Total Recipe Search – a browser hijacker offering advanced recipe searching and meal planning
Totalrecipesearch – a potentially unwanted program that has been spread in a form of toolbar. The PUP belongs to an infamous company called Mindspark Interactive Network Inc.[1] known for its hijackers which have been spread for years by using bundling and similar techniques. Allegedly, the Total Search app is suited for planning meals and provides beneficial-looking features such as fast access to Facebook, weather pages, daily recipes, menu planners, etc. However, computer security experts claim that having this toolbar on your computer can cause various inconveniences and dangers. Once the user installs the Total Recipe Search Toolbar, his/her search engine is set to search.myway.com. Additionally, the app starts tracking the user to collect non-PII.
| Name | Total recipe search |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Developer | Mindspark Interactive Network Inc. |
| Promoted as | Menu planner |
| Detection | PUP/Win32.Mindspark.R233545; GrayWare/Win32.StartPage.gen; Win32/Toolbar.MyWebSearch.BA, etc. |
| Found in | Bundled products, official page, unsecured third-party sources |
| Redirecs To | myway.com |
| Removal | Remove the PUP manually or automatically as explained below |
| Recovery | Use Reimage Reimage Cleaner to recover after infection for best results |
Additionally, Total Search virus can provoke redirects to questionable websites, system slowdowns, commercial content that appears during their browsing sessions and similar problems. Of course, this program is not malicious or dangerous by itself, but it might advertise third-party[2] companies, which might be questionable. We have investigated Total Recipe Search Toolbar’s Terms of Use, and this is what we found:
The MS Products may integrate, be integrated into, bundled, or be provided in connection with third-party services, feeds and/or content. […] MS Products may provide access to search results or other links to Third Party Partner websites or resources. MS has no control over such sites and resources, in which you acknowledge and agree that MS is not responsible for the availability of such external sites or resources, and does not endorse nor responsible or liable for any content, advertising, products, or other materials on or available from such sites or resources. […] MS Products are exposed to various security issues, and should be regarded as unsecure.
The question here is do you really need Totalrecipesearch.com on your computer and web browsers? Once this potentially unwanted program modifies browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, or Microsoft Edge, you cannot reverse the changes performed on the homepage, search engine, or new tab URL if you do not get rid of the browser-hijacking app completely.
Totalrecipesearch.com – a browser hijacker that aims to inject the Total Recipe Search Toolbar into the targeted browser app
Totalrecipesearch.com – a browser hijacker that aims to inject the Total Recipe Search Toolbar into the targeted browser app
The name of Totalrecipesearch.com virus is given for this application not for no reason. All suspicious activities and modifications on web browsers are performed secretly without the user’s consent mostly. Besides, the PUP enters targeted machines by using sneaky ways too. These techniques are known as “bundling” when the browser hijacker comes as an additional component within the downloaded software package.
Our suggestion would be not to fall for any “benefits” that are brought by Totalrecipesearch.com. Fast access to popular networks, recipe viewing, and similar functions are not worth experiencing other suspicious activities that can be performed by the browser hijacker. This rogue component might support some misleading products, e.g. fake repair software and try pushing it through pop-ups, pop-unders, banner ads, etc.
The worst and most potentially dangerous thing of Total search activities is the redirecting part. Redirects are supposed to take the user to affiliate websites for supporting partners. However, sometimes, you might find yourself landing on unsecured pages and networks. This might lead to unexpected malware installation on your computer. Mostly, criminals spread trojans and ransomware viruses this way.
What is annoying about Totalrecipesearch is the fact that the browser hijacker can gather some non-personal information about your browsing activities and stalk your search sessions. For example, the PUP can get on hold of such data as commonly visited websites, clicked hyperlinks, saved bookmarks, your IP. Later on, the developers might use the information for providing tricky offers to you.
Totalrecipesearch.com is a potentially unwanted program that comes bundled with freeware or its extension can be downloaded from the official website
Totalrecipesearch.com is a potentially unwanted program that comes bundled with freeware or its extension can be downloaded from the official website
Remove Totalrecipesearch from your computer system and browsers. You can either choose automatic (use anti-malware software) or manual method – we provide detailed instructions for the latter below. Additionally, we recommend scanning the computer with Reimage Reimage Cleaner to fix files that might have been damaged due to the PUP infection.
Total recipe search removal is a necessity if you are keen on ensuring the full stability of your computing and browsing work. If you do not want to find your web browsers struggling to carry out simple actions or crashing during browsing sessions, you need to get rid of the browser hijacker and all its additional components such as bogus files, processes, add-ons, plug-ins, and extensions. It involves cleaning both the operating system and web browsers also.
Invasion techniques of potentially unwanted programs
Some extensions that put the browser hijacker[3] on your browser can easily be downloaded from its official website but there is a possibility you might be offered to install it together with another program as well. Such distribution method is legitimate. However, many computer users skip the statements about the promotion of additional software because they tend to rush through the installation process by clicking ‘Next’ all the time. You should not behave like that.
In addition, you can always monitor the software components and disagree to install the suggested applications by selecting the “Advanced” or “Custom” installation method. Then the setup provides an additional window, which displays a list of programs that are recommended to install. If you do not want to install them, deselect these suggestions by removing the” ‘tick” sign near each bogus component.
Continuously, browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted content are capable of sneaking into the computer system unexpectedly through third-party hyperlinks and advertisements. Such objects are often met on secondary networks and include suspicious components. The best way to avoid stealth infiltration through these sources is NOT to visit them. Also, according to Virusai.lt cybersecurity specialists,[4] you should get a reputable anti-malware tool that will protect you 24/7.
Successfully terminate all objects related to Totalrecipesearch.com
Totalrecipesearch removal can be successful in two simple ways. First, you should verify your skills and capabilities of eliminating PUPs on your own. If you think that you have the required skills and will easily succeed with the elimination process, you can go for manual removal guidelines.
There are some steps provided below that will help you to uninstall Totalrecipesearch virus from Windows/Mac operating systems and web browser applications such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
However, if you doubt your skills or think that the manual removal technique is just not for you, you can always remove Totalrecipesearch from your computer system and web browsers with the help of reliable anti-malware software. Take a look at the list provided below.
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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.
