Charmsearching.com malware (Virus removal guide)

Charmsearching.com is a fake search engine that has been causing trouble for internet users in recent years. It hijacks users’ browsers and redirects them to potentially harmful websites, displays annoying ads and pop-ups, and collects users’ search queries for malicious purposes. Despite its deceptive tactics, many users may not even realize that they have fallen victim to this browser hijacker. In this article, we will delve deeper into Charmsearching.com and explore its various security risks, as well as provide tips on how to protect against it.

QUICK LINKS

• What is Charmsearching.com?
• Is the Charmsearching.com Hijacker a Security Risk?
• How to remove Charmsearching.com
• What to Do After Removing the hijacker

What is Charmsearching.com?

Browser hijackers are sneaky programs that can trick users by changing their default search engine and redirecting them to fake ones. These fake search engines can look like legitimate ones, but they often give users false or misleading search results that lead them to potentially harmful websites. They can also display annoying ads and pop-ups that make it difficult for users to find what they’re looking for. In addition, these fake search engines may collect users’ search queries for malicious purposes, such as targeted advertising or identity theft.

According to security researchers, Charmsearching.com is also a fake search engine, which is incapable of generating search results. Instead, it redirects users to the URL “hxxps://www.charmsearching.com/search/ex?e=bnd&f=1&q=”, which then redirects users to Bing or other sites, depending on the user’s location.

Hijackers usually redirect users to legitimate search engines like Bing to avoid suspicion and to make it more difficult for users to realize that their search results are being manipulated. This allows hijackers to generate revenue through advertising or to trick users into purchasing fraudulent products or services. By redirecting users to well-known search engines like Bing, hijackers can also increase the chances of users clicking on ads, which can generate revenue for the hijacker. Additionally, hijackers can use the information collected from users’ search queries for malicious purposes, such as targeted advertising or identity theft.

Is the Charmsearching.com Hijacker a Security Risk?

The Charmsearching.com hijacker is a security risk to users because it can display false or misleading search results, leading them to phishing or dangerous websites. Additionally, the fake search engine may collect users’ search queries for malicious use, such as targeted advertising or identity theft. Moreover, the hijacker can change users’ browser settings without their permission, making it difficult for them to surf the internet safely and efficiently.

Browser hijackers can also lead users to fraudulent websites as part of their malicious activities. They can redirect users without their knowledge to deceive them into accessing websites that steal their personal information, such as credit card numbers or login credentials. These fraudulent websites may look legitimate, such as online stores, banks, or payment processors, but they’re actually fraudulent and designed to harvest sensitive information. Upon visiting these sites, users may be prompted to enter their personal information, which can be used for criminal purposes such as identity theft.

Below are some examples of scam websites:

All popular web browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge (formerly Internet Explorer), and Apple Safari, can be targeted by browser hijackers. No web browser is immune to browser hijacking, and all users are at risk of being affected by this type of malware.

In summary, browser hijackers like Charmsearching.com aim to deceive users and redirect their web traffic to specific sites, including deceptive, misleading, or malicious pages. This is often done to generate revenue through advertising or to trick users into buying fraudulent products or services. If you think your browser has been hijacked by Charmsearching.com, it’s important to take immediate action to remove the hijacker. You can do this by using anti-malware software or manually removing any suspicious extensions or programs from the browser.

How did Charmsearching.com get installed?

Fake search engines can be installed in a browser through several methods: software bundling, drive-by downloads, phishing scams, downloading from untrusted sources;

• When downloading and installing new software, the fake search engine may be included as a part of the package. If the user does not uncheck the installation of the fake search engine, it can be installed onto their browser.
• Drive-by downloads is a type of malware attack where the fake search engine is downloaded onto the user’s computer without their knowledge. This can happen when a user visits a compromised website or clicks on a malicious link.
• Phishing scams are attempts to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials, by posing as a trustworthy entity. A fake search engine may be installed on a user’s browser as part of a phishing scam.
• Downloading and installing software or browser extensions from untrusted sources, such as third-party websites, can also result in a fake search engine being installed.

It is important to be cautious when downloading and installing software and to only download from trusted sources to reduce the risk of a fake search engine being installed on a browser.

Examples of scam pages that are designed to trick users into installing browser hijackers and adware:

It’s important to be cautious when downloading software, especially free software from unknown sources, and to only install software from trusted sources.

Threat Summary

Name	Charmsearching.com, “Charmsearching.com redirect”, “Charmsearching.com PUP”
Type	browser hijacker, home page hijacker, PUP, search provider hijacker, redirect virus
Affected Browser Settings	home page, newtab page URL, search provider
Distribution	dubious popup ads, freeware installers, fake update tools
Risks	The Charmsearching.com browser hijacker poses a security risk to users, as it can collect sensitive information, such as browsing history and search queries, and display misleading or fraudulent ads. It can also lead users to unsafe or malicious websites, potentially exposing them to malware or other security threats.
Symptoms	The Charmsearching.com browser hijacker can modify the browser’s default search engine, homepage, and new tab page settings. It can also cause web searches to redirect to Bing.com. The browser hijacker may also display intrusive ads and generate pop-up windows.
Removal	If you experience any of these symptoms above, it is a sign that your web browser has been hijacked. To remove the hijacker, Charmsearching.com removal guide

Examples of Browser hijackers

Our team has thoroughly analyzed thousands of browser hijackers, and we have recently identified some of the latest ones, including Finderflash.club, SearchEngineZones.com, and Infinity Search. While these types of software may appear legitimate and offer useful features, their functionalities are often nonoperational or even harmful. It’s crucial to note that even if a program seems to work as advertised, that does not necessarily mean it is safe or legitimate. Therefore, it’s important to conduct proper research before downloading or installing any software and to only download from official, verified sources.

How to remove Charmsearching.com from Windows 11 (10, 8, 7, XP)

To remove Charmsearching.com from your browser, go to the browser’s extensions or add-ons settings and uninstall any suspicious extensions. Then, change the default search engine in the browser’s settings to a trusted source such as Google or Bing. If the fake search engine is still present, reset the browser to its default settings. Additionally, it’s important to scan your computer for malware using an antivirus program.

If you have any questions or need help, write a comment below. Some steps will require you to restart your device or exit this web page. So, read this guide carefully and then bookmark this page or open it on your smartphone for future reference.

To remove Charmsearching.com, perform the steps below:

1. Uninstall any suspicious programs
2. Remove the Charmsearching.com extension
3. Scan your computer for malware

Read this section to know how to manually remove the Charmsearching.com hijacker. Even if the step-by-step guide does not work for you, there are several free removers below which can easily handle such hijackers.

Uninstall any suspicious programs

The first step is to check your computer for any suspicious programs or extensions and remove them. To do this, go to the Control Panel (on Windows) or Applications (on Mac) and uninstall any programs that you don’t recognize or that you think may be associated with the Charmsearching.com hijacker.

Windows 7	Windows 8
Click ‘Start’. In the Start menu select ‘Control Panel’. Find and select ‘Programs and Features’ or ‘Uninstall a program’. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.	Press and hold Windows key and hit X key. Select ‘Programs and Features’ from the menu. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.
Windows 10	Mac OS
Press and hold Windows key and hit X key. Select ‘Programs and Features’ from the menu. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.	On the top menu select ‘Go’, then ‘Applications’. Drag an unwanted application to the Trash bin. Right-click on the ‘Trash’ and select ‘Empty Trash’.

Remove Charmsearching.com from Google Chrome

Open the Google Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (). It will display the drop-down menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions. You can also type chrome://extensions into Chrome’s address bar.

Examine your list of installed extensions and find any that you don’t recognize, you know are malicious or simply want to remove. Click the “Remove” button below the extensions you want to remove. In the pop-up that comes up, click “Remove” once again. The extension box and icon should disappear from the screen.

If the “Remove” option is not available as the extension is being detected as “Installed by administrator” or “Managed by your organization” then the easiest way to fix this is to follow the instructions: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy, Chrome Managed by your organization malware removal guide.

To completely remove any changes made by the Charmsearching.com hijacker, reset your browser settings to their default values. To do this, go to the Chrome main menu again, click “Settings”. Click Reset settings and then “Restore settings to their original defaults”.

Confirm your action, click the “Reset settings” button.

Scan your computer for malware

It is possible that the browser hijacker came bundled with PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) and other unwanted software. To ensure that your computer is clean, run a full system scan with a reputable antivirus software.

You can automatically get rid of the browser hijacker with MalwareBytes. Malwarebytes is a reputable anti-malware software that is commonly used to remove various types of malware, including browser hijackers like Charmsearching.com.

1. Download Malwarebytes by clicking on the link below. Save it on your Windows desktop.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware
   326461 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: April 15, 2020
   
2. Once the download is done, close all applications and windows on your personal computer. Open a folder in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named MBsetup.
3. Choose “Personal computer” option and press Install button. Follow the prompts.
4. Once installation is finished, scan your computer. Run a full scan of your computer to detect and remove any browser hijackers and other forms of malware. The scan may take several minutes to complete, depending on the size of your hard drive and the speed of your computer.
5. Remove detected threats. If the scan finds any threats, click Quarantine to remove them. The software will automatically remove the browser hijacker and any associated malware. After the removal process is complete, restart your computer to ensure that any changes made by the hijacker are fully removed.

The following video demonstrates how to remove hijackers, adware and other malware with MalwareBytes.

What to Do After Removing the hijacker

After successfully removing the Charmsearching.com hijacker from your computer, it is important to take some additional steps to ensure that your computer and personal information remain secure. Here are some recommended actions to take:

1. It’s important to change your browser settings back to your preferred search engine and homepage. Make sure that Charmsearching.com is completely removed from your browser’s settings and that it cannot reappear.
2. If you entered any sensitive information such as login credentials or passwords while the browser hijacker was active, change them immediately. This will prevent any potential identity theft or unauthorized access to your accounts.
3. To remove any traces of the browser hijacker, clear your browser history and cache. This will help ensure that any data or information collected by the hijacker is removed from your system.
4. Use a reputable anti-malware program like Malwarebytes to scan your computer for any remaining malware or potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). This can help ensure that there are no hidden threats or malicious files on your computer.
5. Make sure that your browser and operating system are up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. This can help prevent future security issues and keep your system protected.
6. To avoid getting infected with similar malware in the future, be cautious of downloads and only download from reputable sources. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.

Finish Words

To conclude, the browser hijacker is a dangerous threat to your online security and privacy. Browser hijackers can be installed on your browser without your knowledge or consent, and can cause a number of problems including intrusive advertisements, browser redirects, and the theft of your personal data. It’s important to take action to remove this hijacker from your browser as soon as possible.

If you suspect that your browser has been hijacked by Charmsearching.com or any other similar threat, follow the steps outlined above to remove it. Be sure to also take steps to protect yourself from future threats by using reputable antivirus and anti-malware software, keeping your browser and other software up to date, and avoiding suspicious websites and downloads.

Remember, staying vigilant and taking proactive measures to protect your online security is key to staying safe in today’s digital world. By taking the necessary steps to protect yourself, you can browse the web with confidence and peace of mind.