What is XoXoEmoticons?
According to security professionals, XoXoEmoticons is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) from the family of Browser hijackers. The aim of a browser hijacker is to generate advertising revenue. For example, a browser hijacker redirects the user’s homepage to the browser hijacker’s page that contains advertisements or sponsored links; a browser hijacker redirects the user web searches to a link the browser hijacker wants the user to see, rather than to legitimate search provider results. When the user clicks on ads in the search results, authors of browser hijackers gets paid. The creators of browser hijackers can gather user data such as user browsing habits as well as browsing history and sell this information to third parties for marketing purposes.
XoXoEmoticons redirects user seaches to searchwebs.xyz and s3arch.page/results.php
If your computer is affected by the XoXoEmoticons browser hijacker you’ll be forced to use searchwebs.xyz as a search engine. It could seem not to be dangerous, but you still should be very careful, since it may show unwanted and malicious advertisements created to trick you into buying certain questionable software or products, provide search results which may reroute your browser to certain deceptive, misleading or malicious webpages. We suggest that you use only the reliable search engine like Google, Yahoo or Bing.
As well as unwanted web-browser redirects to searchwebs.xyz and s3arch.page, XoXoEmoticons may gather your World Wide Web surfing activity by recording URLs visited, web-browser version and type, cookie information, web-sites visited, IP addresses and Internet Service Provider (ISP). Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or personal information theft. This is another reason why the browser hijacker that reroutes the browser to XoXoEmoticons should be removed without a wait.
In order to get rid of browser hijacker from your PC, clean the infected browsers and return the Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome and Edge settings to its default state, please use the XoXoEmoticons removal instructions below.
How can a browser hijacker get on your PC
Potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers mostly comes on a computer with other freeware. In most cases, this undesired software comes without the user’s knowledge. Therefore, many users aren’t even aware that their personal computer has been hijacked by potentially unwanted programs. Please follow the easy rules in order to protect your PC system from any unwanted programs: don’t install any suspicious software, read the user agreement and select only the Custom, Manual or Advanced installation method, do not rush to press the Next button. Also, always try to find a review of the program on the World Wide Web. Be careful and attentive!
Threat Summary
| Name | XoXoEmoticons |
| Type | home page hijacker, browser hijacker, search engine hijacker, redirect virus, PUP |
| Associated web-domains | searchwebs.xyz, s3arch.page |
| Affected Browser Settings | search provider, start page, new tab page URL |
| Distribution | freeware installers, fake software updaters, misleading pop-up ads |
| Symptoms | Advertising banners appear on web pages that you are visiting. Webpage links redirect to webpages different from what you expected. Your device starts automatically installing unwanted programs. New browser toolbars suddenly added on your browser. Unexpected changes in your browser like displaying new tabs you did not open. |
| Removal | XoXoEmoticons removal guide |
How to remove XoXoEmoticons from computer
To remove XoXoEmoticons from your web-browser, you must delete any suspicious software and every file that could be related to the hijacker. Besides, to fix your internet browser startpage, new tab page and search provider by default, you should reset the hijacked web-browsers. As soon as you’re done with XoXoEmoticons removal procedure, we advise you scan your personal computer with free malware removal tools listed below. It’ll complete the removal process on your personal computer.
To remove XoXoEmoticons, follow the steps below:
- How to manually remove XoXoEmoticons
- Automatic Removal of XoXoEmoticons
- How to stay safe online
- To sum up
How to manually remove XoXoEmoticons
To remove XoXoEmoticons browser hijacker, adware and other unwanted programs you can try to do so manually. Unfortunately some of the browser hijackers won’t show up in your program list, but some browser hijackers may. In this case, you may be able to remove it via the uninstall function of your computer. You can do this by following the steps below.
Delete unwanted or newly installed apps
Some programs are free only because their installer contains a browser hijacker such as XoXoEmoticons. This unwanted software generates revenue for the makers when it is installed. Many hijackers can be uninstalled by simply uninstalling them from the ‘Uninstall a Program’ that is located in MS Windows control panel.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, press Windows button
, then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter like below.
When the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as on the image below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as on the image below.
Very carefully look around the entire list of apps installed on your PC system. Most likely, one of them is the XoXoEmoticons browser hijacker. If you’ve many apps installed, you can help simplify the search of harmful apps by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a dubious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it, after that click ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, press ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as shown on the image below.
Once the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to click ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as displayed in the following example.
You will see a list of applications installed on your PC. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the programs that were installed last. Most probably, it’s the XoXoEmoticons hijacker. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. Once the program which you need to delete is found, simply click on its name, and then press ‘Uninstall’ as displayed in the following example.
Get rid of XoXoEmoticons hijacker from Firefox
This step will help you get rid of XoXoEmoticons, third-party toolbars, disable harmful extensions and revert back your default start page, new tab page and search engine settings.
Press the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu such as the one below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button like below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to return your Mozilla Firefox internet browser settings to their original state.
Remove XoXoEmoticons from Google Chrome
If your Chrome web browser is hijacked by XoXoEmoticons page, it may be necessary to completely reset your web browser program to its default values.
Open the Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (
). It will display the drop-down menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
Carefully browse through the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.
Open the Chrome main menu again, click to “Settings” option.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, like below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
Confirm your action, click the “Reset” button.
Remove XoXoEmoticons hijacker from Internet Explorer
First, run the IE, then press ‘gear’ icon 
. It will display the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the web-browser, then press the “Internet Options” such as the one below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then click the “Reset” button. The IE will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” dialog box. Further, press the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, press the “Reset” button as shown in the following example.
When the procedure is finished, press “Close” button. Close the Microsoft Internet Explorer and restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your web-browser’s new tab page, homepage and search engine to default state.
Automatic Removal of XoXoEmoticons
Malware removal tools are pretty effective when you think your device is affected by browser hijacker. Below we will discover best tools which be able to detect and remove XoXoEmoticons from your web-browser.
Remove XoXoEmoticons browser hijacker with Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM)
If you need a free tool that can easily scan for and delete XoXoEmoticons hijacker, then use Zemana. This is a very handy program, which is primarily created to quickly detect and get rid of adware and malicious software hijacking web-browsers and changing their settings.
Visit the following page to download the latest version of Zemana Free for Microsoft Windows. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
164107 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After the download is complete, close all windows on your computer. Further, start the set up file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as shown on the screen below, click the “Yes” button.
It will display the “Setup wizard” which will allow you install Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) on the computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is complete successfully, Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) will automatically start and you can see its main window as shown on the screen below.
Next, press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the XoXoEmoticons browser hijacker. A system scan may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your computer. During the scan Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) will scan for threats exist on your personal computer.
When Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) has finished scanning, you may check all items detected on your computer. You may delete items (move to Quarantine) by simply click “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti Malware will start to remove XoXoEmoticons browser hijacker. When that process is complete, you may be prompted to restart your computer.
Run HitmanPro to delete XoXoEmoticons browser hijacker
HitmanPro is a free program which created to get rid of malicious software, potentially unwanted applications, adware and hijackers from your computer running MS Windows 10, 8, 7, XP (32-bit and 64-bit). It’ll help to identify and remove XoXoEmoticons browser hijacker, including its files, folders and registry keys.
First, please go to the link below, then press the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of HitmanPro.
After the downloading process is done, open the file location. You will see an icon like below.
Double click the HitmanPro desktop icon. Once the tool is started, you will see a screen as shown below.
Further, click “Next” button . HitmanPro utility will begin scanning the whole personal computer to find out the XoXoEmoticons hijacker. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your computer. When the scanning is done, HitmanPro will display you the results as on the image below.
You may delete threats (move to Quarantine) by simply click “Next” button. It will show a dialog box, click the “Activate free license” button.
How to delete XoXoEmoticons with MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM)
We suggest using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware that are fully clean your computer of the hijacker. The free tool is an advanced malware removal application created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti malware technology. It’s able to help you remove browser hijacker, PUPs, malware, adware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your personal computer for free.
Download MalwareBytes from the following link. Save it on your MS Windows desktop or in any other place.
326461 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
After downloading is finished, close all apps and windows on your PC system. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s called MBSetup as displayed in the following example.
When the install begins, you’ll see the Setup wizard which will help you install Malwarebytes on your device.
Once install is finished, you will see window as on the image below.
Now click the “Scan” button to begin checking your device for the XoXoEmoticons hijacker. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your computer and the speed of your computer. During the scan MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) will find threats present on your PC system.
Once the system scan is finished, a list of all threats detected is produced. Review the results once the tool has done the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click “Quarantine” button.
The Malwarebytes will now remove XoXoEmoticons browser hijacker and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine. Once finished, you may be prompted to restart your device.
The following video explains few simple steps on how to remove hijacker, adware and other malware with MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM).
How to stay safe online
It’s important to use ad-blocker apps such as AdGuard to protect your device from harmful web pages. Most security experts says that it is okay to block ads. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can to block searchwebs.xyz, s3arch.page and other undesired web-pages.
- AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link. Save it to your Desktop.
Adguard download
26656 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- Once the downloading process is finished, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- When the installation is finished, click “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
- In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop undesired advertisements, block XoXoEmoticons redirects, as well as searchwebs.xyz, s3arch.page and other harmful 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 icon called AdGuard, which may be found on your desktop.
To sum up
Now your device should be clean of the XoXoEmoticons hijacker. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted ads and annoying malicious web-pages) and Zemana Free (to periodically scan your device for new malicious software, browser hijackers and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Microsoft Windows operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, harmful applications and adware are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove XoXoEmoticons from your browser, then ask for help here.
