Phase Search – a browser hijacker that alters the browser’s main search provider and might compromise search results
Phase Search is a browser-hijacking product that applies unexpected changes to the main search provider, homepage, and new tab URL zone. When the default search engine is modified, you might start receiving misleading results while completing search queries and cannot trust the information anymore. Additionally, Phase Search virus might insert bogus browser extensions or add-ons to Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or other browser apps. Afterward, you might start receiving annoying advertising content, be forcibly redirected to affiliate domains, and get your browsing history enhanced by the PUP.
| Name | Phase Search |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker/potentially unwanted program |
| Activities | This bogus app can modify the browser’s settings such as the homepage, search engine, new tab URL zone, show intrusive notifications, cause redirects to unknown locations, collect browsing-related data |
| Target(s) | The main targets of this app are browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and Safari. The app can appear on both macOS and Windows computer systems |
| Danger level | Low. The browser hijacker is not a malicious program such as ransomware or trojans and does not cause severe damage as other cyber threats |
| Elimination | You can get rid of the unwanted app by applying the step-by-step guidelines that are added to the end of this article or by employing reliable antimalware software |
| Repair tip | If you have found out the browser hijacker has compromised some of your system files or entries, you can try repairing those objects by downloading or installing repair software such as Reimage Reimage Cleaner |
Phase Search might be capable of multiple activities during one browsing session. For example, the browser hijacker might start delivering advertising content to the user’s computer system and providing people with bogus deals and offers. The ads can come in forms of pop-ups, pop-unders, coupons, banners, and in-text ads.
Continuously, Phase Search can also get you involved in redirecting activities that are supposed to take the user to affiliate sources that might be filled with questionable offers of rogue security software. Here you might be convinced to waste your money on useless products and services, so better avoid any types of deals that come provided by PUPs.
Furthermore, Phase Search might start recording your browsing history, habits, and experience by using tracking tools such as HTTP cookies,[1] beacons, and pixels. The developers often seak to figure out what types of offers are relevant at the moment and provide bogus content related to these offers so that income can come from the cost-per-click scheme.[2]
Phase Search – a browser hijacker that might load the user with bogus ads and force redirects
Intrusive advertising and redirecting might visually slow down your web browsers and computer system. Phase Search might start carrying multiple actions at once that can result in frequent computer and app struggles, slowdowns, freezes, and crashes. This can affect your CPU power level also.
For this not to happen, you have to remove Phase Search from your machine and browser apps. You can complete the process by employing automatical software or using manual step-by-step guidelines that have been added to the end of this article. Those steps will also help you to reverse all bogus changes on your browsers.
Continuously, when the Phase Search removal is performed, you should check your system for possibly-altered files and entries. If you discover some compromised components, try recovering them by employing software such as Reimage Reimage Cleaner .
Keep in mind that browser hijackers such as Phase Search can come with other PUPs included that can double the negative affect on your web browsers and computer system. Even the least dangerous infections make machines more vulnerable to malware attacks and might increase the chances of a dangerous computer parasite infiltration.
However, removing Phase Search from your computer is not enough. You are safe for now but you have to take specific protection measures to increase your safety in the upcoming future too. For this purpose, check the “Spreading tactics of browser hijackers” part that is written below.
Phase Search is a browser hijacker that can infect various browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, MS Edge, and Safari
Spreading tactics of browser hijackers
Potentially unwanted programs such as browser hijackers are distributed by using stealth bundling techniques when the PUP comes in an entire software package as an additional product. This often happens if the user has chosen the “Quick/Recommended” mode as the main installation option.
We recommend deselecting this configuration and going for the “Custom/Advanced” option that allows the users to be in full control of their incoming downloads/installations. This way you will be able to deselect all programs that look concerning to you as the “Quick” mode does not provide such a possibility.
Continuously, you should avoid visiting third-party websites such as cnet.com for downloading your software. Get all of your products and services from reliable sources only. Also, it is recommendable to check reviews on the program that you have been looking forward to downloading lately.
Last but not least, installing reliable antimalware protection is also necessary. Get a trustworthy AV product that includes multiple security features (e.g. online browsing, threat prevention, malware detection, system scans, system, and file repairing) and make sure to keep it updated once in a while.
Get rid of Phase Search virus and additional products
Phase Search virus should be eliminated as soon as you see this bogus app on your Windows or Mac computer system. It might be hiding in the Applications folder if it is a macOS that you are running or executing its process in the Task Manager section if you are using a Windows machine.
Remove Phase Search as soon as you see the first infection symptoms on your web browsers that are modified search provider, new tab URL bar, homepage, and injection of suspicious extensions and plug-ins. The manual computer and browser cleaning process has been described at the end of this article.
However, we always recommend trying the automatical Phase Search removal process as this technique is much safer and guarantees a full elimination in a few minutes of time. According to experts from LosVirus.es,[3] it is important to eliminate ALL suspicious components, otherwise, the browser hijacker might be back soon.
You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner . SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
