If your browser homepage or search queries are being redirected through Ask Search, then you may have a browser hijacker installed that is causing these redirects.
Table of Contents
What is Ask Search?
Ask Search is a legitimate search engine, however, there are plenty of browser hijackers which will redirect the user’s search queries to Ask Search.
Let’s be clear about something, Ask Search is not a browser hijacker and is not malicious in any way. However, occasionally, malware will explicitly mess with your web browser settings, and Ask Search will be displayed. Cybercriminals use Ask Search to generate revenue from each search you perform.
When the Ask Search browser hijacker is installed on a computer, common symptoms include:
Your browser’s search queries are redirected through Ask Search
A malicious browser extension or program is installed on your computer
Why is my browser redirected to Ask Search?
Your browser is being redirected to Ask Search because a malicious browser extension or program is installed on your computer. Often, this type of program is offered through misleading advertisements or via adware, leaving the user puzzled about where this software came from. To block these types of malicious advertisements from the sites you visit, you can install an ad blocker like AdGuard.
If your computer starts redirecting you to Ask Search for no reason then you most likely have malware installed on the computer. To check your computer for adware, browser hijackers, or other malicious programs and remove them for free, please use the guide below.
Removal Instructions for Ask Search browser hijacker
This malware removal guide may appear overwhelming due to the number of steps and numerous programs that are being used. We have only written it this way to provide clear, detailed, and easy-to-understand instructions that anyone can use to remove malware for free. Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubts at any point, stop and ask for our assistance.
Browser hijackers and adware can infect Windows, Mac, or Android devices, so we’ve covered below all these operating systems. Depending on which operating system is installed on the device you’re seeing the Ask Search redirect, please click on the operating system icon below and follow the displayed steps to remove it.
In this first step, we will manually check if any unknown or malicious programs are installed on the computer. Sometimes adware and browser hijackers can have a usable Uninstall entry that can be used to remove them.
Windows 11Windows 10Windows 8Windows 7
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
First, open Windows Settings by pressing Windows+I on your keyboard. You can also right-click your Start button and select “Settings” from the list.
In the Settings app, click on “Apps” and then “Apps & features”.
When Settings opens, click “Apps” in the sidebar, then select “Apps & Features”.
Find the malicious program in the list of installed apps and uninstall it.
In Apps & Features settings, scroll down to the app list and search for unknown or suspicious programs. To make things easier, you can sort all installed programs by their installation date. To do this, click “Sort by” and select “Install date”.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. When you find a malicious program, click the three dots button beside it and select “Uninstall” in the menu that appears.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Uninstall, then follow the prompts to uninstall the malicious program.
Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read them closely.
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
Press the Windows key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app. You can also ope the Settings app by clicking the Start button on the taskbar, then select “Settings” (gear icon).
In the Settings app, click on “Apps”.
When the “Windows Settings” window opens, click on “Apps“. By default, it should open “Apps and Features” but if it doesn’t, select it from the list on the left.
Find the malicious program in the list of installed apps and uninstall it.
In Apps & Features settings, scroll down to the app list and search for unknown or suspicious programs. To make things easier, you can sort all installed programs by their installation date. To do this, click “Sort by” and select “Install date”.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. When you find a malicious program, click on it and select “Uninstall” in the menu that appears.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the prompts to uninstall the program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Uninstall, then follow the prompts to uninstall the malicious program.
Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
Go to “Program and Features”.
Right-click on the Start button in the taskbar, then select “Programs and Features”. This will take you directly to your list of installed programs.
Search for malicious program and uninstall it.
The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the list until you find any unknown or suspicious program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall malicious program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall malicious program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
Open the “Control Panel”.
Click on the “Start” button, then click on “Control Panel“.
Click on “Uninstall a Program”.
When the “Control Panel” appears, click on “Uninstall a Program” from the Programs category.
Search for malicious programs and uninstall them.
The “Programs and Features” screen will be displayed with a list of all the programs installed on your computer. Scroll through the list until you find any suspicious or unknown program, then click to highlight it, then click the “Uninstall” button.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program.
If you have checked your computer for malicious programs and did not find any, you can proceed with the next step in this guide.
Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall malicious program.
In the next message box, confirm the uninstall process by clicking on Yes, then follow the prompts to uninstall malicious program. Make sure to read all of the prompts carefully, because some malicious programs try to sneak things in hoping that you won’t read closely.
If you are experiencing difficulty while attempting to uninstall a program, you can use Revo Uninstaller to completely remove the unwanted program from your computer.
Now that the malicious programs have been removed from your computer, we can proceed with the next step in this guide.
STEP 2: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this step, we will remove spam notifications, malicious extensions, and change to default any settings that might have been changed by malware. Please note that this method will remove all extensions, toolbars, and other customizations but will leave your bookmarks and favorites intact. For each browser that you have installed on your computer, please click on the browsers tab below and follow the displayed steps to reset that browser.
ChromeFirefoxMicrosoft EdgeInternet Explorer
Reset Chrome for Windows to default settings
We will now reset your Chrome browser settings to their original defaults. This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be cleared.
Click the three dots in the top-right corner and then click on “Settings”.
Open Chrome and click on the menu button (represented by three vertical dots) in the top right corner of the window. In the dropdown menu that opens, click “Settings“.
Click “Advanced”.
Chrome’s “Settings” should now be displayed in a new tab or window, depending on your configuration. In the left sidebar, click on the “Advanced” link.
Click “Reset and clean up”.
In the left sidebar, under the “Advanced” section, click on “Reset and clean up“.
Click “Reset settings to their original defaults”.
In the main window, the “Reset and clean up” section is visible, as shown in the screenshot below. Click on “Reset settings to their original defaults“.
Click “Reset settings”.
A confirmation dialog will now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset settings” button.
(Optional) Reset Chrome Data Sync.
In case a malicious extension reinstalls itself even after performing a browser reset, you have an additional option to reset the data sync for your browser. To do this, navigate to chrome.google.com/sync and click on the Clear Data button.
Reset Firefox for Windows to default settings
We will now reset your Firefox browser settings to their default. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.
Click the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and then click on “Help”.
Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help“.
Click “More troubleshooting information”.
From the Help menu, click on “More troubleshooting information“.
Click on “Refresh Firefox”
When the “Troubleshooting Information” page opens, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button.
Confirm that you want to reset your browser settings.
To finish the reset process, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
Click “Finish”.
Firefox will now close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on “Finish“.
Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.
Reset Microsoft Edge to default settings
We will now reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings to their default. This will reset your startup page, new tab page, search engine, and pinned tabs. It will also disable all extensions and clear temporary data like cookies. Your favorites, history, and saved passwords will not be cleared.
Click the three dots in the top-right corner and then click on “Settings”.
In the top right corner, click on Microsoft Edge’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal dots. When the drop-down menu appears, click on “Settings“.
Click on “Reset Settings”.
On the left side of the window, click on “Reset Settings“.
Click on “Restore settings to their default values”.
In the main window, click on “Restore settings to their default values“.
Click “Reset”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset” button. Microsoft Edge will now erase all your personal data, browsing history, and disable all installed extensions. Your bookmarks, though, will remain intact and still be accessible.
Reset Internet Explorer to default settings
We will now reset your Internet Explorer browser settings to their default. You can reset Internet Explorer settings to return them to the state they were in when Internet Explorer was first installed on your computer.
Go to “Internet Options”.
Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon in the upper-right part of your browser, then select “Internet Options“.
Select the “Advanced” tab, then click “Reset”
In the “Internet Options” dialog box, select the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Reset”.
In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” checkbox, then click on the “Reset” button.
Click on “Close”.
When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box. Close your browser and then you can open Internet Explorer again.
STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to remove malware and unwanted programs
In this third step, we will install Malwarebytes to scan and remove any infections, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that may be present on your computer.
Malwarebytes is one of the most popular and most used anti-malware software for Windows, and for good reasons. It is able to destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss, without costing you absolutely nothing. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Windows.
You can download Malwarebytes by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the MBSetup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
You may be presented with a User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow Malwarebytes to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes setup wizard which will guide you through the installation process. The Malwarebytes installer will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program on, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
On the next screen, click “Install” to install Malwarebytes on your computer.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
Click on “Scan”.
Malwarebytes is now installed on your computer, to start a scan click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the Malwarebytes scan is finished scanning it will show a screen that displays any malware, adware, or potentially unwanted programs that it has detected. To remove the adware and other malicious programs that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files and registry keys that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
STEP 4: Use HitmanPro to scan your computer for badware
In this next step, we will scan the computer with HitmanPro to ensure that no other malicious programs are installed on your device.
HitmanPro is a second-opinion scanner that takes a unique cloud-based approach to malware scanning. HitmanPro scans the behavior of active files and also files in locations where malware normally resides for suspicious activity. If it finds a suspicious file that’s not already known, HitmanPro sends it to its clouds to be scanned by two of the best antivirus engines today, which are Bitdefender and Kaspersky.
Although HitmanPro is shareware and costs $24.95 for 1 year on 1 PC, there is no limit on scanning. The limitation only kicks in when there is a need to remove or quarantine detected malware by HitmanPro on your system and by then, you can activate the one-time 30-days trial to enable the cleanup.
Download HitmanPro.
You can download HitmanPro by clicking the link below.
HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new web page from where you can download HitmanPro)
Install HitmanPro.
When HitmanPro has finished downloading, double-click on “hitmanpro.exe” (for 32-bit versions of Windows) or “hitmanpro_x64.exe” (for 64-bit versions of Windows) to install this program on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
You may be presented with a User Account Control pop-up asking if you want to allow HitmanPro to make changes to your device. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to continue with the installation.
Follow the on-screen prompts.
When HitmanPro starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below. Click on the “Next” button to perform a system scan.
Wait for the HitmanPro scan to complete.
HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for malicious programs.
Click on “Next”.
When HitmanPro has finished the scan, it will display a list of all the malware that it has found. Click on the “Next” button to have HitmanPro remove the detected items.
Click on “Activate free license”.
HitmanPro may now require to activate the free 30-days trial to remove the malicious files. To do this, click on the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial and remove all the malicious files from your computer.
When the malware removal process is complete, it will display a screen that shows the status of the various programs that were removed. At this screen, you should click on the Next button and then if prompted you should click on the Reboot button. If HitmanPro does not prompt you to reboot, please just click on the Close button.
STEP 5: Use AdwCleaner to remove adware and malicious browser policies
In this final step, we will use AdwCleaner to remove the malicious browser policies that were set by browser hijackers on your computer and delete malicious browser extensions.
AdwCleaner is a free popular on-demand scanner that can detect and remove malware that even the most well-known anti-virus and anti-malware applications fail to find. This on-demand scanner includes a lot of tools that can be used to fix the side effects of adware. browser hijackers and other malware.
Download AdwCleaner.
You can download AdwCleaner by clicking the link below.
ADWCLEANER DOWNLOAD LINK (The above link will open a new web page from where you can download AdwCleaner)
Double-click on the setup file.
Double-click on the file named “adwcleaner_x.x.x.exe” to start AdwCleaner. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
AdwCleaner program will now open and you will be presented with the program’s license agreement. After you read it, click on the I agree button if you wish to continue. If Windows prompts you as to whether or not you wish to run AdwCleaner, please allow it to run.
Enable “Reset Chrome policies” to remove malicious browser policies.
When AdwCleaner starts, on the left side of the window, click on “Settings” and then enable “Reset Chrome policies“.
Click on the “Scan” button.
On the left side of the AdwCleaner window, click on “Dashboard” and then click “Scan” to perform a computer scan.
Wait for the AdwCleaner scan to finish.
AdwCleaner will now scan your computer for malware. This process can take a few minutes.
Click on “Quarantine” to remove malware.
When the AdwCleaner scan is completed it will display all of the items it has found. Click on the “Quarantine” button to remove the malicious programs from your computer.
Click on “Continue” to remove the malicious programs.
AdwCleaner will now prompt you to save any open files or data as the program will need to close any open programs before it starts to clean. Click on the “Continue” button to finish the removal process.
AdwCleaner will now delete all detected malware from your computer. When the malware removal process is complete, you may be asked to restart your computer.
Your computer should now be free of the Ask Search redirect virus and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Profiles are used by IT admins in businesses to control the behavior of their Macs. These profiles can configure a Mac to do many different things, some of which are not otherwise possible. When it comes to home users, adware and browser hijackers are using the configuration profile to prevent users from removing malicious programs from the computer. This also prevents the user from changing that behavior in the browser’s settings.
In this first step, we will check your computer to see if any configuration profiles are installed. To do this, follow the below steps:
Open “System Preferences”
From the Apple menu, select System Preferences.
Search for “Profiles”
When the System Preferences window opens, search for the Profiles icon.
If there isn’t a Profiles icon, you don’t have any profiles installed, which is normal and you can continue with the next steps.
Remove the malicious profiles
If there’s a Profile icon, click on it and select any suspicious profile that you want to remove, and then press the – (minus) button. Click Remove to remove the profile.
STEP 2: Delete malicious apps
In this second step, we will try to identify and remove any malicious apps and files that might be installed on your computer. Sometimes redirects or adware programs can have usable Uninstall entries that can be used to remove these programs.
Quit the malicious programs
On the Apple menu bar, in the top-right corner, if you see any unknown or suspicious icon, click on it and then select Quit.
Open “Finder”
Click the Finder application on your dock.
Click on “Applications”
In the Finder left pane, click on “Applications“.
Find and remove the malicious app.
The “Applications” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your device. Scroll through the list until you find the malicious app, right-click it, and then click “Move to Trash”.
Look out for any suspicious program that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. Here are some known malicious programs: SearchMine, TakeFresh, TopResults, FeedBack, ApplicationEvents, GeneralOpen, PowerLog, MessengerNow, ImagePrime, GeneralNetSearch, Reading Cursors, GlobalTechSearch, PDFOnline-express, See Scenic Elf, MatchKnowledge, Easy Speedtest, or WebDiscover.
Click “Empty Trash”
On the dock, right-click on the trash icon and select “Empty Trash”. Doing so deletes the Trash’s contents, including the program that you just sent to the Trash.
Find and remove the malicious files
Click the desktop to make sure you’re in the Finder, choose “Go” then click on “Go to Folder“.
Type or copy/paste each of the below paths into the window that opens, then click Go.
/Library/LaunchAgents
~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/Application Support
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Look out for any suspicious files that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. These are some known malicious files: “com.adobe.fpsaud.plist” “installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”, or “com.myppes.net-preferences.plist”. When you find a malicious file move it to the Trash.
STEP 3: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this third step, we will remove spam push notifications and malicious extensions, and change to default any settings that might have been changed by malware. For each browser that you have installed on your computer, please click on the tab below and follow the displayed steps to reset that browser.
Safari BrowserChrome for Mac BrowserFirefox for Mac Browser
Remove malicious extensions and settings from Safari
To remove malware from Safari we will check if there are any malicious extensions installed on your browser and what settings have been changed by this malicious program.
Go to Safari’s “Preferences”.
On the menu bar, click the “Safari” menu and select “Preferences”.
Check Homepage.
This will open a new window with your Safari preferences, opened to the “General” tab. Some browser hijackers may change your default homepage, so in the Homepage field make sure it’s a web page you want to use as your start-up page.
Click “Extensions”
Next, click on the “Extensions” tab.
Find and uninstall malicious extensions.
The “Extensions” screen will be displayed with a list of all the extensions installed on Safari. Look out for any suspicious browser extension that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine extension. By default, there are no extensions installed on Safari so it’s safe to remove an extension
Remove spam notifications ads
Click Preferences, click Websites, then click Notifications. Deselect “Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications”.
Remove all data stored by websites on your computer.
In the Safari menu, choose “Preferences…”, select “Privacy” at the top of the new window that appears, and then click the “Manage Website Data” button.
In the next dialog box, click “Remove All“. It will ask you if you are sure you want to remove all data stored by websites on your computer. Select “Remove Now” to clear data that could be used to track your browsing.
Empty Safari Caches.
From your Safari menu bar, click Safari and select Preferences, then select the Advanced tab. Enable the checkbox to “Show Develop menu in menu bar“.
From the menu bar select Develop, then click on Empty Caches as seen in the image below.
Remove malware from Chrome for Mac
To remove malware from Chrome for Mac we will reset the browser settings to their default. Doing these steps will erase all configuration information from Chrome such as your home page, tab settings, saved form information, browsing history, and cookies. This process will also disable any installed extensions. All of your bookmarks, though, will be preserved.
Click on the three dots at the top right and go to Settings.
Click on Chrome’s main menu button, represented by three dots at the top right corner. Now click on the menu option labeled Settings as shown by the arrow in the picture below, which will open the basic settings screen.
In the left sidebar, click on the “Reset and Cleanup” option.
In the left sidebar, click on “Reset and clean up“.
Click “Reset settings to their original defaults”.
Now click on the “Reset settings to their original defaults”. link as shown in the image below.
Click “Reset Settings” button.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, click on the “Reset Settings” button.
(Optional) Reset Chrome Data Sync.
In case a malicious extension reinstalls itself even after performing a browser reset, you have an additional option to reset the data sync for your browser. To do this, navigate to chrome.google.com/sync and click on the Clear Data button.
Remove malware from Firefox for Mac
To remove malware from Firefox for Mac we will reset the browser settings to its default. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks, passwords, web form auto-fill information, browsing history, and open tabs.
Go to the “Help” menu.
Click on Firefox’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal lines. When the drop-down menu appears, select the option labeled “Help“.
Click “Troubleshooting Information”.
Next click on the “Troubleshooting Information” option as indicated by the arrow in the image below. This will bring you to a Troubleshooting page.
Click on “Refresh Firefox”
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.
Confirm.
To continue, click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
Click on “Finish”.
Firefox will close itself and will revert to its default settings. When it’s done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click on the “Finish“.
Your old Firefox profile will be placed on your desktop in a folder named “Old Firefox Data“. If the reset didn’t fix your problem you can restore some of the information not saved by copying files to the new profile that was created. If you don’t need this folder any longer, you should delete it as it contains sensitive information.
STEP 4: Run a scan with Malwarebytes for Mac to remove malware
In this final step, we will scan the computer with Malwarebytes for Mac to find and remove any malicious programs that might be installed on your Mac.
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
Your computer should now be free of the Ask Search redirect virus and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Removal Instructions for Android
Remove Ask Search from Android
To remove Ask Search redirect from Android, follow these steps:
In this first step, we will check if any malicious apps are installed on your phone. Sometimes browser hijackers or adware apps can have usable Uninstall entries that can be used to remove these apps.
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find the malicious app.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the applications that are installed on your phone. Scroll through the list and look out for any suspicious app that could be behind all the drama – anything you don’t remember downloading or that doesn’t sound like a genuine program. Most often, cyber criminals hide malware inside video or photo editing apps, weather apps, and camera apps.
Uninstall the malicious app
When you find a suspicious or malicious app, tap on it to uninstall it. This won’t start the app but will open up the app details screen. If the app is currently running press the “Force stop” button, then tap on “Uninstall”.
A confirmation dialog should be displayed to confirm you want to uninstall the app, tap on “OK” to remove the malicious app from your phone.
STEP 2: Reset browsers back to default settings
In this second step, we will reset your browser to its default settings to remove spam notifications, unwated search redirects, and restore its factory settings
Resetting the browser settings to their default it’s an easy task on Windows or Mac computers; however, when it comes to Android, this can’t be done directly because it’s not an option built-in into the browser settings. Restoring the browser settings on Android can be done by clearing the application data. This will remove all the cookies, cache, and other site settings that may have been saved. So let’s see how we can restore your browser to its factory settings.
Chrome for AndroidFirefoxOperaSamsung Internet BrowserMicrosoft Edge
Remove malware from Chrome for Android
To reset Chrome for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Chrome.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Chrome app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When Chrome’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Chrome’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from Firefox for Android
To reset Firefox for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Firefox.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Firefox app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When Firefox’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Firefox data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from the Opera browser
To reset the Opera browser to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Opera.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Opera app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When Opera’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Opera’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from Samsung Internet Browser
To reset the Samsung Internet Browser to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Samsung Internet Browser.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Samsung Internet Browser app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Samsung Internet Browser’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Samsung Internet Browser’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
Remove malware from Microsoft Edge for Android
To reset the Microsoft Edge for Android to its default settings, follow the below steps:
Open the “Settings” menu.
Tap on the “Settings” app from your phone menu or home screen.
Tap on “Apps”.
When the “Settings” menu opens, tap on “Apps” (or “App Manager”) to see all the installed applications on your phone.
Find and tap on Microsoft Edge.
The “Apps” screen will be displayed with a list of all the apps installed on your phone. Scroll through the list until you find the Microsoft Edge app, then tap on it to open the app’s details.
Tap “Storage”.
When the Microsoft Edge’s app info menu is displayed, tap on “Storage“.
Tap “Manage Space”.
Under the storage settings, you will get two options — Manage Space and Clear Cache. Tap on “Manage Space“.
Tap “Clear all data”.
Tap “Clear all data” to delete all Microsoft Edge’s data including accounts, bookmarks, and your settings to reset the default settings.
Confirm by tapping “Ok”.
A confirmation dialog should now be displayed, detailing the components that will be restored to their default state should you continue with the reset process. To complete the restoration process, tap “Ok“.
STEP 3: Use Malwarebytes for Android to remove malicious apps
In this final step, we will install Malwarebytes for Android to scan and remove malicious apps from your phone or tablet.
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
Your phone should now be free of the Ask Search redirect virus and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
Here are 10 basic security tips to help you avoid malware and protect your device:
Use a good antivirus and keep it up-to-date.
It's essential to use a good quality antivirus and keep it up-to-date to stay ahead of the latest cyber threats. We are huge fans of Malwarebytes Premium and use it on all of our devices, including Windows and Mac computers as well as our mobile devices. Malwarebytes sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, and providing extra protection against sneakier security threats.
Keep software and operating systems up-to-date.
Keep your operating system and apps up to date. Whenever an update is released for your device, download and install it right away. These updates often include security fixes, vulnerability patches, and other necessary maintenance.
Be careful when installing programs and apps.
Pay close attention to installation screens and license agreements when installing software. Custom or advanced installation options will often disclose any third-party software that is also being installed. Take great care in every stage of the process and make sure you know what it is you're agreeing to before you click "Next."
Install an ad blocker.
Use a browser-based content blocker, like AdGuard. Content blockers help stop malicious ads, Trojans, phishing, and other undesirable content that an antivirus product alone may not stop.
Be careful what you download.
A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather.
Be alert for people trying to trick you.
Whether it's your email, phone, messenger, or other applications, always be alert and on guard for someone trying to trick you into clicking on links or replying to messages. Remember that it's easy to spoof phone numbers, so a familiar name or number doesn't make messages more trustworthy.
Back up your data.
Back up your data frequently and check that your backup data can be restored. You can do this manually on an external HDD/USB stick, or automatically using backup software. This is also the best way to counter ransomware. Never connect the backup drive to a computer if you suspect that the computer is infected with malware.
Choose strong passwords.
Use strong and unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid using personal information or easily guessable words in your passwords. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your accounts whenever possible.
Be careful where you click.
Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could potentially contain malware or phishing scams.
Don't use pirated software.
Avoid using Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file-sharing programs, keygens, cracks, and other pirated software that can often compromise your data, privacy, or both.
To avoid potential dangers on the internet, it's important to follow these 10 basic safety rules. By doing so, you can protect yourself from many of the unpleasant surprises that can arise when using the web.
67 thoughts on “How To Remove Ask Search [Virus Removal Guide]”
I’m so glad ask.com is gone thank you so much for this information. ask.com is a pain in the ass
Thanks a lot ,this really helped me remove Ask.com that was irritating me..
TYVM!!! I used the JRT you mentioned below – so easy and fast! Saved me a ton of time removing ASK from 10 workstations. Wish JAVA would quit packing it in updates. Might have to ban JAVA from all workstations.
This entire list of posts appears to be nothing more than testimonials, all positive, which suggests to me that they are either generated by this software or is an edited version of actual posts. In my 30+ years of being online, I have never seen software with all positive posts on anything but a much simpler utility function.
All the sequences to follow, do not mention how to carry this procedure out on a Chromebook which uses Chrome OS and will yield screen shots that do not appear here. It started out sounding like a quick fix, which it should be, but it’s far too involved to bother with. If you want any testimonial from me, you’ll have to show the procedure on a Chromebook, not just a Chrome browser on other systems. Also, your download doesn’t see to address the Chromebooks. Numerous times I’ve downloaded things where Apple crap, PCs or Androids were the only choices. They each use a different compression technique, like Zips or EXEs on the PCs or APK files on Androids, the Apple shit I have no idea and don’t care!
Thank you
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Malwarebytes did it in the past successfully but this time Adwcleaner did it. Thank you so much for your direction! I hate Ask too! Happens everytime I let my kids use my computer…
THANKS SO MUCH AND I HATE ASK >:@
Yay!!!
YES! Resetting Firefox worked. F*** off for good, Ask! Worst search engine ever.
Thanks so much!! AdwCleaner did the trick and Ask is finally gone!
I used to work for The Home Shopping Network. Barry Diller was the CEO at the time before he sold HSN. He bought ASK during that time. If you want to complain, find a way to complain to Barry Diller.
It worked.. many thanks.
thanks!
Thank you a lot!
Thank you very much. Ive been struggling to clean up my search engine. Uninstall Ask Toolbars and everything but no changes. Other website provide assistance but not as accurate as yours. Thanks
thank you so much, I was able to clean up my desk top without having to beg anyone. You are lifesaver
Thank you very much. I have been asking and asking people if it is safe to download tools if I have Norton 360. Never have gotten a response. In five years, you are the first person to do so and I am eternally grateful. Thank you very much. It is nice to know that Adwcleaner and Norton 360 will not conflict. May our sweet Lord in Heaven bless you for this wonderful service you are providing. God Bless You.
Hello Wendy,
All these tools do not offer real-time protection, they are nothing more than clean-up tools. So, yes, it is safe to download and run them with Norton 360 installed. :)
Wow, thank you so much! If you just follow all the steps, you’ll won’t have that stupid ask anymore!
Thanks man, the AdwCleaner removed basically ALL THE !$($&#!(&%#! ASK %!(#&%(@$!#$ stuff! Thanks so much! :)
Good. All these steps did not work, but together, they seem to have helped a lot. Very grateful!
Good, AdwCleaner worked for me, whereas Hitman pro didn’t work as they no more provide with free license and malwarebytes did not remove Ask in my case.
Thanks for the help!
Thank you sooooo much for your help! It worked :)
you rock guys!!
die ask die!!! thank you for your help!
Hello,
Please go ahead with the other steps.. AdwCleaner should remove this infection without any problems.
I try to uninstall it but its written “an unknown program needs access” if I decline it doesn’t uninstall.
2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.
3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications
Next, please run a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro as see in this guide.
Stay safe!
Thank You soooo much. Ask.com is a lil bee eye tea sea ayche
Works beautifully!
Wow! I can’t thank you enough… I would have never solved this problem without your solution. Many many many thanks!!!!
Thank you!
Thank you very much. My problem solved with exactly those steps you described and at the end with Adwcleaner. I did’t know about you. From now on i’ll be stuck with your advices. Thank you very much who being there and make for us the net more secure. My regards…
THANK YOU!! Brilliant advice.
Finally I found you. Your step-by-step instructions helped me be shed of ask.com!
You are BRILLIANT! I barely know how to plug this think in and you were able to walk me thru this nitemare. I send appreciation thru the stratosphere to you!! Thankx man
bloody Ask toolbar!!! I hate it!!!
Thanks so much for your help. People like you make the internet a wonderful place.
Hello,
Can you run a scan with Junkware Removal Tool
1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:
2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.
3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications
Then run again a scan with AdwCleaner.
Waiting for your reply to see how everything is running…
Hello Michelle,
Did you uninstall both Ask programs?
Did you run AdwCleaner? If no, please run AdwCleaner (as seen on STEP 3) to remove this infection!
Next please run Junkware Removal Tool:
1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:
2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.
3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications.
Waiting for your reply! Stay safe!
THANK YOU SOO MUCH!! IT HELPED.. :)
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!! I couldn’t figure out how to get rid of it! I uninstalled it, yet it was still there! I am so glad that this was the first site I clicked on. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
thanks! I hadn’t realized Ask.com lowered itself to being malware status.
A simple THANK YOU!!!
I am glad you came up first when I asked Google for help with getting “Ask” of my machine. Now if I can just figure out the rest of the crap stuck on here…
Regards,
jay
Once again you’ve saved the day :)
ADWCleaner took the Ask.com toolbar and a bunch of other garbage off my computer!! Thank you so much! I had the same issue where Control Panel was telling me to close all Chrome windows although they were all closed. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
thank you very much!
the AdwCleaner solved my problem, i was unable to uninstall “ask toolber” because it kept telling me to close all browsers, and I did, but it didn’t allow me to uninstall.
Thanks this helped me so much Ask.com was really getting on my nerves. I will tell more people about this website.
Thank you for shared knowledge on eliminating this crap. Worked really well.
Thanks, this worked for me and I had tried everything before i found your page. I’ve shared your link with some others having the same problem. youre fantastic, thank you.
Your smart. Thank you very much. It worked.
Hello Sam,
Did you uninstall the Ask program?
Next, you can download and install avast! Browser Cleanup tool. Then go to the Google Chrome tab, and disable any unwanted or unknown extensions, then click on Reset to default settings button.
Steps to remove the Ask Toolbar:
Click on ‘Customize and Control Google Chrome’ (the button on the top right with 3 horizontal lines)
Then click on ‘View background pages’
Select the Ask.com Toolbar and click on the ‘End Process’ button.
You will get a pop up, click on the cancel (X) button on that pop up.
:)
I’m on Google Chrome and I don’t get the little rubbish bin icon.
Thank you very much! Adw Cleaner works fine.
Finally: Excellence in stupidity Ask.com is dead .
I will be more careful next time…
It works….thanks
Thanks so much for this. Stupid Ask.com Java update…the ONE time I forgot to check the box all hell breaks loose.
This AdwCleaner works great!
Ask.com are a nasty bunch. I went to windows uninstall page & didn’t find it,there were other ways online showing how to delete it.The important thing is to close all browser windows firstly,then reboot ,or Ask.com will flood you with a large pack of rootkits & malware. I was told to look for Ask in taskmanager. Nothing.Doing an “online ESET deep test for 2 hours,the only malware they found was OF COURSE : Ask.com
Thanks very much for this post – helped me get this rubbish off my computer when it sneakily installed itself!
Leave a Comment
Meet Stelian Pilici
Stelian is the founder and owner of MalwareTips. He is an expert in malware removal and computer forensics and is active in online anti-malware communities where he conducts research on new malware threats.
![[Image: Ask toolbar and search]](https://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ask-search-toolbar.jpg "How To Remove Ask Search [Virus Removal Guide] 1")
Remove Ask Search from Windows
Remove Ask Search from Mac
Remove Ask Search from Android
I’m so glad ask.com is gone thank you so much for this information. ask.com is a pain in the ass
Thanks a lot ,this really helped me remove Ask.com that was irritating me..
TYVM!!! I used the JRT you mentioned below – so easy and fast! Saved me a ton of time removing ASK from 10 workstations. Wish JAVA would quit packing it in updates. Might have to ban JAVA from all workstations.
This entire list of posts appears to be nothing more than testimonials, all positive, which suggests to me that they are either generated by this software or is an edited version of actual posts. In my 30+ years of being online, I have never seen software with all positive posts on anything but a much simpler utility function.
All the sequences to follow, do not mention how to carry this procedure out on a Chromebook which uses Chrome OS and will yield screen shots that do not appear here. It started out sounding like a quick fix, which it should be, but it’s far too involved to bother with. If you want any testimonial from me, you’ll have to show the procedure on a Chromebook, not just a Chrome browser on other systems. Also, your download doesn’t see to address the Chromebooks. Numerous times I’ve downloaded things where Apple crap, PCs or Androids were the only choices. They each use a different compression technique, like Zips or EXEs on the PCs or APK files on Androids, the Apple shit I have no idea and don’t care!
Thank you
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! Malwarebytes did it in the past successfully but this time Adwcleaner did it. Thank you so much for your direction! I hate Ask too! Happens everytime I let my kids use my computer…
THANKS SO MUCH AND I HATE ASK >:@
Yay!!!
YES! Resetting Firefox worked. F*** off for good, Ask! Worst search engine ever.
Thanks so much!! AdwCleaner did the trick and Ask is finally gone!
I used to work for The Home Shopping Network. Barry Diller was the CEO at the time before he sold HSN. He bought ASK during that time. If you want to complain, find a way to complain to Barry Diller.
It worked.. many thanks.
thanks!
Thank you a lot!
Thank you very much. Ive been struggling to clean up my search engine. Uninstall Ask Toolbars and everything but no changes. Other website provide assistance but not as accurate as yours. Thanks
thank you so much, I was able to clean up my desk top without having to beg anyone. You are lifesaver
Thank you very much. I have been asking and asking people if it is safe to download tools if I have Norton 360. Never have gotten a response. In five years, you are the first person to do so and I am eternally grateful. Thank you very much. It is nice to know that Adwcleaner and Norton 360 will not conflict. May our sweet Lord in Heaven bless you for this wonderful service you are providing. God Bless You.
Hello Wendy,
All these tools do not offer real-time protection, they are nothing more than clean-up tools. So, yes, it is safe to download and run them with Norton 360 installed. :)
Wow, thank you so much! If you just follow all the steps, you’ll won’t have that stupid ask anymore!
Thanks man, the AdwCleaner removed basically ALL THE !$($&#!(&%#! ASK %!(#&%(@$!#$ stuff! Thanks so much! :)
Good. All these steps did not work, but together, they seem to have helped a lot. Very grateful!
Good, AdwCleaner worked for me, whereas Hitman pro didn’t work as they no more provide with free license and malwarebytes did not remove Ask in my case.
Thanks for the help!
Thank you sooooo much for your help! It worked :)
you rock guys!!
die ask die!!! thank you for your help!
Hello,
Please go ahead with the other steps.. AdwCleaner should remove this infection without any problems.
I try to uninstall it but its written “an unknown program needs access” if I decline it doesn’t uninstall.
Thank you so much
Thanks Stelian u made my day, week, month :) This is first time that something went so smooth online 4 me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiSQ_fpbsTc
Thank you very much. It took some time to find your post because Ask – kept redirecting my questions to dead websites. treacherous bastards.
Hey Sir! Just followed you :) Thanks
Hello,
You should select Yes, so that you may uninstall the unwanted program.
Stay safe!
Thank you guy.
Just here I could unninstall “Ask Toolbar” sussessfully!
Clear steps!! Thanks for your great help!! XD
Hello,
Lets try to remove this infection:
STEP 1: Run a scan with AdwCleaner
1. Download AdwCleaner from here: http://general-changelog-team.fr/fr/downloads/finish/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner
2.Close all open programs and internet browsers.
3.Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
4.Click on Clean button. Your computer should restart.
STEP 2: Run a scan with Junkware Removal Tool
1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:
JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL : http://thisisudax.org/download…
2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.
3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications
Next, please run a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro as see in this guide.
Stay safe!
Hello Pam,
Lets try to remove this infection:
STEP 1: Run a scan with AdwCleaner
1. Download AdwCleaner from here: http://general-changelog-team.fr/fr/downloads/finish/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner
2.Close all open programs and internet browsers.
3.Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
4.Click on Clean button. Your computer should restart.
STEP 2: Run a scan with Junkware Removal Tool
1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:
JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL : http://thisisudax.org/download…
2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.
3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications
Next, please run a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro as see in this guide.
Stay safe!
Hello Pam,
Lets try to remove this infection:
STEP 1: Run a scan with AdwCleaner
1. Download AdwCleaner from here: http://general-changelog-team.fr/fr/downloads/finish/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner
2.Close all open programs and internet browsers.
3.Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
4.Click on Clean button. Your computer should restart.
STEP 2: Run a scan with Junkware Removal Tool
1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:
JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL : http://thisisudax.org/download…
2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.
3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications
Next, please run a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and HitmanPro as see in this guide.
Stay safe!
Thank You soooo much. Ask.com is a lil bee eye tea sea ayche
Works beautifully!
Wow! I can’t thank you enough… I would have never solved this problem without your solution. Many many many thanks!!!!
Thank you!
Thank you very much. My problem solved with exactly those steps you described and at the end with Adwcleaner. I did’t know about you. From now on i’ll be stuck with your advices. Thank you very much who being there and make for us the net more secure. My regards…
THANK YOU!! Brilliant advice.
Finally I found you. Your step-by-step instructions helped me be shed of ask.com!
You are BRILLIANT! I barely know how to plug this think in and you were able to walk me thru this nitemare. I send appreciation thru the stratosphere to you!! Thankx man
bloody Ask toolbar!!! I hate it!!!
Thanks so much for your help. People like you make the internet a wonderful place.
Hello,
Can you run a scan with Junkware Removal Tool
1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:
JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL : http://thisisudax.org/download…
2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.
3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications
Then run again a scan with AdwCleaner.
Waiting for your reply to see how everything is running…
Hello Michelle,
Did you uninstall both Ask programs?
Did you run AdwCleaner? If no, please run AdwCleaner (as seen on STEP 3) to remove this infection!
Next please run Junkware Removal Tool:
1.Download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop from the below link:
JUNKWARE REMOVAL TOOL : http://thisisudax.org/downloads/JRT.exe
2. Double-click on the JRT.exe icon to start this utility.
3. The tool will open and start scanning your system. Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system’s specifications.
Waiting for your reply! Stay safe!
THANK YOU SOO MUCH!! IT HELPED.. :)
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!! I couldn’t figure out how to get rid of it! I uninstalled it, yet it was still there! I am so glad that this was the first site I clicked on. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
thanks! I hadn’t realized Ask.com lowered itself to being malware status.
A simple THANK YOU!!!
I am glad you came up first when I asked Google for help with getting “Ask” of my machine. Now if I can just figure out the rest of the crap stuck on here…
Regards,
jay
Once again you’ve saved the day :)
ADWCleaner took the Ask.com toolbar and a bunch of other garbage off my computer!! Thank you so much! I had the same issue where Control Panel was telling me to close all Chrome windows although they were all closed. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
thank you very much!
the AdwCleaner solved my problem, i was unable to uninstall “ask toolber” because it kept telling me to close all browsers, and I did, but it didn’t allow me to uninstall.
Thanks this helped me so much Ask.com was really getting on my nerves. I will tell more people about this website.
Thank you for shared knowledge on eliminating this crap. Worked really well.
Thanks, this worked for me and I had tried everything before i found your page. I’ve shared your link with some others having the same problem. youre fantastic, thank you.
Your smart. Thank you very much. It worked.
Hello Sam,
Did you uninstall the Ask program?
Next, you can download and install avast! Browser Cleanup tool. Then go to the Google Chrome tab, and disable any unwanted or unknown extensions, then click on Reset to default settings button.
Steps to remove the Ask Toolbar:
Click on ‘Customize and Control Google Chrome’ (the button on the top right with 3 horizontal lines)
Then click on ‘View background pages’
Select the Ask.com Toolbar and click on the ‘End Process’ button.
You will get a pop up, click on the cancel (X) button on that pop up.
:)
I’m on Google Chrome and I don’t get the little rubbish bin icon.
Thank you very much! Adw Cleaner works fine.
Finally: Excellence in stupidity Ask.com is dead .
I will be more careful next time…
It works….thanks
Thanks so much for this. Stupid Ask.com Java update…the ONE time I forgot to check the box all hell breaks loose.
This AdwCleaner works great!
Ask.com are a nasty bunch. I went to windows uninstall page & didn’t find it,there were other ways online showing how to delete it.The important thing is to close all browser windows firstly,then reboot ,or Ask.com will flood you with a large pack of rootkits & malware. I was told to look for Ask in taskmanager. Nothing.Doing an “online ESET deep test for 2 hours,the only malware they found was OF COURSE : Ask.com
Thanks very much for this post – helped me get this rubbish off my computer when it sneakily installed itself!