Easysearching.net is a fake search-engine redirect tied to the Easy Search browser hijacker. If Chrome, Edge, or Firefox keeps opening Easysearching.net when you search or open a new tab, remove the Easy Search extension first, reset the affected search and new-tab settings, then check Windows for bundled adware if the redirect returns.
The redirect is annoying because it can look like a normal search flow after it lands on Bing or another engine. The important clue is the short stop at easysearching.net before the final results page.
What Is Easysearching.net?
Easysearching.net is promoted by an extension named Easy Search. Current public research describes the extension as a browser hijacker that changes the default search engine and new-tab URL, then sends searches through Easysearching.net instead of letting the browser use the search provider you chose. If you need broader context, Gridinsoft also has a PUA and browser hijacker removal guide for the same class of unwanted software.
That does not mean every search result you see is malicious. The risk is that the browser setting has been changed by unwanted software, and the extension may keep tracking browsing activity or reinstalling its settings until the source is removed.
Common Symptoms
- Your address-bar searches briefly pass through
easysearching.net. - New tabs or the default search provider switch back after you change them.
- An extension named Easy Search, or another unfamiliar search helper, appears in the browser.
- The browser says a setting is controlled by an extension or policy.
- Ads, notification spam, or other redirects appeared after installing free software.
How To Remove Easysearching.net Redirects
- Remove the Easy Search extension. In Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, open the extensions or add-ons page and remove Easy Search plus any other extension you do not recognize.
- Reset search and new-tab settings. Choose your preferred search provider again and remove Easysearching.net from the browser’s search, startup, homepage, and new-tab settings.
- Check for managed-policy leftovers. If Chrome or Edge says settings are managed and this is not a work or school device, look for unwanted browser policies created by the hijacker or bundled software.
- Remove suspicious installed apps. Sort Windows apps by install date and uninstall recent freeware, coupon, PDF, template, search, or extension helper apps you did not mean to install.
- Clean notification and adware companions. Remove notification permissions from unfamiliar sites, especially if pop-ups started around the same time as the redirect.
- Scan the computer if the redirect returns. A returning redirect usually means a companion app, scheduled task, startup entry, or sync setting is restoring the extension.
- Launch Chrome.
- Click the three dots (...) in the top right corner.
- Select Extensions > Manage Extensions.
- Click Remove next to the extension you want to delete.
Quick Access: Type chrome://extensions/ in the address bar.
- Open Safari.
- In the menu bar, click Safari and select Settings (or Preferences).
- Click on the Extensions tab.
- Select the extension and click Uninstall.
- Click the menu button, select Add-ons and themes.
- Go to the Extensions tab.
- Click the three dots (...) next to the extension and select Remove.
Quick Access: Type about:addons in the address bar.
- Launch Microsoft Edge.
- Click the three dots (...) in the top right corner.
- Select Extensions.
- Find the extension and click Remove.
Quick Access: Type edge://extensions/ in the address bar.
- Launch Brave browser.
- Click the menu icon > Extensions.
- Find the extension and click Remove.
Quick Access: Type brave://extensions/ in the address bar.
- Launch Opera.
- Click the Opera logo in the top left corner.
- Select Extensions > Extensions.
- Click the X or Remove button next to the extension.
Quick Access: Type opera://extensions/ in the address bar.
Open Extensions/Add-ons again and remove any entry linked to Easy Search or clearly out of place.
- Tap on the three dots (...) in the top right corner and Choose Settings.
- Choose Reset and Clean up and Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Tap Reset settings.
Quick Access: Type chrome://settings/reset in the address bar.
- Open Safari.
- In the menu bar, click Safari > Clear History.
- Select all history and click Clear History.
- Go to Safari > Settings (or Preferences).
- Click the Privacy tab and select Manage Website Data... > Remove All.
- In the Advanced tab, check Show features for web developers.
- In the menu bar, select Develop > Empty Caches.
- Launch Brave browser.
- Click the menu icon in the top right corner and select Settings.
- Click Additional settings > Reset settings.
- Tap Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm by clicking Reset settings.
Quick Access: Type brave://settings/reset in the address bar.
- In the upper right corner tap the three-line icon and Choose Help.
- Choose More Troubleshooting Information.
- Choose Refresh Firefox... then Refresh Firefox.
Quick Access: Type about:support and click Refresh Firefox.
- Tap the three dots.
- Choose Settings.
- Tap Reset Settings, then Click Restore settings to their default values.
Quick Access: Type edge://settings/reset in the address bar.
- Launch the Opera browser.
- Click the Opera menu button in the top left corner and select Settings.
- Scroll down to the Advanced section in the left sidebar and click Reset and clean up.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Click Reset settings to confirm.
Quick Access: Type opera://settings/reset in the address bar.
After reset, verify that easysearching.net is no longer set as your default search engine or homepage.
If easysearching.net keeps showing unwanted pop-ups, you likely granted it permission to send notifications. To stop them, you need to revoke that permission in your browser settings.
- Copy and paste this into the address bar:
chrome://settings/content/notifications - Scroll down to the Allowed to send notifications list.
- Find easysearching.net.
- Click the three dots (...) next to it and select Remove (or Block).
- Open Safari and go to Settings (or Preferences).
- Click the Websites tab and select Notifications on the left.
- Find easysearching.net in the list on the right.
- Select it and click Remove (or change "Allow" to "Deny").
- Copy and paste this into the address bar:
about:preferences#privacy - Scroll down to Permissions and click Settings... next to Notifications.
- Type easysearching.net in the search bar or find it in the list.
- Select the site and click Remove Website.
- Copy and paste this into the address bar:
edge://settings/content/notifications - Look under the Allow section.
- Find easysearching.net.
- Click the three dots (...) next to it and select Remove (or Block).
- Copy and paste this into the address bar:
brave://settings/content/notifications - Scroll to the Allowed to send notifications list.
- Find easysearching.net.
- Click the three dots (...) and select Remove (or Block).
- Copy and paste this into the address bar:
opera://settings/content/notifications - Check the Allowed to send notifications list.
- Find easysearching.net.
- Click the three dots next to it and select Remove.
If Easysearching.net Keeps Coming Back
A browser hijacker that returns after removal is usually being restored by browser sync, an installed app, a startup entry, or a policy key. Pause browser sync while cleaning, remove the extension on every synced device, and then re-enable sync only after the clean profile stays stable. For a deeper checklist, use the browser extension keeps reinstalling itself guide.
On Windows, check startup folders, scheduled tasks, and Autoruns entries for recently added updater names, extension installers, or browser launch commands. Do not delete enterprise policy entries on a managed work computer; ask the administrator first.
If Easysearching.net returns after the browser cleanup, run a Gridinsoft Anti-Malware scan to look for the bundled adware, startup task, or leftover installer that may be restoring the Easy Search extension.
Risk And What To Do
| Situation | Risk and next step |
|---|---|
| You only saw the redirect once | Remove the extension and reset search settings. Watch whether the setting returns. |
| The redirect returns after browser reset | Look for a bundled Windows app, policy, scheduled task, or synced extension restoring it. |
| Ads, pop-ups, or unknown apps appeared too | Treat it as broader adware cleanup and scan the device before entering passwords. |
| You entered passwords while the hijacker was active | Change important passwords from a clean browser and enable two-factor authentication. |
How To Avoid Similar Search Hijackers
Install extensions only when you know why you need them, review permissions before adding them, and avoid installers that bundle browser helpers with unrelated apps. During setup, use custom options and decline search, coupon, toolbar, or “recommended browser enhancement” offers. Recent exact-domain redirect examples such as Search1.me and WebWebWeb show why the domain name in the address bar matters during cleanup.
For future checks, keep a short list of trusted extensions. If a new extension changes search behavior, remove it quickly instead of trying to work around the redirect.
FAQ
Is Easysearching.net a virus?
Easysearching.net is best treated as a browser-hijacker redirect, not a standalone virus. The bigger concern is the extension or bundled app that forced the browser to use it.
Why does Easysearching.net send me to Bing?
Fake search engines often do not generate their own results. They redirect the query to Bing or another provider after inserting their own redirect step.
Can I just change the search engine back?
Sometimes yes, but if Easy Search or another extension is still installed, the setting may be changed again. Remove the source first, then reset the search provider.
Should I reinstall the browser?
Reinstallation is usually unnecessary. Remove the extension, reset the profile, clear policy leftovers, and scan Windows first. Reinstall only if the profile remains corrupted.
References
- PCrisk / Tomas Meskauskas. “Easysearching.net Redirect.” PCRisk, published June 5, 2026, accessed June 5, 2026. https://www.pcrisk.com/removal-guides/35413-easysearching-net-redirect
- Google Chrome Help. “Set default search engine and site search shortcuts.” Google, accessed June 5, 2026. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95426?hl=en-GB
- Microsoft Support. “Change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge.” Microsoft, accessed June 5, 2026. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/change-your-default-search-engine-in-microsoft-edge
- Mozilla Support. “Manage Firefox search settings.” Mozilla, accessed June 5, 2026. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-your-default-search-settings-firefox
- Microsoft Learn. “Autoruns for Windows.” Microsoft Sysinternals, accessed June 5, 2026. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/autoruns
Some redirect cases start with a named extension rather than a fake search page. If you installed the template helper, follow the Easy Online Templates removal steps before resetting search settings.
