Websearch.searchuniverse.info Removal Guide

Do you know what Websearch.searchuniverse.info is?

The fact that Websearch.searchuniverse.info settled in your browser might be a sign of a malicious application’s presence on your computer. According to our specialists, this search engine is a browser hijacker, and it could be spread with potentially harmful software. Leaving such application on your system might be dangerous, so it would be safer to use other search engines. If you do not trust Websearch.searchuniverse.info either, you can remove it from your browser with the instructions available below the text. However, these are only a few details that we managed to find while testing the browser hijacker in our internal lab. If you keep reading the article, you will learn much more about the search engine.

To begin with, the browser hijacker should be able to affect such browsers as Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Google Chrome. Apparently, it modifies a Value Name called Start Page in the Registry Editor. This value is what sets default homepage for the Internet Explorer browser, but the hijacker erases your current website and places the link to Websearch.searchuniverse.info. As for Google Chrome, the application modifies Preferences, Secure Preferences, and Web Data files located in the browser’s folder. Similarly, it changes the prefs.js file, which holds all preferences for the Mozilla Firefox browser. This is how this unreliable search engine hijacks your homepage and does not allow you to change it via settings in your browser.

As we said earlier, it could be that you have a malicious program on your system, and it allows browser hijackers like Websearch.searchuniverse.info to settle in. Another possibility is that you downloaded a bundled installer that had suggestions of unreliable software, such as adware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and so on. Perhaps, Websearch.searchuniverse.info showed up on the setup wizard, and you agreed to install it together with the original program. What is important now is that you check your system for the other threats that you may have installed accidentally. We would also advise you to avoid questionable file-sharing sites or suspicious web pages. Plus, you should ensure that the software is safe to use before the installation.Websearch.searchuniverse.info Removal GuideWebsearch.searchuniverse.info screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions

The search engine should show you modified results, which means that besides the usual links related to your search keyword, you will see advertisements from third-party sites as well. Unfortunately, some of the sites could be created for malicious intentions. For example, a site could contain malware such as Trojans, viruses, etc. The ads might also promote adware, different browser hijackers, PUPs, untrustworthy toolbars and other suspicious software. Applications such as these might flood your computer with annoying third-party ads, coupons, surveys, links, and other content that could disturb your browsing.

In the beginning, we mentioned particular files and Registry entries that were modified by this browser hijacker. If you want to get rid of the search engine, you will have to either change or remove the files listed in the deletion instructions below this text. Naturally, this might seem a bit complicated for users who do not have much experience in these matters. That is why we want to remind you that the browser hijacker can be removed with a reliable antimalware tool. Complete the installation and you will be able to use the scanning feature to locate the modified data automatically. Moreover, the security tool will also help you find other possible threats on your computer. Once the scan is over, you should be able to erase all the threats automatically. If you still have some questions related to the browser hijacker, you can leave a comment below, and we will try to reply as soon as possible.

Remove Websearch.searchuniverse.info

Internet Explorer

  1. Press Windows Key+R to launch the RUN.
  2. Type regedit and press Enter.
  3. Locate the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
  4. Find Value Name “Start Page.”
  5. Right-Click the Start Page and select Modify.
  6. Replace current Value Data with the address of a website that you like.
  7. Select OK.
  8. Close the Registry Editor.

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Find this path: C:\Users\{user}\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\{Unique Mozilla user ID}
  2. Search for file named as Prefs.js and open it as a Notepad document.
  3. Find and erase this line: user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://Websearch.searchuniverse.info").

Google Chrome

  1. Find the following path: C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
  2. Locate and delete listed files: Preferences, Secure Preferences, and Web Data.

In non-techie terms:

The search engine hijacks user’s homepage and provides unreliable third-party content in the search results. If you do not want to land on malicious web pages, you should not take any chances with the browser hijacker. Changing your homepage is not that difficult, and you can learn how to do that if you take a look at the instructions provided above. Also, you can easily remove Websearch.searchuniverse.info with a trustworthy security tool.