Owsc.xyz - How to remove

If you regularly notice owsc.xyz in the search results instead of Google Search page, then you’re dealing with the problem of browser hijacking. Owsc.xyz affects Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browsers through activating a special extenson (add-on). Once the attack is successful, the extension gains control over your default search engine and does not let you make your own decisions what search provider to use as the primary one.

Details on owsc.xyz:

Type of threat	Adware, browser hijacker.
How owsc.xyz spreads	Gets installed thanks to deceptive ads, like a trojan, is installed by other malware or unwanted programs.
Problems with the hijacker	Reads your private data, including search history, advertises malicious sites and adware sites, shows low-quality ads, some of which are dangerous.
Remove owsc.xyz	Uninstall or disable suspicious browser extensions, check your computer for malware (Spyhunter for PC, Combo Cleaner for Mac, etc.).

Owsc.xyz is also referred to as the Searchgg Custom Search. There were other examples of such hijacking in the past. For instance, we wrote about srchpx.xyz, xscx.xyz and nvux.xyz that cause the same browser problems. The results delivered by this fake search engine are often absolutely irrelevant and do not really coincide with the submitted queries. Additionally, the hijacker performs continuous monitoring of your online browsing and collects your personal details, as long as it remains active. Finally, its installation takes place by means of misleading software update alerts that present tricky statements encouraging people to install the extension eventually. Based on these factors, you need to immediately remove owsc.xyz from your browser.

 

Why is owsc.xyz not a genuine search engine?

Owsc.xyz or Searchgg Custom Search claims it can considerably improve your browsing experience by helping you get relevant results in a much faster and convenient manner. However, after it gains control over your browser parameters, owsc.xyz instead promotes a lot of third-party websites. It displays advertisement banners and places a lot of sponsored links on top of search results. Clicking on these banners or sponsored links is strongly not recommended. They may lead you to the following suspicious resources on the web:

• fake Adobe Flash Player or Java update alerts leading to installers of PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs);
• websites involved in social engineering attacks instructing you to enable intrusive web push notifications;
• pages promoting installation of shady extensions related to other browser hijackers;
• fake surveys or questionnaires collecting your personal details.

It is clear that interacting with the above-mentioned websites may lead to many other problems with your browser or the entire computer. For instance, when there are several third-party browser extensions enabled simultaneously, the browser may operate in a very complicated way. For instance, the websites may load much slower than usual, often resulting in failures to respond or crashes.

How does owsc.xyz affect your privacy?

The hijacker is provided with capabilities of continuous spying over all your online activities. It analyzes your behavior when you surf the Internet and collects important information, such as:

• queries submitted into the integrated search field;
• IP addresses and geographical locations;
• visited URLs;
• information from previous browsing history.

This collected data is absolutely confidential and should remain absolutely private. However, the analysis of owsc.xyz reveals its similarity with many other hijackers that instead spy over the user’s online actions and may transfer the obtained information to third-party companies for generating revenue. For instance, the collected details may be sold to advertising networks without your consent. Thus, it’s a brutal violation of your privacy that may even result in identity theft.

How to get rid of owsc.xyz completely?

Right now there is no doubt that owsc.xyz is a pseudo search engine that not only fails to provide you with relevant data but may also cause serious problems for your device and the safety of your personal data. Getting rid of owsc.xyz and Searchgg Custom Search is a must-do item on your today’s agenda.

First of all, you need to locate and deactivate suspicious extensions from your browser. In Google Chrome, follow these guidelines:

• in Menu, click on “More Tools“;
• choose “Extensions“;
• find third-party items not familiar to you, disable and delete them.

In Mozilla Firefox, select “Add-ons” in “Preferences” section. The instructions for other browsers are basically identical. Even though disabling and deleting the associated browser extension should fix the owsc.xyz redirection issue, there’s still a need for you to perform additional analysis of your system to locate other possible threats. The owsc.xyz hijacker could bring you to suspicious resources resulting in the stealthy installation of other shady programs. Scanning your computer with reliable anti-malware tools (Spyhunter for Windows, Combo Cleaner for macOS, etc.) will help you to identify other leaks in the system security and fix these issues effectively.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Remove malicious browser extensions

TopRemoving Owsc.xyz 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 Vprx.xyz. Click on the trash bin icon next to Owsc.xyz 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 Vprx.xyz, 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 Owsc.xyz 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 Owsc.xyz. Click on the "Remove" icon next to Vprx.xyz 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 Owsc.xyz 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 Vprx.xyz 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 Owsc.xyz, 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.