Do you know what MoonlySearch is?
MoonlySearch is a browser hijacker, and as such, it is a computer security threat. We always point out that browser hijackers are not extreme security threats, but that does not mean you should tolerate them. A browser hijacker can be easily exploited by cyber criminals for malware distribution. Thus, if you do not take care of this problem at once, there is a very good chance that you will be infected with severe threats soon enough. Scroll down to the bottom of this description for the manual removal instructions to remove MoonlySearch for good.
To understand why this program cannot be tolerated, you need to know more about browser hijackers. Browser hijackers are there to promote third-party advertisements. They will try to make you click a particular link to an affiliated website because with each click you make, the people behind this software generate a financial. The scheme used by browser hijacker creators is called the pay-per-click system, and it is very common. It is common to the point it is legal, and that is how most of the bloggers manage to profit from displaying ads on their sites. Unfortunately, this system can also be exploited by cyber criminals.
Since browser hijackers like MoonlySearch are practically a splinter of aggressive forms of advertising, it is no surprise that you will see a lot of commercial content with this infection on your computer. What’s more, when your browser settings get changed without your permission, there is a good chance that you have several other security threats on your system. The point is that this browser hijacker does not travel alone. It does not have a direct distribution source, so users cannot install it willingly. It usually slithers using other techniques, some of which, we will discuss below.
MoonlySearch screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Our research lab suggests that MoonlySearch usually comes bundled with freeware. A software bundle is a package of software applications that are carried by the same installer. Here you might ask if there is a possibility to avoid installing these additional applications. Usually, there is. However, the problem is that this freeware installation often occurs when a user desperately needs some program. Thus, the user is too preoccupied with this one application they need to install, and they miss the important steps that inform them about additional programs. MoonlySearch might as well be among those additional programs, and once the installation is complete, the browser hijacker settles on your browser.
This program is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer, so the next time you open your browser, you will see that your homepage was changed to mooonly.com or quick-searcher-sngs.com. Normally, a search engine comes with Terms of Service and Privacy Policy buttons somewhere, but this search provider has no such documents. It should be enough to convince you that this program is a potential threat, but some users continue to browse with the hijacker monitoring their every move.
Luckily, the program cannot log your keystrokes, so it will not steal your banking login information and other passwords. Nevertheless, browser hijackers can learn more about your likes and preferences by checking the websites you visit and the search keywords you use often. As a result, MoonlySearch will be able to display modified search results and other commercial content, customized especially for you. A customized content is essential here because when you see something you like, there is a bigger chance you will click it. And this is exactly what the hijacker is hankering for: your clicks. It may not seem much, but this is how the people behind it make money.
And, unfortunately, it is also the main security loophole associated with MoonlySearch. You see, the problem is that the hijacker is not responsible for the third-party content security. This means that you can never know what kind of website will be hiding behind those links. If cyber criminals decide to make use of the hijacker, the next time you click an outgoing link, you may infect your PC with ransomware or some other dangerous program.
Hence, you have to avoid that by removing MoonlySearch today. After manual removal, scan your system with a security application of your choice just to be sure everything is alright.
How to Remove MoonlySearch
Internet Explorer
- Press Alt+T and open Internet options.
- Click the Advanced tab and press Reset.
- Mark Delete personal settings and click Reset.
- Press Close.
Firefox
- Press Alt+H and open Troubleshooting information.
- On the new tab, click Refresh Firefox button.
- Click Refresh Firefox again and click Finish.
Chrome
- Press Alt+F and go to Settings.
- Click Show advanced settings at the bottom of the page.
- Scroll down and click Reset settings.
- Press Reset to confirm.
In non-techie terms:
When your default homepage changes to MoonlySearch, you should not panic. It is true that you have been infected with a browser hijacker, but that is not the end of the world. You can remove this infection without much difficulty, restoring your browser settings to default. It is far more important to ensure that your system remains clean and safe. For that, you should get yourself a licensed antispyware tool that would do an efficient job protecting your PC.