Docksearch.net Virus - How to remove

Docksearch.net (also Dock Search) is a browser extension compatible with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari and other most widely used web browsers. However, it is not a legitimate add-on but a browser hijacker, and can even be characterized by its aggressive marketing tactics.

About Docksearch.net Browser Hijacker

Just as you enter docksearch.net into the address bar of your web browser and get redirected to this URL, you are displayed a flickering pop-up informing that, ‘‘You have 1 message waiting!’’. If you try to close the message, you are rerouted to survey.qeqei.com and you are presented with another pop-up window suggesting you to take part in some survey which will supposedly grant you with the opportunity to win iPhone6S. Even when you close the tab you were rerouted to, the main search page of Docksearch.net search engine still contains that irritating notification. You do not have to be a cyber security expert to understand that this search provider is unreliable and that it is needed to be removed from your browser as soon as possible. No legitimate search engines display such behavior, which is a clear sign of malware-like programs.

Docksearch.net extension also contain shortcuts to ‘‘popular sites’’: Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Twitter, Amazon, Coupons, Gmail. There are also icons of ‘‘shopping’’ websites: Amazon, Coupons, Alibaba, Just Fab, Fiverr. The last section under the search bar includes shortcut links to games such as StarWars, Minecraft, War Thunder, Ace Online, Lucent Heart, etc. Docksearch.net exploits Google to deliver search results which are complemented by sponsored websites of 3rd party. As a matter of fact, you cannot escape the promoted advertising content of 3rd party since even the legitimate websites are packed with 3rd party ads like sardines. This rogue application can even advertise products and services which mysteriously dovetail your search terms entered, web pages visited or bookmark added. But the spell can be easily broken by the fact that Docksearch.net sells your browsing history to 3rd party. In addition to that, this malicious add-on turns your PC into a snail and may even include other malware apps as guests to your computer.

How does Docksearch.net Browser Hijacker Infect Your Computer?

Docksearch.net browser hijacker comes onto your computer together with DesktopDock – an advertisement-supported program by Howard Software. This Windows desktop organizer claims to ease access to favorite sites or computer functions. However, it will hijack search and show advertisements in free version. The software is no longer actively developed or promoted – it is not updated for windows 10, however, you might get infected if you download some older bundles with other software. DesktopDock is not the first desktop organizer that is associated with bundles. Some of them, like Pokki, is actively distributed even now. I recommend uninstalling it from control panel or scan your PC with anti-malware tools to remove it completely. After uninstall you might have to reset browser settings manually.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Manual removal of Docksearch.net virus

How to remove Docksearch.net Virus using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like Docksearch.net Virus install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to Docksearch.net Virus . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make Docksearch.net Virus easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.

How to remove Docksearch.net Virus from macOS

Delete Docksearch.net Virus from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the Docksearch.net Virus app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

TopHow To remove Docksearch.net Virus from Google Chrome:

• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
  
• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
  
• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
  
• Select Manage Search engines
  
• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
  
• Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
• If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
  
• Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Docksearch.net Virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How To remove Docksearch.net Virus from Firefox:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything Docksearch.net Virus related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Options → General. Enter a preferable URL to the homepage field and click Restore to Default.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Docksearch.net Virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on theReset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.

How to remove Docksearch.net Virus from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.

• Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings

• Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.

• Choose Manage search engines.

• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.

• Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
• Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Docksearch.net Virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings

• Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
• Press the Restore settings to their default values option.

• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove Docksearch.net Virus from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall Docksearch.net Virus and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to Docksearch.net Virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.