If your default search engine or homepage has been changed, or you are having adware or pop-up ads problems with Internet Explorer, resetting it can help. The reset feature fixes many issues by restoring Internet Explorer to its factory default state while saving your essential information like bookmarks and open tabs.
Resetting your browser settings will impact the settings below:
- Default search engine and saved search engines will be reset and to their original defaults.
- Homepage button will be hidden and the URL that you previously set will be removed.
- Default startup tabs will be cleared. The browser will show a new tab when you startup or continue where you left off if you’re on a Internet Explorer book.
- New Tab page will be empty unless you have a version of Internet Explorer with an extension that controls it. In that case your page may be preserved.
- Pinned tabs will be unpinned.
- Content settings will be cleared and reset to their installation defaults.
- Cookies and site data will be cleared.
- Extensions and themes will be disabled.
How to reset Internet Explorer to Default Settings (2017 Help Guide)
You can reset Internet Explorer settings to return them to the state they were in when Internet Explorer was first installed on your PC.
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the “gear icon”
in the upper right part of your browser, then click again on Internet Options.
![[Image: Internet Options in Internet Explorer]](https://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Internet-Options-Internet-Explorer.jpg "Click on the Gear Icon then on Internet Options")
- In the “Internet Options” dialog box, click on the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button.
![[Image: Reset Internet Explorer]](https://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Reset-Internet-Explorer.jpg "In the Advanced tab click on the Reset button")
- In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click on “Reset” button.
![[Image: Reset Internet Explorer to its default settings]](https://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/reset-button-Internet-Explorer.jpg "Click on the Reset button to revert IE to its default settings")
- When Internet Explorer has completed its task, click on the “Close” button in the confirmation dialogue box. You will now need to close your browser, and then you can open Internet Explorer again.
![[Image Reset Internet Explorer settings]](https://malwaretips.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Close-button-Reset.jpg "Click on the Close button")
How to remove malware from Windows. Clean-up your PC from malware.
While resetting Internet Explorer may remove the malware from the browser, your Windows may still be infected with adware, potentially unwanted programs or other forms of malware.
The below steps are optional, and are meant to be used if you still having issues with adware, browser hijackers or any other form of malware after resetting Internet Explorer.
The below steps are optional, and are meant to be used if you still having issues with adware, browser hijackers or any other form of malware after resetting Internet Explorer.
This malware removal guide may appear overwhelming due to the amount of the 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 doubt at any point, STOP and ask for our assistance.
Please perform all the steps in the correct order. If you have any questions or doubt at any point, STOP and ask for our assistance.
The below instructions are for Windows users, however we also have an Android guide and a Mac OS guide which should help clean up your device.
To remove adware, browser hijackers, or malware from Internet Explorer, follow these steps:
- STEP 1: Use Malwarebytes to remove Adware and Browser Hijackers from Internet Explorer
- STEP 2: Use HitmanPro to remove Malware and Unwanted Programs from Internet Explorer
- STEP 3: Double-check for malicious programs with Zemana AntiMalware Portable
STEP 1: Use Malwarebytes to remove Adware and Browser Hijackers from Internet Explorer
Malwarebytes is a powerful on-demand scanner which should remove malware from your computer. It is important to note that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will run alongside antivirus software without conflicts.
- You can download download Malwarebytes from the below link.
MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE DOWNLOAD LINK (This link open a new page from where you can download “Malwarebytes”) - When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the “mb3-setup-consumer” file to install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on your computer.
You may be presented with an 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 installation.
- When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through the installation process.
To install Malwarebytes Anti-Malware on your machine, keep following the prompts by clicking the “Next” button.
- Once installed, Malwarebytes will automatically start and update the antivirus database. To start a system scan you can click on the “Scan Now” button.
- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for 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.
- When the scan has completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes Anti-Malware has detected.
To remove the malicious programs that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine Selected” button.
- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now quarantine 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.
When the malware removal process is complete, you can close Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and continue with the rest of the instructions.
STEP 2: Use HitmanPro to remove Malware and Unwanted Programs from Internet Explorer
HitmanPro can find and remove malware, adware, bots, and other threats that even the best antivirus suite can oftentimes miss. HitmanPro is designed to run alongside your antivirus suite, firewall, and other security tools.
- You can download HitmanPro from the below link:
HITMANPRO DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will open a new web page from where you can download “HitmanPro”) - When HitmanPro has finished downloading, double-click on the “hitmanpro” file to install this program on your computer.
You may be presented with an 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.
- When the program starts you will be presented with the start screen as shown below. Now click on the Next button to continue with the scan process.
- HitmanPro will now begin to scan your computer for malware.
- When it has finished it will display a list of all the malware that the program found as shown in the image below. Click on the “Next” button, to remove malware.
- 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 process is complete, you can close HitmanPro and continue with the rest of the instructions.
STEP 3: Double-check for malicious programs with Zemana AntiMalware Portable
Zemana AntiMalware Portable is a free utility that will scan your PC for browser hijacker and other malicious programs.
- You can download Zemana AntiMalware Portable from the below link:
ZEMANA ANTIMALWARE PORTABLE DOWNLOAD LINK (This link will start the download of “Zemana AntiMalware Portable”) - Double-click on the file named “Zemana.AntiMalware.Portable” to perform a system scan with Zemana AntiMalware Free.
You may be presented with a User Account Control dialog asking you if you want to run this program. If this happens, you should click “Yes” to allow Zemana AntiMalware to run.
- When Zemana AntiMalware will start, click on the “Scan” button to perform a system scan.
- Zemana AntiMalware will now scan your computer for malicious programs. This process can take up to 10 minutes.
- When Zemana has finished finished scanning it will show a screen that displays any malware that has been detected. To remove all the malicious files, click on the “Next” button.
Zemana AntiMalware will now start to remove all the malicious programs from your computer.
Internet Explorer should now be free of pop-up ads, redirects and adware.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove malware from your machine, you can ask for free help in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.
If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove malware from your machine, you can ask for free help in our Malware Removal Assistance forum.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium sits beside your traditional antivirus, filling in any gaps in its defenses, providing extra protection against sneakier security threats. 
HitmanPro.Alert prevents good programs from being exploited, stops ransomware from running, and detects a host of different intruders by analyzing their behavior. HitmanPro.Alert will run alongside your current antivirus without any issues.