We came across the official Chrome Web Store page of Porseek and it claims to be a valuable internet program add-on that improves the browsing and searching experience for its users. Besides, this unwanted program is certain to give quick and precise online search results when used as the default search tool on compatible browsers, particularly Google Chrome.
In view of the said highlights, some computer users could assess Porseek as an important program that reinforces internet software. Sadly, they do not know that Porseek is part of a huge adware clan that created similar malicious browser homepage hijackers as SEEKSE, UKASEE, and many more.
Why is Porseek a search hijacker?
During our very own assessment, the online search requests will be redirected to Findflarex.com and advanced to the unwanted search engine of Boyu.com.tr for the presentation of real search items. It is certain that this obscure web search can extract information from a user’s online inquiry by diverting the search to its own server first. Beside search information, Porseek may likewise accumulate significant data from the infected browser program. It is able to record usernames, passwords, IP address, and other vital browser information. Gathered information from web users will be used by Porseek developers to show customized ads and targeted promotions.
In addition, Porseek can cause disturbances by modifying program settings without obtaining authorization from computer owners. After establishing its presence, there will be programmed changes to the start-up page, new tab pages, and search engine. Porseek will substitute new typical settings for these fundamental pages. The web user will most likely be unable to turn around the alteration, and as a result, this malicious browser extension will dominate the internet browser program.
Why should you stop Porseek?
The best way is to reestablish the previous settings to end the dominance of Porseek. As expressed below, examining the computer with a real unwanted program remover like anti-virus and anti-malware is very useful in finding and erasing malicious objects that are associated with Porseek adware.
Porseek Removal Procedure
In this section, we will provide effective guidelines to get rid of the threat from an infected computer. To automatically remove Porseek, you may download the recommended scanner. For comprehensive instructions, please execute the manual step-by-step procedures.
Instant Removal : Scan the computer with antivirus program
Combo Cleaner is a trusted computer security and optimization tool equipped with a powerful virus and malware detection engine. This program can get rid of Porseek browser hijacker and similar threats, whether it has infected PC, Mac, Android, or iOS.
1. Download the application from the following page:
2. Save the file to your preferred location.
3. Double-click the downloaded file and install with the default settings.
4. At the end of the setup process, click Finish to run Combo Cleaner.
5. To begin checking for threats like Porseek, click on the Start Scan button. Wait for this scan to finish.
6. At the end of the scan process, click on Remove all threats to delete Porseek, including all harmful objects from the computer.
To fully optimize the features of antivirus and privacy scanners, users may have to upgrade to the premium version.
Please continue with the succeeding removal procedures if you are comfortable manually getting rid of the browser hijacker and malicious items linked to it.
Manual Removal : Steps to get rid of Porseek
The steps below will guide you to manually remove Porseek without having to purchase a recommended virus scanner. We have tested the procedures; hence, the attackers may make modifications overtime. As a result, terms, names, and images in the guide may differ from what users are seeing recently.
The procedure may require you to close the browser or restart the computer; therefore, we are suggesting to Bookmark or Print this page.For Windows PC Users
Below is a systematic instruction that is very useful in getting rid of the browser hijacker from a compromised PC. In order to totally eliminate the threat, it is vital to follow the process in an exact manner.
Step 1 : Scan with AdwCleaner and Reset Chrome Policies
In addition to the procedure, we suggest scanning the computer with AdwCleaner tool. Possibly, there are some traces of Porseek on the browser that were not deleted during the preceding steps. This tool will scan the computer and check for presence of malicious applications.
1. Follow the link below to download the tool called AdwCleaner.
2. When the download has completed, please close all running programs on the computer, especially browsers affected by Porseek.
3. Browse the location of the downloaded file and double-click on adwcleaner.exe to start running the tool.
4. If Windows displays a prompt saying, "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?" click Yes to proceed.
5. On the AdwCleaner dashboard, click on Settings.
6. While in the Settings window, please turn On the Reset Chrome Policies and Reset IE Policies.
7. Go back to the Dashboard and click the Scan Now button.
8. AdwCleaner searches the computer for malicious programs, extensions, plug-ins, adware, and any items that may be associated with Porseek.
9. Clean or Remove all suspicious and harmful items identified after the thorough scan.
10. AdwCleaner will then prompt an option to run another repair, which will reset Winsock and other settings. Please click the Run Basic Repair button.
11. A message will appear stating that "All processes will be closed..." Please click Continue.
12. After the cleanup procedure, rebooting the computer is required to finalize the removal of Porseek as well as other detected threats.
Step 2 : Uninstall an Unwanted Program from Windows
1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key + R. Type the appwiz.cpl command and click OK.
2. The Program and Features window will open. Arrange the list in a chronological manner, with recently installed applications on top. To do this, click on the 'Installed On' column.
3. Select Porseek or a recently installed suspicious entry from the list.
4. Click on Uninstall to remove it from the Windows system.
Step 3 : Check for Malicious Shortcut Link
The following procedure is essential to see if the Google Chrome shortcut link is being used by Porseek to launch the malicious extension each time that you run the Google Chrome browser.
1. Right-click on the icon you always click to open Google Chrome.
2. Select Properties from the drop-down list.
3. The Google Chrome Properties window will open. Go to the Target section and check if there are any added strings (in red letters). As shown in the image below, the full target string to open Google Chrome is:
"C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --load-extension="C:\ProgramData\Google\Chrome\Extension\script-folder\"
- Please take note of the location where the malicious script is located. Deleting the said script is necessary to stop Porseek from loading.
- The "script-folder" in this procedure is just a representation; it could possess any name or random characters.
4. In our case, the modified shortcut link is running the manifest.json script file each time that the icon is clicked to launch Google Chrome. Therefore, we will need to delete the added strings and retain only the default Google Chrome shortcut link as follows:
"C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"
- The installation folder may vary depending on the Windows version or installation setup.
5. Click Apply, and then click OK to close the window.
The next procedure is applicable only if there is an added string in the Google Chrome shortcut link. Disregard the next step if it is clean.
Delete the malicious script file
1. Open Windows File Explorer. You can use the keyboard shortcut Windows Key + E.
2. On the top menu, click on View > Show > Hidden Items. This will expose all hidden files associated with Porseek.
3. Now, go to the directory or file location of the malicious script that you have observed earlier.
4. Select all the files in this directory or simply choose the folder itself.
5. Click the Delete icon to get rid of the files or folder. Please close the File Explorer window.
6. Next, on your desktop, right-click on Recycle Bin and click on Empty Recycle Bin to completely delete the files.
Step 4 : Get Rid of Porseek Extension from Google Chrome
It is vital to remove any malicious extensions from Google Chrome to stop browser disturbances such as search hijacking, page redirects, and unwanted pop-ups. Below is a simple instruction to get rid of malicious extensions.
1. Open Google Chrome browser.
2. Type or copy and paste the following in the address bar and press Enter on the keyboard.
chrome://extensions/
3. Find Porseek or relevant entry and remove it from Google Chrome.
Cannot Remove Porseek Because "Your Browser is Managed by your Organization", Do the following:
Delete Chrome Policy from the Windows Registry
1. On your keyboard, press Windows Key + R. Type regedit in the field and click OK to open the Registry Editor.
2. The first thing you should do is make a backup copy of the Windows Registry. Go to File > Export. Save the Registry file (.reg) to your preferred location. You may import this file to restore the registry in the event that an error occurs after making changes.
3. One at a time, go to the following registry and delete the Keys (in bold letters).
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Google\Update HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\WOW6432Node\Google\Enrollment
4 . Right-click on the Key, and then select Delete from the choices.
5. Please close the Windows Registry Editor. You may now delete the Porseek extension.
Deleting a Locked Chrome Extension
1. Activate the Developer mode on Extensions window by using the slider.
2. Then, copy or take note of the malicious extension's ID code.
3. Open Windows or File Explorer.
4. Unhide files by going to top menu, View > Show > and select Hidden Items.
5. Locate the following folder:
C:\Users\(Your Username)\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
6. After opening the Folder, find the item that matches the Extension ID and delete it.
7. Please restart your Google Chrome browser.
Aside from this straightforward workaround, we have a separate comprehensive guide to fix the Managed by Organization issue. You can also execute that guide if the steps on this page are not enough to delete Porseek.
Step 5 : Re-check with Sophos Home Antivirus
To remove Porseek automatically, scanning the computer with this powerful antivirus tool is recommended. This scanner does not just uncover known threats like viruses or malware, it is also effective in discovering browser hijacker like Porseek that slows down online browsing activities.
1. Please click on the link below to download the program.
2. After downloading, locate the file SophosInstall.exe in the Downloads folder.
3. Install by double-clicking on the file.
4. If it prompts "Do you want to allow this app to make changes on your device?" please click Yes.
5. Next, it will display the Terms and Conditions page. Click the Install button to begin.
6. Run the installation with the default settings. Please note that an internet connection is required in order to download important updates.
7. After finishing the installation, you must login to the dashboard. If you already have a Sophos account, please login. Otherwise, please enter your details and click on the Create Account button.
8. Once you are in the Sophos Home console, click the Scan button to start checking the computer for Porseek components.
9. Scanning may take a while; please wait for this process to finish.
10. After scanning the computer, Sophos Home will start cleaning or deleting files infected with Porseek.
11. You may now close Sophos Home. The computer is now free from Porseek, as well as associated malware and viruses.
For Mac OS Users
This section contains a comprehensive guide for Mac users. It will help you remove malicious Porseek browser hijacker along with harmful files that come with it. Procedures on this page are written in a manner that can be easily understood and executed by Mac users.
Step 1 : Delete Suspicious Google Chrome Extension on Mac
Most adware and unwanted programs use a program called a browser extension to take over the settings of internet applications on Mac. Therefore, we highly recommend checking and removing the extension that is closely related to Porseek.
1. Open the Google Chrome browser on your Mac.
2. Then, copy and paste the following in the address bar. Next, press Enter on the keyboard:
chrome://extensions
3. Find Porseek or a relevant entry and remove it from Google Chrome.
If unable to remove Porseek because browser is "Managed by your Organization", follow these steps:
1. Activate the Developer mode on Extensions window by using the slider.
2. Then, take note of the browser Extension ID.
3. Open Finder on your Mac and on top menu, click Go > Go to Folder and go the following directory:
~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Default/Extensions
4. Once you opened the directory, find the folder that matches the Extension ID and delete it.
5. Please restart your Google Chrome browser.
Aside from this straightforward workaround, we have a separate comprehensive guide to fix the Managed by Organization issue. You can also execute that guide if the steps on this page are not enough to delete Porseek.
Step 2 : Delete Porseek from Mac Applications
1. Go to Finder.
2. On the menu, click Go and then, select Applications from the list to open Applications Folder.
3. Find Porseek or any unwanted program.
4. Drag Porseek to Trash Bin to delete the application from Mac.
5. Next, go to the Dock, right-click on the Trash icon, and click on Empty Trash.
Step 3 : Delete Malicious Files that have installed Porseek
1. Go to your Finder. From the menu bar, please select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Input the following string and press Enter on the keyboard.
~/Library/LaunchAgents
3. You will now see a hidden folder named LaunchAgents. Take note of the following files inside the folder:
- com.Porseek.plist
- unknown.service.plist
- unknown.system.plist
- unknown.download.plist
- unknown.update.plist
4. The term unknown is just a representation of the actual malware name. Attackers may use the following file names:
- Porseek, (random characters).plist
If you cannot find the specified file, please look for any unfamiliar or suspicious entries. It may be the one causing Porseek to be present on your Mac. Arranging all items to see the latest ones may also help you identify recently installed unfamiliar files.
5. Please click on "Show items as..."
6. To arrange the items in chronological order, click Date Modified.
7. Drag all suspicious files that you may find to Trash.
Take note of all the suspicious files, as you may also delete the same item in another folder as we go on.8. Please restart the Mac computer.
9. Open another folder using the same method as above. Copy and paste the following string to easily locate the folder:
~/Library/Application Support
10. Select any suspicious items that you have noted previously. Drag them to the Trash.
11. Repeat the process in the following non-hidden folders (without ~):
/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Library/Application Support
12. Lastly, go to your Finder > Go and open the Applications folder. Look for subfolders with the following names and drag them to Trash.
- Porseek, (random characters)
Optional : For locked files that cannot be removed, do the following:
1. Go to Launchpad > Other folder, open the Activity Monitor.
2. Select the process you want to quit.
3. In the upper part of the window, click the Stop button.
4. Click on Force Quit button.
5. You may now delete or remove the locked file that belongs to Porseek homepage hijacker.
Step 4 : Double-check with Malwarebytes for Mac
Use Malwarebytes for Mac to do another scan to make sure the machine is already clear of viruses, malware, and adware. This efficient anti-malware application allows you to detect things that other security software was unable to recognize.
1. Download Malwarebytes for Mac from the link below.
2. Locate the downloaded Malwarebytes-Mac.pkg and install it with the default settings.
3. Run Malwarebytes for Mac. It will check for updates and download the most recent version if one is available. This is necessary for finding recent malware threats, including Porseek.
4. Once you are on the Malwarebytes dashboard, please click on the Scan button to start scanning your Mac computer.
5. After the scan, Malwarebytes for Mac will display a list of identified threats, and Porseek is surely part of it. Be sure to select all items in the list. Then, click the Remove button to clean the computer.
If Needed: Fix the Homepage and Search of Google Chrome
1. Open the Google Chrome browser. Type or copy and paste the following on the address bar. Then, press Enter on the keyboard:
chrome://settings
2. Go to the left sidebar and click On Startup.
3. Select "Open a specific page or set of pages" in the right panel.
4. Locate the unwanted Homepage URL, click on More Actions icon (3-dot), and select Remove or Edit.
5. If you choose Edit, enter the desired web address as your home page, replacing Porseek. Click Save.
6. To set the default search engine, go to the left sidebar, and this time, select Search Engine.
7. Click on the Manage search engines and site search button in the right panel.
8. Find the unwanted Search Engine in the list. Click on More Actions icon, and then click Delete.
9. Go back to the left side bar and click Search Engine.
10. In the right panel, choose a valid entry from the "Search engine used in the address bar."
You can now restart the Google Chrome browser to see if the unwanted homepage and search engine related to Porseek are gone.
System Compatibility Notice
We made sure that our guide to remove Porseek is compatible with most Microsoft operating systems (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11), as well as Mac OS. To avoid complexities, the commands used in the procedures are common, usable, and tested. If you found compatibility issues while using this guide, kindly approach us via message form or the comment section below, and we will make sure to respond and make necessary adjustments.
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