HideSearch – What is it?

“HideSearch” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some particular details, as an example, about sport events, make your browser far more secure, allow downloading of any type of video, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nonetheless, the “HideSearch” plugin is quite ineffective because all such functions are currently built-in to your browser and/or system. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even professional users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain situations, this hijacker is distributed along with free programs.

How harmful is HideSearch hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, HideSearch hijacker is also considerably hazardous for web browser usage. It alters your search engine to its particular – Hidesearch.bid, and likewise changes your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the specified symbol).

Apart from aesthetic modifications done by HideSearch hijacker, you can discover that a couple of your search questions are redirecting to the dubious sites, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting rises if you attempt to start Google search page by force.

However all these actions are much more frustrating than truly damaging. The major hazard, primarily for people who have a considerable amount of secret information in their browsers, is embedded in data gathering capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, and other activities are easily collected by HideSearch hijacker.