Do you know what Mazy Search is?
If you have downloaded the extension named Mazy Search, it is likely that you expected it to provide you with reliable and useful web search services. According to our research team, this extension is certainly not very useful, and its reliability is questionable as well. Due to this, we identify it as a PUP – potentially unwanted program. Our researchers have analyzed the extension in an internal lab and reviewed its privacy policies to provide you with information that can help you better understand it. So, if you are interested, we recommend that you continue reading. If you are not sure if you need to remove Mazy Search from your Google Chrome browser, you have another reason to read on. As always, if you have any questions you want to ask us, we are here to answer them.
It appears that the official installer of Mazy Search is found on the Chrome Web Store. If you downloaded the PUP from chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/mazy-search/fifailmmmlkdabfkkoejgffjdfgbieji, it must be no surprise that the extension can change your default search provider. According to the description attached to the installer, the PUP is meant to “configure your default search.” Unfortunately, it is not explained how exactly the search is configured, and you are only informed that you are supposed to enter any keyword you want “into the Google Chrome Browser Omni Bar.” Of course, all of this might be news to you if you have installed Mazy Search using a bundled downloader, in which case, you might have not been introduced to it at all. In any case, the PUP follows the same privacy policies, which you should have reviewed at browser.mazysearch.com/privacy.html before installation.
Mazy Search screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
According to the statement, DefaultSearch is responsible for Mazy Search, and the company allows undisclosed “Service providers, advertising companies, and ad networks” to show advertisements and place ad tags and beacons. Without a doubt, we do not recommend that you interact with random ads because we do not know what kinds of content they could hide. Of course, this is unlikely to be something that users of the PUP would focus on. After installation, browser.mazysearch.com is set as the default search provider, and if you use it, all of your searches will be redirected to Google Search. The good news is that the results shown are not modified, but what is the purpose of Mazy Search? We believe that its only purpose is to gather information about people’s browsing behavior and help third parties display ads. Sure, the interface of the PUP offers a clock, a date, and an attractive background image, but we strongly recommend that you use Google Search on its own, without the suspicious add-on.
If you opt to delete Mazy Search, we strongly recommend that you clear browsing data as well because you want to get rid of all the cookies (including third-party cookies) that could have been placed to track your virtual activity. You should do that regardless of whether you eliminate the PUP manually or using an automated anti-malware tool. If you are more interested in the first option, follow the guide below. If you know that the PUP was downloaded along with other unreliable programs, or if you simply want to take better care of your operating system, we suggest implementing legitimate anti-malware software instead.
Remove Mazy Search from Google Chrome
- Open the browser and enter chrome://extensions right into the address bar.
- Click the Remove button placed next to the undesirable extension.
- Enter chrome://settings/clearBrowserData right into the address bar.
- Click Advanced at the top and, first, choose a time range in which the PUP was installed.
- Mark the boxes representing the data you want to erase and then click Clear data.
In non-techie terms:
Mazy Search might be introduced to you as a trustworthy and beneficial tool, but our research team recognizes it as a potentially unwanted program. First of all, it redirects to Google Search, and it does not enhance the results you see in any way. In fact, the only thing it could do is show ads, which it did not do at the time of research. Without a doubt, if you enjoy Google as your search tool, we suggest that you use it instead of the PUP. First, you need to get rid of it. You should be able to delete Mazy Search manually, using the guide above, but if you want to secure your operating system and, perhaps, erase other active threats at the same time, it might be best for you to implement legitimate anti-malware software.