What is Baro Search?
According to IT security specialists, Baro Search is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) from the category of Browser hijackers. It affects your computer and changes web-browser settings. Baro Search can take over your browser and force you to use the barosearch.com web-site as your search engine by default, startpage and newtab. When Baro Search in the device, it can collect confidential information such as search queries as well as browsing history. so if you find this potentially unwanted program on the PC you need to uninstall it. The detailed removal tutorial will allow you remove Baro Search and protect your device from more dangerous software.
The Baro Search browser hijacker will modify your browser’s search engine so that all searches are sent through barosearch.com that redirects to the Google Search engine which shows the search results for your query. The devs behind this hijacker are using legitimate search provider as they may generate revenue from the advertisements which are shown in the search results.
In addition to the above, it can be used to collect lots of marketing-type data about you that can be later sold to third parties. 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 Baro Search web-page.
How can a browser hijacker get on your device
PUPs and browser hijackers are usually distributed as part of other applications and are often installed without notifying the owner of the PC. This happens especially when users are installing freeware. The program setup file tricks users into accepting the install of third party apps, that they do not really want. Moreover, some paid software can also install optional applications that users don’t want! Therefore, always download freeware and paid applications from reputable download websites. Use ONLY custom or manual installation option and never blindly click Next button.
Threat Summary
Name | Baro Search |
Type | redirect virus, browser hijacker, search provider hijacker, start page hijacker, PUP |
Related web-domains | barosearch.com |
Affected Browser Settings | search engine, new tab URL, start page |
Distribution | dubious pop up ads, fake updaters, free software installers |
Symptoms | Advertising banners appear on web pages that you are visiting. When you go to a web site, you are periodically redirected to another web site that you do not intend to visit. New entries appear in your Programs folder. New browser extensions suddenly installed on your web browser. Your web browser start page has modified and you cannot change it back. |
Removal | Baro Search removal guide |
How to remove Baro Search from Google Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
There are a few ways which can be used to remove Baro Search. But, not all potentially unwanted software like this hijacker can be completely removed using only manual solutions. In most cases you are not able to remove any hijacker using standard MS Windows options. In order to remove the browser hijacker you need complete a few manual steps and use free malware removal tools. Most experienced security professionals states that Zemana Anti-Malware, MalwareBytes Anti-Malware or HitmanPro utilities are a right choice. These free tools are able to look for and delete Baro Search from your PC and revert back your internet browser settings to defaults.
To remove Baro Search, use the following steps:
- How to manually remove Baro Search
- Automatic Removal of Baro Search
- How to stop Baro Search redirect
How to manually remove Baro Search
The useful removal steps for Baro Search. The detailed procedure can be followed by anyone as it really does take you step-by-step. If you follow this process to remove the browser hijacker let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.
Remove potentially unwanted software through the MS Windows Control Panel
Check out the Windows Control Panel (Programs and Features section) to see all installed apps. We advise to click on the “Date Installed” in order to sort the list of software by the date you installed them. If you see any unknown and questionable programs, they are the ones you need to delete.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, click Windows button , then press Search . Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter like the one below.
After the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as shown on the image below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as displayed in the following example.
Very carefully look around the entire list of programs installed on your computer. Most likely, one of them is the Baro Search browser hijacker. If you have many apps installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious programs by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it, after that press ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel like below.
Once the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to press ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ such as the one below.
You will see a list of software installed on your device. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the software that were installed last. Most likely, it’s the Baro Search hijacker. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. After the program which you need to delete is found, simply click on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ like below.
Remove Baro Search from Google Chrome
Reset Chrome settings can allow you solve some problems caused by browser hijacker and delete Baro Search from new tab page, home page and default search provider. This will also disable malicious extensions as well as clear cookies and site data. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.
- First launch the Google Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will open the Google Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following instructions: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Google Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
- The Chrome will show the reset profile settings page as on the image above.
- Next press the “Reset” button.
- Once this task is complete, your web-browser’s newtab page, search provider and home page will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the article How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Get rid of Baro Search hijacker from Microsoft Internet Explorer
In order to recover all internet browser start page, new tab page and search provider by default you need to reset the Internet Explorer to the state, that was when the Microsoft Windows was installed on your computer.
First, launch the Microsoft Internet Explorer, click ) button. Next, click “Internet Options” like below.
In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, click Reset button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will open the Reset Internet Explorer settings prompt. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and click Reset button.
You will now need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. It will remove Baro Search hijacker, disable malicious and ad-supported web browser’s extensions and restore the Internet Explorer’s settings such as new tab, search engine and startpage to default state.
Remove Baro Search hijacker from Firefox
If the Mozilla Firefox web browser application is hijacked, then resetting its settings can help. The Reset feature is available on all modern version of Firefox. A reset can fix many issues by restoring Mozilla Firefox settings such as default search provider, home page and newtab to their default state. However, your saved bookmarks and passwords will not be lost. This will not affect your history, passwords, bookmarks, and other saved data.
Launch the Mozilla 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 shown on the screen 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 begin a process to fix your problems that caused by the Baro Search browser hijacker. After, it is complete, click the “Finish” button.
Automatic Removal of Baro Search
Malware removal tools are pretty effective when you think your personal computer is hijacked by browser hijacker. Below we will discover best tools which can be used to identify and remove Baro Search from your personal computer.
Run Zemana AntiMalware to delete Baro Search browser hijacker
Zemana is extremely fast and ultra light weight malware removal tool. It will help you remove browser hijackers, adware, PUPs and other malware. This program gives real-time protection that never slow down your device. Zemana is created for experienced and beginner computer users. The interface of this utility is very easy to use, simple and minimalist.
Download Zemana Anti-Malware on your Windows Desktop by clicking on the following link.
164103 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After downloading is complete, close all software and windows on your personal computer. Double-click the install 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 set up Zemana Anti-Malware on your device. Follow the prompts and don’t make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is done successfully, Zemana Anti-Malware will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown on the image below.
Now click the “Scan” button to start checking your personal computer for the Baro Search hijacker. This task can take some time, so please be patient. While the Zemana program is scanning, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.
When the scan is done, Zemana AntiMalware will display you the results. You may delete items (move to Quarantine) by simply press “Next” button. The Zemana Anti-Malware will get rid of Baro Search browser hijacker and move the selected threats to the Quarantine. Once finished, you may be prompted to restart the computer.
Run Hitman Pro to remove Baro Search browser hijacker
Hitman Pro is a portable utility which detects and removes undesired programs like hijackers, adware, toolbars, other internet browser extensions and other malicious software. It scans your device for Baro Search hijacker and prepares a list of items marked for removal. Hitman Pro will only erase those unwanted software that you wish to be removed.
- Installing the Hitman Pro is simple. First you’ll need to download HitmanPro by clicking on the following link. Save it on your Desktop.
- After the download is done, launch the Hitman Pro, double-click the HitmanPro.exe file.
- If the “User Account Control” prompts, click Yes to continue.
- In the HitmanPro window, press the “Next” to perform a system scan with this tool for the Baro Search browser hijacker. While the HitmanPro program is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.
- When HitmanPro is finished scanning your personal computer, a list of all items detected is produced. Next, you need to click “Next”. Now, press the “Activate free license” button to start the free 30 days trial to get rid of all malicious software found.
How to remove Baro Search with MalwareBytes
We suggest using the MalwareBytes. You can download and install MalwareBytes AntiMalware to find and remove Baro Search hijacker from your computer. When installed and updated, this free malicious software remover automatically identifies and deletes all threats exist on the PC.
Download MalwareBytes AntiMalware from the following link. Save it on your Desktop.
326457 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the downloading process is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the MalwareBytes AntiMalware will try to update itself and when this procedure is finished, click the “Scan” button . MalwareBytes application will scan through the whole computer for the Baro Search browser hijacker. This process can take some time, so please be patient. During the scan MalwareBytes Anti-Malware will detect threats exist on your PC system. Make sure to check mark the items which are unsafe and then click “Quarantine” button.
The MalwareBytes AntiMalware is a free application that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this malicious software removal utility, we suggest you to read and follow the steps or the video guide below.
How to stop Baro Search redirect
To put it simply, you need to use an ad blocking utility (AdGuard, for example). It’ll stop and protect you from any malicious web-sites, unwanted ads and pop-ups. To be able to do that, the ad blocker program uses a list of filters. Each filter is a rule that describes a malicious web site, an advertising content, a banner and others. The ad-blocking program automatically uses these filters, depending on the web sites you are visiting.
First, visit the following page, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of AdGuard.
26655 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as displayed in the following example.
Follow the prompts. Once the install is done, you will see a window as displayed in the figure below.
You can press “Skip” to close the installation application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which 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 stop unwanted ads, block Baro Search redirects, as well as other malicious 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, that can be found on your desktop.
Finish words
We suggest that you keep Zemana (to periodically scan your computer for new hijackers and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup advertisements and harmful web-sites). Moreover, to prevent any browser hijacker, please stay clear of unknown and third party apps, make sure that your antivirus application, turn on the option to search for potentially unwanted applications.
If you need more help with Baro Search browser hijacker related issues, go to here.