How to remove IncognitoSearcher browser plugin?

IncognitoSearcher – What is it?

“IncognitoSearcher” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some particular information, for instance, about sporting activity events, make your web browser a lot more safe, enable downloading of any kind of video clip, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nevertheless, the “IncognitoSearcher” plugin is pretty useless since all such features are already integrated to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But occasionally even skilled users are getting caught on such a lure. In particular instances, this hijacker is dispersed along with free apps.

IncognitoSearcher Search Hijacker

How harmful is IncognitoSearcher hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, IncognitoSearcher hijacker is likewise pretty hazardous for web browser utilization. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Incognitosearcher.com, and also alters your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Besides visual modifications done by IncognitoSearcher hijacker, you may see that some of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unknown websites, filled with links and advertisements – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you attempt to open Google search page by force.

But all these activities are far more frustrating than really harmful. The biggest danger, particularly for people who have a considerable amount of confidential information in their internet browsers, is installed in data gathering functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, and various other activities are easily collected by IncognitoSearcher hijacker.

How to remove IncognitoSearcher search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are typically rather easy to delete. Most of the times, they have a separate app that can be spotted in the list of installed software. Due to the specific marketing tactic of IncognitoSearcher hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and erased manually. Nevertheless, if you got IncognitoSearcher in the package with a free applications, your personal computer may be infected with far more serious malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you make use of anti-malware tools to deal with the IncognitoSearcher PUA and all other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and eliminating different malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, severe malware, that can exist on your PC in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To avoid such circumstances, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and delete all malicious applications on your desktop with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious programs, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can spectate the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious programs, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for every detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be located in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing IncognitoSearcher hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender