What is Comet Search?
According to IT security specialists, Comet Search is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) belonging to the category of browser hijackers. A common tactic used by PUPs makers is to replace web-browser’s settings such as default search engine, homepage and new tab so that the affected browser goes to a web page under the creator’s control. Particularly, Comet Search changes the user’s default startpage, new tab page and search engine to cometsearch.info.
Most often, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by setting their address as the default search engine. In this case, Comet Search installs cometsearch.info as a search engine. This means that users whose internet browser is hijacked with the browser hijacker are forced to visit cometsearch.info each time they search in the World Wide Web, open a new window or tab. And since cometsearch.info is not a real search provider and does not have the ability to find the information users need, this web site redirects the user’s browser to the Yahoo search engine. Comet Search can use the Managed by your organization feature in the Chrome browser to prevent changing the search engine and removing it.
Comet Search redirects user searches to Yahoo
And finally, Comet Search has the ability to gather lots of your privacy information like what web-pages you’re opening, what you’re looking for the Net and so on. This information, in the future, can be transferred third party companies.
So, if you happen to encounter the Comet Search hijacker, then be quick and take effort to remove it as quickly as possible. Follow the guide below to remove Comet Search from your computer. Let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.
How can Comet Search get on your computer
Many of the freeware out there install unwanted browser toolbars, adware and potentially unwanted apps like the Comet Search hijacker along with them without your knowledge. One has to be attentive while installing freeware in order to avoid accidentally installing optional apps. It is important that you pay attention to the EULA (End User License Agreements) and select the Custom, Manual or Advanced installation type as it will typically disclose what bundled applications will also be installed.
Threat Summary
| Name | Comet Search |
| Associated domains | cometsearch.info |
| Type | search provider hijacker, start page hijacker, PUP, browser hijacker, redirect virus |
| Affected Browser Settings | home page, search engine, new tab URL |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | Comet Search removal guide |
How to remove Comet Search browser hijacker
The answer is right here on this web-page. We have put together simplicity and efficiency. It will allow you easily get rid of browser hijacker from your computer or web-browser. Moreover, you can select manual or automatic removal way. If you are familiar with the computer then use manual removal, otherwise run free malware removal tools that are developed specifically to remove browser hijacker infection such as Comet Search. Of course, you can combine both methods. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to close your browser or reboot your PC system.
To remove Comet Search, execute the steps below:
- How to delete Comet Search hijacker without any software
- Automatic Removal of Comet Search
- How to stop Comet Search redirect
- Finish words
How to delete Comet Search hijacker without any software
Steps to delete Comet Search hijacker without any software are presented below. Be sure to carry out the step-by-step instructions completely to fully delete this browser hijacker.
Uninstall Comet Search related apps through the Control Panel of your PC system
Some of PUPs, adware software and hijacker can be removed using the Add/Remove programs utility which can be found in the Windows Control Panel. So, if you’re using any version of Windows and you have noticed an unwanted program, then first try to delete it through Add/Remove programs.
- If you are using Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 then press Windows button, next press Search. Type “Control panel”and press Enter.
- If you are using Windows XP, Vista, 7, then click “Start” button and click “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 system.
- Scroll through the all list, and delete dubious and unknown apps. To quickly find the latest installed applications, we recommend sort applications by date.
See more details in the video tutorial below.
Remove Comet Search from Google Chrome
Like other modern internet browsers, the Google Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby recover the browser startpage, new tab page and search provider by default that have been replaced by the Comet Search browser hijacker.
First start the Chrome. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will display the Google Chrome menu. If Google Chrome displays the Managed by your organization message, then complete the following guide: How to remove Managed by your organization Chrome virus. Choose More Tools, then click 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 Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Google Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option named “Settings”.
The internet browser will display the settings screen. Another method to open the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and press the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as on the image below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will display the confirmation dialog box as shown on the screen below.
You need to confirm your action, press the “Reset” button. The web-browser will launch the process of cleaning. When it is complete, the web browser’s settings including new tab page, homepage and search provider back to the values which have been when the Chrome was first installed on your system.
Delete Comet Search hijacker from Mozilla Firefox
If the Firefox web browser program is hijacked, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Mozilla Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring Mozilla Firefox settings such as startpage, search engine and new tab page to their default values. It will keep your personal information like browsing history, bookmarks, passwords and web form auto-fill data.
First, open the Firefox. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will show the drop-down menu. Next, press the Help button (
).
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button like below.
Confirm your action, press the “Refresh Firefox”.
Remove Comet Search browser hijacker from IE
In order to recover all browser startpage, newtab page and search engine by default you need to reset the IE to the state, that was when the MS Windows was installed on your system.
First, launch the IE. Next, click the button in the form of gear (
). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, press the “Internet Options” as shown in the figure below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as on the image below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click “Reset” button.
You will now need to reboot your PC system for the changes to take effect.
Automatic Removal of Comet Search
Using a malware removal utility to detect and delete browser hijacker infection hiding on your browser is probably the easiest method to delete the Comet Search hijacker. We suggests the Zemana Anti Malware program for Windows computers. HitmanPro and MalwareBytes are other anti malware tools for Microsoft Windows that offers a free malicious software removal.
Get rid of Comet Search browser hijacker with Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM)
Zemana Free is a free program for Microsoft Windows OS to detect and delete PUPs, adware, harmful web-browser add-ons, browser toolbars, and other unwanted programs such as Comet Search.
- First, please go to the link below, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of Zemana.
Zemana AntiMalware
164113 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
- When the downloading process is done, close all programs and windows on your personal computer. Open a file location. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup.
- Further, click Next button and follow the prompts.
- Once setup is finished, press the “Scan” button . Zemana Free program will scan through the whole computer for the Comet Search hijacker. A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your computer and the speed of your PC.
- When that process is done, Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) will show a list of found items. Make sure all items have ‘checkmark’ and press “Next”. Once the task is finished, you can be prompted to restart your PC system.
Remove Comet Search browser hijacker from internet browsers with Hitman Pro
Hitman Pro is a free removal tool that can scan your computer for a wide range of security threats such as adware, malware, PUPs as well as Comet Search browser hijacker. It will perform a deep scan of your computer including hard drives and Microsoft Windows registry. When a malware is found, it will help you to remove all found threats from your computer with a simple click.
- HitmanPro can be downloaded from the following link. Save it to your Desktop.
- Once the download is finished, double click the Hitman Pro icon. Once this utility is launched, click “Next” button to perform a system scan for the Comet Search browser hijacker. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your machine and the speed of your system. While the HitmanPro program is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.
- As the scanning ends, Hitman Pro will open you the results. Review the results once the utility has complete the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click “Next” button. Now press the “Activate free license” button to start the free 30 days trial to remove all malicious software found.
Run MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to remove Comet Search hijacker
We suggest using the MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) that are fully clean your system of the browser hijacker infection. The free tool is an advanced malicious software 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 hijacker, PUPs, malware, adware software, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your machine for free.
Installing the MalwareBytes is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes on your Microsoft Windows Desktop from the link below.
326464 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
After the download is finished, close all windows on your system. Further, run the file named MBSetup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up similar to the one below, press the “Yes” button.
It will open the Setup wizard that will allow you install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) on the PC system. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
Once setup is finished successfully, click “Get Started” button. Then MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will automatically launch and you can see its main window similar to the one below.
Next, click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes AntiMalware program will scan through the whole PC system for the Comet Search hijacker. Depending on your system, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. When a threat is detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is done.
Once the system scan is complete, MalwareBytes Free will open a scan report. Next, you need to press “Quarantine” button.
The MalwareBytes will delete Comet Search browser hijacker and move the selected threats to the Quarantine. Once that process is done, you can be prompted to restart your computer. We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the MalwareBytes Free to remove browser hijackers, adware and other malware.
How to stop Comet Search redirect
We suggest to install an ad-blocking program that can block Comet Search and other unwanted web-pages. The adblocker tool like AdGuard is a program that basically removes advertising from the Net and blocks access to malicious web-sites. Moreover, security experts says that using ad blocker applications is necessary to stay safe when surfing the Internet.
Installing the AdGuard is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard by clicking on the following link. Save it directly to your MS Windows Desktop.
26659 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, double-click the downloaded file to start 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 guide as shown in the figure below.
Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick guide that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you start your personal computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted ads, block Comet Search, as well as other malicious or misleading web pages. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that can be found on your desktop.
Finish words
Once you have finished the guide outlined above, your system should be clean from the Comet Search hijacker and other malicious software. The Firefox, MS Edge, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Google Chrome will no longer open the Comet Search website on startup. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps does not help you, then you have caught a new hijacker, and then the best way – ask for help here.
