How to uninstall Focus Line from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

What is Focus Line?

According to experienced security professionals, Focus Line is a browser extension from the group of Browser hijackers. Browser hijackers are a type of software whose motive is to generate profit for its creator. It have various methods of earning by displaying advertisements forcibly to its victims. Browser hijackers can display unwanted advertisements, change the victim’s web-browser search provider and home page, or redirect the victim’s internet browser to unwanted web-sites. Below we are discussing methods which are very effective in removing browser hijackers. The steps will also help you to delete Focus Line from your internet browser.

Most often, hijackers promote fake search engines by setting their address as the default search engine. In this case, the Focus Line hijacker installs fxsmash.xyz as a search provider. This means that users whose web-browser is infected with the hijacker are forced to visit fxsmash.xyz each time they search in the Internet, open a new window or tab. And since fxsmash.xyz is not a real search engine and does not have the ability to find the information users need, this website redirects the user’s browser to the Yahoo search engine.

In addition to the above, fxsmash.xyz can be used to gather lots of marketing-type data about you that may be later transferred third party companies. You don’t know if your home address, account names and passwords are safe. And of course you completely do not know what will happen when you click on any advertisements on the fxsmash.xyz web-site. We strongly suggest you to complete the few simple steps which follow below. We will show you how to remove the Focus Line browser hijacker and get rid of fxsmash.xyz redirects from Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Chrome and Mozilla Firefox forever.

How can a browser hijacker get on your computer

The majority of PUPs and browser hijackers like Focus Line come bundled with freeware or even paid programs that Internet users can easily download online. The installation packages of such software, in many cases, clearly show that they will install third-party apps. The option is given to users to block the installation of any optional apps. So, in order to avoid the setup of any hijackers: read all disclaimers and install screens very carefully, choose only Custom or Advanced setup mode and reject all bundled software in which you are unsure.

Threat Summary

Name	Focus Line
Type	browser hijacker, startpage hijacker, redirect virus, search engine hijacker, PUP
Associated website	fxsmash.xyz
Affected Browser Settings	newtab page URL, search provider, home page
Distribution	dubious popup advertisements, freeware setup files, fake update tools
Symptoms	Pop-ups and new tab pages are loaded without your request. Web-site links redirect to webpages different from what you expected. There is an unexpected program in the ‘Uninstall a program’ section of your Control Panel. Unexpected internet browser toolbars on your desktop. Your browser search engine has changed without your permission.
Removal	Focus Line removal guide

How to remove Focus Line from computer

In the guidance below, we will try to cover the Chrome, Edge, Mozilla Firefox and IE and provide general help to get rid of Focus Line hijacker. You may find some minor differences in your Windows install. No matter, you should be okay if you follow the steps outlined below: uninstall all suspicious and unknown software, reset internet browsers settings, fix web-browsers shortcuts, use free malware removal tools. Read it once, after doing so, please bookmark this page (or open it on your smartphone) as you may need to exit your internet browser or restart your computer.

To remove Focus Line, follow the steps below:

1. How to manually delete Focus Line
   • Remove potentially unwanted software through the MS Windows Control Panel
   • Get rid of Focus Line browser hijacker from Internet Explorer
   • Remove Focus Line from Google Chrome
   • Remove Focus Line from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings
2. Automatic Removal of Focus Line
3. How to stop Focus Line redirect

How to manually delete Focus Line

Read this section to know how to manually remove the Focus Line browser hijacker. Even if the few simple steps does not work for you, there are several free malware removers below that can easily handle such browser hijackers.

Remove potentially unwanted software through the MS Windows Control Panel

You can manually delete nonaggressive hijacker by removing the application that it came with or removing the browser hijacker itself using ‘Add/Remove programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ option in Microsoft Windows Control Panel.

Carefully browse through the list of installed software and remove all questionable and unknown applications. We suggest to press ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed applications by date. When you’ve found anything suspicious that may be the Focus Line hijacker or other PUP, then select this program and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the questionable program blocked from removal, then use Revo Uninstaller Freeware to fully remove it from your PC system.

Get rid of Focus Line browser hijacker from Internet Explorer

In order to recover all internet browser new tab, start page and default search engine you need to reset the IE to the state, which was when the Windows was installed on your PC.

First, run the Internet Explorer, 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” as displayed on the image below.

In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then press the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt. Further, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, click the “Reset” button as on the image below.

Once the procedure is finished, press “Close” button. Close the IE and restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your web browser’s newtab, search provider and homepage to default state.

Remove Focus Line from Google Chrome

If you have hijacker problem or the Google Chrome is running slow, then reset Google Chrome settings can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you a method to reset your Chrome settings to original settings without reinstall. This will also help to remove fxsmash.xyz from search provider, new tab page and homepage.

First open the Google Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots ().

It will open the Google Chrome menu. 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 steps: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.

Open the Google Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option named “Settings”.

The internet browser will show the settings screen. Another method to show 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 click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as shown in the following example and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.

The Google Chrome will display the confirmation dialog box as shown in the figure below.

You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The browser will launch the procedure of cleaning. Once it’s done, the web browser’s settings including new tab, default search engine and start page back to the values which have been when the Chrome was first installed on your computer.

Remove Focus Line from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings

If your Firefox web browser start page has changed to fxsmash.xyz or an unknown search provider opens results for your search, then it may be time to perform the internet browser reset. Your saved bookmarks, form auto-fill information and passwords won’t be cleared or changed.

Launch the Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the internet 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’re 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 shown in the figure below.

Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the Focus Line browser hijacker. After, it is done, click the “Finish” button.

Automatic Removal of Focus Line

Run malicious software removal utilities to delete Focus Line automatically. The free applications utilities specially developed for hijacker, adware and other potentially unwanted applications removal. These utilities may get rid of most of hijacker from Chrome, Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Moreover, it can remove all components of Focus Line from Windows registry and system drives.

Run Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) to remove Focus Line browser hijacker

Thinking about remove Focus Line hijacker from your internet browser? Then pay attention to Zemana Free. This is a well-known tool, originally created just to search for and get rid of malicious software, adware and PUPs. But by now it has seriously changed and can not only rid you of malicious software, but also protect your computer from malicious software and adware software, as well as find and remove common viruses and trojans.

Now you can install and use Zemana Free to delete Focus Line hijacker from your internet browser by following the steps below:

Please go to the following link to download Zemana setup file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup on your PC. Save it on your Desktop.

Start the setup file after it has been downloaded successfully and then follow the prompts to install this utility on your PC.

During installation you can change some settings, but we suggest you do not make any changes to default settings.

When install is complete, this malware removal tool will automatically start and update itself. You will see its main window as shown on the image below.

Now press the “Scan” button for checking your PC for the Focus Line hijacker. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your PC. When a malicious software, adware or potentially unwanted apps are detected, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.

As the scanning ends, Zemana Anti-Malware will display you the results. Review the results once the tool has complete the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply press “Next” button.

The Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) will remove Focus Line browser hijacker and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine. Once disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to reboot your computer to make the change take effect.

Use HitmanPro to remove Focus Line from the PC

Hitman Pro frees your PC system from adware, potentially unwanted programs, unwanted toolbars, web-browser addons and other unwanted software like Focus Line hijacker. The free removal utility will help you enjoy your computer to its fullest. Hitman Pro uses advanced behavioral detection technologies to search for if there are undesired programs in your device. You can review the scan results, and choose the items you want to delete.

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

When downloading is finished, open the file location. You will see an icon like below.

Double click the HitmanPro desktop icon. When the utility is started, you will see a screen as shown below.

Further, click “Next” button to perform a system scan for the Focus Line hijacker. A system scan may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your computer. After the scan is finished, it will open the Scan Results as shown in the figure below.

In order to remove all items, simply press “Next” button. It will open a prompt, click the “Activate free license” button.

Use MalwareBytes to delete Focus Line browser hijacker

We recommend using the MalwareBytes Free. You can download and install MalwareBytes Anti Malware to locate and remove Focus Line hijacker from your PC system. When installed and updated, this free malicious software remover automatically scans for and removes all threats present on the PC system.

Download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) on your Microsoft Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.

When the downloading process is complete, close all software and windows on your PC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named MBSetup similar to the one below.

When the install begins, you’ll see the Setup wizard which will help you set up Malwarebytes on your computer.

Once setup is done, you will see window as displayed on the screen below.

Now press the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes application will scan through the whole personal computer for the Focus Line browser hijacker. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your computer. While the MalwareBytes Anti Malware program is checking, you can see count of objects it has identified as threat.

After that process is finished, MalwareBytes will show a screen which contains a list of malicious software that has been detected. 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 “Quarantine” button.

The Malwarebytes will now get rid of Focus Line browser hijacker and move the selected threats to the Quarantine. Once disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to reboot your PC.

The following video explains few simple steps on how to remove browser hijacker, adware and other malicious software with MalwareBytes.

How to stop Focus Line redirect

Use adblocker program like AdGuard in order to block ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install malicious and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons which affect your computer performance and impact your computer security. Surf the Internet anonymously and stay safe online!

1. First, click the following link, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of AdGuard.
   
   

   Adguard download
   26883 downloads
   Version: 6.4
   Author: © Adguard
   Category: Security tools
   Update: November 15, 2018
   
2. After downloading it, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
3. When the setup is done, click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
4. In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your device, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block Focus Line redirects, as well as other harmful or misleading web sites. 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 can be found on your desktop.

Finish words

Now your PC system should be free of the Focus Line browser hijacker. We suggest that you keep Zemana Free (to periodically scan your computer for new hijackers and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup ads and harmful webpages). Moreover, to prevent any hijacker, please stay clear of unknown and third party programs, make sure that your antivirus program, turn on the option to search for PUPs.

If you need more help with Focus Line related issues, go to here.