History Wipe Clean - How to remove

History Wipe Clean is a browser extension that can be considered a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a hijacker. It is supposed to automatically delete browsing history but instead redirects searches away from Google.com. This is malicious behavior that makes the browser very frustrating to use. If you have to deal with History Wipe Clean redirecting your searches, I recommend removing it and using another method to protect your privacy – maybe using a better browser extension, or avoiding extensions altogether.

About History Wipe Clean:

Type of threat	PUP, browser hijacker.
Problems with History Wipe Clean	Redirects searches, logs user data.
Alternatives	Reputable add-ons, built-in browser features.
How to remove History Wipe Clean	Uninstall all unwanted extensions manually or with an anti-malware program (Combo Cleaner for Mac, Spyhunter for PC, others).

Is History Wipe Clean dangerous?

Search redirects

History Wipe Clean is one of many browser extensions for wiping your history upon exit. This sort of thing is useful for those who have to share their computer or browser with other people and want their browsing history to be kept private.

Except, despite History Wipe Clean being freely available to install, History Wipe Clean doesn’t work. At least, it doesn’t work if you didn’t install it as part of a campaign. So, when I restart my browser with History Wipe Clean installed, all my previously visited sites are still there.

The code for History Wipe Clean contains code for deleting history, so it is intended to work. It just does not.

But History Wipe Clean also has code for redirecting searches.  If you try searching on Google.com, History Wipe Clean extracts your search query and then sends it to Historywipe.org/s. In this way, History Wipe Clean is similar to AdPop Block and PopStop. Every time you google something, History Wipe Clean can redirect that to another site. This can be very annoying.

In addition, the privacy policy of History Wipe Clean leaves the door open for data about sites visited and ads clicked to be logged. This data is useful for advertisers and it can be shared with them by History Wipe Clean.

Overall, I think that History Wipe Clean should be avoided. It is not very dangerous but neither is it helpful.

Red flags

When installing a browser extension, it’s always important to check who you’re letting to access your browser. History Wipe Clean has a few features that are potentially red flags:

• Over ten thousand users, yet there’s only a single review (complaining about the privacy policy being too permissive – a valid complaint). Such a popular extension, if it spreads organically, is expected to have more reviews and ratings.
• History Wipe Clean asks for two permissions: to manage your downloads and to read and change your data on all the sites. Meanwhile, multiple other history wiper extensions don’t ask for any permissions at all.
• The identity of the people behind History Wipe Clean is unclear. This makes it difficult to gauge their motivations. For example, many malicious browser extensions belong to advertising companies, which is pretty revealing.

Alternatives

Browser extensions should be installed responsibly. After all, they get access to your browser which could expose things like search history and even passwords. History Wipe Clean only needs to read your browsing history to be able to redirect searches. It is better to install browser extensions with honest, engaged with their community developers. Or to not install an extension at all.

Web browsers have various settings for managing privacy. One of the best ones is private (Incognito) browsing mode. This mode lets you browse without saving any history or cookies. A private window can be opened from each browser’s main menu or with a keyboard shortcut: Cmd+Shift+N for Macs and Ctrl+Shift+N for PCs.

Luckily, deleting history is very simple. It is much easier than keeping your privacy online. Each step of the way, there are advertising and big data companies preying on users who are looking for ways to hide their data. Be very careful.

How to remove History Wipe Clean

History Wipe Clean can be uninstalled from browser settings, the extension store, or from the extension menu in the upper right corner in the browser.

You can also remove PUPs and browser hijackers with anti-malware programs, like Combo Cleaner for macOS, Spyhunter for PC, and others.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Remove unwanted browser extensions

TopRemoving History Wipe Clean from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to History Wipe Clean. Click on the trash bin icon next to History Wipe Clean or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to History Wipe Clean, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset 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 History Wipe Clean from Microsoft Edge:Top

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

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to History Wipe Clean. Click on the "Remove" icon next to History Wipe Clean or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving History Wipe Clean from Firefox

• 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 History Wipe Clean 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.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to History Wipe Clean, 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.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

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