Browser hijackers are designed to look legitimate and useful so that users can be attracted to them. Users are somehow tricked into downloading and installing these programs, only to realize that the advertised features are non-operational. Instead of delivering the features they promise and improving the user experience, browser hijackers modify the browser settings instead.
The main purpose of the creation of PUPs is to deliver minimal functionality while exposing users to adverts.
What is Quick Search Tool?
Quick Search Tool is a potentially unwanted program that gets installed on your system without your permission and takes over your web browser. This tool may also be referred to as “quicksearchtool.com redirect.”
If you suspect that your computer has been infected with such entity, you need to find a means to eliminate it immediately. The scammers behind Quick Search Tool seek to profit by stealing your browsing information, sharing it with affiliates, and showing you intrusive ads. The browser hijacker also delivers sponsored links in the search results.
What Does Quick Search Tool Do?
Quick Search Tool primarily targets Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and other popular browsers with a large user base. After it has successfully installed, this malicious software performs several malicious acts including:
- Causing redirects to search.yahoo.com
- Running intrusive ads
- Filling search results with sponsored links and adverts
- Collecting private data. The user’s browsing activities are tracked in the background, and the information is used to deliver targeted ads and monetize ad clicks, or even facilitate software installations in the process
- Modifying the browser’s homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL to search.quicksearchtool.com
When the user opens a new window or tab after the program has been installed, every web search that’s queried through the URL bar redirects to the promoted address.
How Does Quick Search Tool Infect Computers?
Users might download the Quick Search Tool browser extension from any reputable source, although it’s mostly installed alongside freeware that is downloaded from third-party websites. The fact that it’s often bundled with other software means that users install it unintentionally. This explains why it may be categorized as a PUP – Potentially Unwanted Program.
Users are later surprised to find an add-on installed on their computers, even though they didn’t give permission for it to be installed in the first place.
Authors of such applications argue that these programs are installed by the users, regardless of whether or not it was done with their direct permission. They point to the Terms and Conditions that are accepted as part of the installation procedure. Rushing through the installation process and ignoring all the steps puts your system at risk of infection with bundled content.
How to Prevent Quick Search Tool from Infecting Your Computer
PUPs are not considered high-security threats as compared to other malicious programs such as viruses and ransomware. Nonetheless, it’s still advisable to keep your computer clutter-free. To achieve this, you ought to delete junk files every now and then. Junk files can serve as an avenue through which other forms of malware get access to your system.
All your apps should be downloaded from official and verified websites, and you should research on the software before installing it. To avoid installing fake programs on your computer, you should always proceed with caution, especially when installing freeware since software bundling is so common. Check if there are any pre-checked boxes and untick them all. Always opt for “Advanced settings” instead of “Recommended settings.”
Finally, you will require a robust anti-malware tool that includes a PUP detection feature to warn you about all potential threats.
Quick Search Tool Removal Instructions
If you encounter ads and redirects that appear suspicious, you should inspect the system immediately and get started on the removal process. The main reason why you need to remove this program is its data gathering and sharing behavior. It’s very easy for your activity to be tracked online if you have this browser hijacker installed. The information that’s collected by PUPs includes the users’:
- IP address
- System activity
- Device information
- Language preferences
- Other installed extensions
If you realize that your system is infected with Quick Search Tool, you need to uninstall it immediately as it doesn’t add any value. We recommend that you run a robust anti-malware program to automatically get rid of this browser hijacker. Alternatively, you can remove the extension manually by going to the web browser settings and checking through the settings one by one.
After the successful removal of the PUP, which can be achieved by following detailed Quick Search Tool removal instructions, you need to check the system further for any remnants of the program. For this, you need to use a PC repair application.
Conclusion
The Quick Search Tool is classified as a browser hijacker because of its deceptive infiltration technique. Just like any other PUPs, this program comes bundled with other software, which means it can be unintentionally installed by users. Once it gets in the system, the browser hijacker quickly changes the settings of the browser that was previously installed. This tool tries to imitate Google’s search engine but gets rid of the search bar, so users are forced to make their queries using the Quick Search Tool.