker |
| Affected Browser Settings | start page, new tab URL, search engine |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | Update-search.com removal guide |
How to remove Update-search.com redirect (removal instructions)
In the instructions below, we will try to cover the Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox and IE and provide general help to remove Update-search.com . You may find some minor differences in your Microsoft Windows install. No matter, you should be okay if you follow the steps outlined below: delete all suspicious and unknown applications, reset web-browsers settings, fix internet browsers shortcuts, use free malware removal tools. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to shut down your browser or restart your computer.
To remove Update-search.com, use the following steps:
- How to remove Update-search.com manually
- Automatic Removal of Update-search.com
- Use AdBlocker to block Update-search.com and stay safe online
- Finish words
How to remove Update-search.com manually
To delete Update-search.com hijacker, adware and other unwanted applications you can try to do so manually. Unfortunately some of the browser hijackers won’t show up in your program list, but some browser hijacker infections may. In this case, you may be able to delete it via the uninstall function of your system. You can do this by following the steps below.
Delete Update-search.com related applications through the Control Panel of your PC system
Some applications are free only because their installer contains a hijacker like the Update-search.com. This unwanted apps generates money for the creators when it is installed. Many browser hijacker infections can be deleted by simply uninstalling them from the ‘Uninstall a Program’ that is located in MS Windows control panel.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Click the Windows logo, and then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as on the image below.
Once the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as displayed in the following example.
Windows 7, Vista, XP
Open Start menu and choose the ‘Control Panel’ at right like below.
Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (Microsoft Windows 7 or Vista) as displayed on the image below.
Carefully browse through the list of installed programs and get rid of all suspicious and unknown programs. We suggest to press ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed applications by date. Once you’ve found anything suspicious that may be the hijacker infection that cause a reroute to Update-search.com web-site or other PUP (potentially unwanted program), then choose this program and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the suspicious program blocked from removal, then run Revo Uninstaller Freeware to completely remove it from your computer.
Remove Update-search.com from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web-browser settings
The Firefox reset will delete unwanted search provider and home page like Update-search.com, modified preferences, extensions and security settings. It’ll save your personal information like saved passwords, bookmarks, auto-fill data and open tabs.
Start the Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the web-browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will show the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as on the image below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation prompt. The Mozilla Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the Update-search.com browser hijacker infection. Once, it’s finished, click the “Finish” button.
Remove Update-search.com search from Internet Explorer
The IE reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked or you have unwanted extensions or toolbars on your internet browser, that installed by a malicious software.
First, launch the IE, then press ‘gear’ icon 
. It will display the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the web browser, then click the “Internet Options” as shown in the figure below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then press the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” dialog box. Further, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, press the “Reset” button as displayed in the figure below.
When the process is finished, press “Close” button. Close the Internet Explorer and reboot your PC system for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your web browser’s default search engine, newtab page and startpage to default state.
Remove Update-search.com from Chrome
In order to be sure that there is nothing left behind, we recommend you to reset Google Chrome browser. It’ll return Chrome settings including new tab page, startpage and search engine by default to defaults.
First start the Google Chrome. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will open the Chrome menu. Select More Tools, then press Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the addon signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option called “Settings”.
The web-browser will display the settings screen. Another method to open the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web-browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as displayed on the image below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will open the confirmation prompt as displayed below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The browser will start the task of cleaning. After it’s finished, the internet browser’s settings including startpage, default search provider and newtab back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your personal computer.
Automatic Removal of Update-search.com
Run malware removal tools to remove Update-search.com automatically. The free applications tools specially developed for browser hijacker, adware and other potentially unwanted programs removal. These utilities can delete most of hijacker from MS Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome and Internet Explorer. Moreover, it can remove all components of Update-search.com from Windows registry and system drives.
Get rid of Update-search.com search with Zemana Free
Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) is an extremely fast tool to delete Update-search.com start page from your browser. It also deletes malware and adware software from your system. It improves your system’s performance by uninstalling PUPs.
Now you can set up and run Zemana to remove Update-search.com from your internet browser by following the steps below:
Please go to the following link to download Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) installer called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup on your system. Save it on your Desktop.
164108 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Start the installation package after it has been downloaded successfully and then follow the prompts to set up this tool on your computer.
During install you can change some settings, but we recommend you don’t make any changes to default settings.
When setup is complete, this malware removal tool will automatically start and update itself. You will see its main window as displayed below.
Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the browser hijacker infection responsible for Update-search.com homepage. This task may take some time, so please be patient. During the scan Zemana will detect threats present on your system.
When the scanning is done, Zemana will display a list of all threats detected by the scan. All detected items will be marked. You can remove them all by simply click “Next” button.
The Zemana will begin to remove hijacker infection that causes browsers to display unwanted Update-search.com web-site. After disinfection is done, you may be prompted to reboot your PC to make the change take effect.
Use Hitman Pro to delete Update-search.com startpage
If the Update-search.com problem persists, use the HitmanPro and check if your internet browser is hijacked by hijacker. The HitmanPro is a downloadable security tool that provides on-demand scanning and allows get rid of adware software, potentially unwanted apps, and other malware. It works with your existing anti-virus.
- Download HitmanPro on your MS Windows Desktop by clicking on the link below.
- When downloading is complete, run the Hitman Pro, double-click the HitmanPro.exe file.
- If the “User Account Control” prompts, click Yes to continue.
- In the Hitman Pro window, press the “Next” to begin scanning your PC for the hijacker which alters web-browser settings to replace your default search provider, start page and new tab page with Update-search.com web page. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient. While the utility is checking, you may see number of objects and files has already scanned.
- Once the scan is done, Hitman Pro will display a screen that contains a list of malware that has been found. Once you’ve selected what you want to delete from your computer click “Next”. Now, click the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial to delete all malicious software found.
Run MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) to remove Update-search.com home page
Get rid of Update-search.com browser hijacker manually is difficult and often the hijacker is not completely removed. Therefore, we recommend you to run the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) that are fully clean your machine. Moreover, this free program will help you to get rid of malware, potentially unwanted apps, toolbars and adware that your personal computer can be infected too.
Installing the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware is simple. First you’ll need to download MalwareBytes on your computer from the following link.
326461 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
When the downloading process is complete, close all windows on your PC. Further, start the file named MBSetup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as shown below, click the “Yes” button.
It will display the Setup wizard that will assist you setup MalwareBytes AntiMalware on the system. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is done successfully, click “Get Started” button. Then MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will automatically start and you can see its main window as shown on the image below.
Next, press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the hijacker infection responsible for changing your internet browser settings to Update-search.com. While the MalwareBytes AntiMalware is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
Once that process is complete, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will display you the results. Review the report and then click “Quarantine” button.
The MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will begin to delete browser hijacker infection responsible for changing your web-browser settings to Update-search.com. When finished, you may be prompted to reboot your system. We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware to delete browser hijackers, adware and other malware.
Use AdBlocker to block Update-search.com and stay safe online
If you want to get rid of annoying advertisements, web browser redirects and pop ups, then install an ad-blocking application like AdGuard. It can stop Update-search.com, ads, pop ups and stop web pages from tracking your online activities when using the Firefox, Internet Explorer, MS Edge and Chrome. So, if you like browse the Internet, but you don’t like intrusive ads and want to protect your PC from malicious web-sites, then the AdGuard is your best choice.
Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Windows. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
26656 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, double-click the downloaded file to run it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as displayed 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 in the figure below.
Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you start your machine, AdGuard will run automatically and stop undesired advertisements, block Update-search.com, as well as other harmful 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 is located on your desktop.
Finish words
Once you have done the step-by-step tutorial outlined above, your computer should be clean from this hijacker and other malicious software. The Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Edge will no longer display unwanted Update-search.com webpage on startup. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new browser hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help.
Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the unwanted Update-search.com search.
