What is Vista Search?
Vista Search might not seem like much of a threat, but it is a potentially unwanted program (PUP). A PUP is not a malicious computer infection. It is a regular program that users often download and install accidentally. You might wonder how on earth that could happen because clearly, people download only the programs they want and need, right? Well, you’d be surprised. It quite often that the likes of Vista Search manage to plop into target systems out of the blue, and then users are left scratching their heads, wondering what happened. And then they scramble to remove Vista Search and all the other unwanted apps.
Where does Vista Search come from?
Although there is no official website out there that would distribute Vista Search directly, we can actually find the extension on the Chrome Web Store. Also, it is very likely that the extension gets added to browsers through pop-ups and redirects. The bottom line is that it doesn’t trick users into adding it. It also doesn’t slither into the target systems surreptitiously. You have to give your permission for this extension to enter your browser.
Therefore, it shouldn’t be that hard to avoid Vista Search, but you need to maintain caution whenever you encounter new apps or new websites. Read all the information you can find about unfamiliar programs you want to install. Also, avoid third-party websites that might bundle several programs together.
What does Vista Search do?
Even if you say that you didn’t want Vista Search on-board or that you didn’t notice how this extension was added to your browser, you have to understand that this app INFORMS you about the things it does beforehand. Before this extension gets added to the browser, it displays a list of permissions it needs to function properly. Those permissions are:
- Read your browsing history.
- Change your search settings to: feed.vista-search.com.
So, in a sense, Vista Search tells you what it does in advance. If you do not read those pop-ups, then of course, the modifications that follow can take you by surprise. For the most part, this extension might resemble a browser hijacker because it changes your default search engine settings. However, let’s not forget what this extension is called: Vista Search.
That’s actually how it promotes itself: Vista Search – The best way to search. Another promotional line says that “this extension lets you browse the web and get easy access to search, images, videos, and news. This is a single purpose extension.”
So, it seems that the extension works pretty much like a set of bookmarks that should help you find the content you need faster. But the problem is that this extension is a third-party application that merely collects data from other search engines and then presents it to you on the proverbial silver platter. But the catch there is that the data and the search results Vista Search promotes might be slightly modified based on your likes and preferences. After all, this extension does need to read your browsing history, right?
And this is where the main danger lies: If Vista Search can read your browsing history and then promote custom content, it might inadvertently expose you to potentially harmful content, too. We mustn’t forget that programs like Vista Search survive on third-party advertising. But such programs do not review or screen the third-party content they promote. Thus, there is always a chance that someone could exploit Vista Search to promote their harmful content, and you could be the first victim. Thus, the sooner you remove Vista Search from your browser, the better.
How do I remove Vista Search?
Thankfully, it is really easy to remove Vista Search from your browser. You just need to delete the extension via the Extensions menu. However, if you want to terminate all the unwanted apps together, it would be a good idea to reset your browser to original settings. Of course, some users may not want to do that because then, they would lose they bookmarks, saved passwords, and so on. If that’s your case, you can scan your computer with the SpyHunter free scanner and see what other unwanted apps you have installed. Then, you can remove them one by one, or use a powerful security tool to remove them automatically.
Manual Vista Search Removal
- Launch the Chrome browser.
- Press Alt+F and select More tools.
- Click Extensions.
- Locate Vista Search and click the Remove button.
- Scan your computer with a security tool.
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