The DSR Search is a browser hijacker site with (URL: search-redir.com) that’s been around for about a month now and it continues to find new ways to get inside people’s browsers and bother them with misleading ads, redirects to Yahoo/Bing pages, and unwanted promotions of sketchy sites.
At its core, this is nothing but a fake search engine that’s designed to replace whatever is your browser’s default search tool at the moment. However, the interesting thing about DSR Search is how it’s tied to a number of other rogue search engines, hijacker sites, and even malware programs that will often get installed together on the computer.
OFFERDSR Search is often introduced to the browser by malicious programs like Watchdog, PCAppStore, or a fake optimization app called “Fast“. And that’s only scratching the surface. This hijacker is only one small node in a huge network of rogue sites, unwanted apps, and malicious programs, so if you have it in your browser at the moment, I urge you to follow the steps I’ll show you next to clean your PC.
Also, if you have any of the other mentioned rogue components, I recommend checking their respective articles (which I’ve linked) to learn how to delete them too.
DSR Search Removal Guide
There are all kinds of distribution vectors for hijackers like DSR Search and not all of them involve the added installation of rogue software. Sometimes, the answer to getting rid of this app is simpler than you think, so I recommend going for the simpler steps first:
- Go to the Extensions Manager in your browser and look for DSR Search or anything linked to it.
- If you find the culprit, see if there’s an active Remove button beneath it and click that.
- Go to Privacy and Security in the browser’s settings and examine the Site Settings section. Look specifically at Notifications and Pop-ups and Redirects.
- See “Search-redir.com” or any other unfamiliar URLs there? Delete them and then restart your browser.
- Now go to the Search Engine section in the browser’s settings and make sure you are using Google or another reputable search provider as the browser’s default one.
Now reboot the PC and reopen the browser. If there are no remaining traces of DSR Search, you’re probably good to go.
I won’t lie to you, most of the time the hijacker won’t be gone. It’s even possible that you weren’t able to perform one or more of these quick steps. Doesn’t matter – the actual removal guide below will let you solve all of that, so go ahead and complete its steps if DSR Search is still being a nuisance.
SUMMARY:
This guide ensures a higher chance of success in the removal of DSR Search, as well as the deletion of rogue applications or extensions associated with it. These steps may require an hour or more to complete and demand a basic understanding of troubleshooting methods.
For those unsure about the ability to complete the steps accurately or those unable to allocate the necessary time, an alternative solution exists. SpyHunter 5, accessible through the link on this page, provides a reliable option. This tool eliminates the DSR Search hijacker and all related malware from your PC with only a few steps.
How to Get Rid of DSR Search
The DSR Search hijacker takes control of your browser by embedding restrictive policies. These policies block changes to your settings, leaving you unable to regain full control. If you’ve noticed a message like “Managed by your organization” in your browser settings, that’s your red flag. Addressing these policies is the first step in removing the hijacker completely.
To remove the policy, you need to visit the browser’s policy page. Enter the correct URL into the address bar and press Enter:
- For Chrome:
chrome://policy - For Microsoft Edge:
edge://policy - For Brave:
brave://policy
For other Chromium browsers, adapt the URL by replacing the browser name.
Once the page loads, look for a policy with random characters in the Value column. This represents the hijacker’s control. Copy this value and save it in a text file. This small step might feel insignificant, but it’s a critical part of the process.
Now you need to do a similar thing in the Extensions Manager page of your browser.
However, the hijacker’s extension often interferes with browser functionality, including blocking access to the Extensions page. If this happens, you’ll need to remove the extension data directly from your computer’s file system.
First, navigate to the extensions folder.
For Chrome: C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
For other Chromium-based browsers, check the following image:
Once in the extensions folder, you won’t see clear labels for individual extensions. To eliminate the hijacker, delete all folders in this directory. Press Ctrl + A to select everything, then press Delete. This action disables all browser extensions. Legitimate ones can be reinstalled later without much hassle.
With the extension data cleared, try accessing the Extensions Manager again. The page should now open normally.
Enable Developer Mode on the Extensions page to display detailed information about each extension. Look for the hijacker extension ID. If it’s not immediately visible, click on any suspicious extensions to view their details. Copy the ID and add it to your text file.
Check for any other extensions that might be connected to the hijacker. Even seemingly harmless extensions could be compromised. Documenting all suspicious IDs ensures no traces are left behind.
Video walkthrough for this step:
How to Delete DSR Search Virus Policies
DSR Search’s rogue policies are what’s keeping you from removing the hijacker, but now you’ve got the means to hunt them down.
First, go to the Registry Editor. You’ll find it in the Start Menu, but make sure to open it with Admin privileges.
Press Ctrl + F, then search for the first of the collected policy values.
Delete the key (folder in the left panel) that gets found and search again.
You must make sure there are no more results for that search query and then proceed to the next policy value or rogue extension ID.
The hijacker could be blocking your access to some of its keys, but there’s an easy solution:
Start by right-clicking the parent key. You must go to Permissions > Advanced > Change, and type “everyone” in the text field.
Then you must click the Check Names button and Apply the changes. Next, click OK, enable the two newly-appeared “Replace…” options, and click Apply and OK again.
This should make the hijacker key deletable, so go ahead and remove it.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Get Rid of DSR Search Malware Policies: Alternative Methods
The Registry Cleanup should be enough to rid of any DSR Search policies locking the browser, but in case you are still seeing the “Managed by your organization” message, there are two alternatives you can try:
Open the Start Menu. and search for “Edit Group Policy“. Click the first thing that shows up.
In the Group Policy Editor, find and right-click Administrative Templates on the left, and click on Add/Remove Templates.
Remove any unrecognized templates. We doubt you’ve willingly added any yourself, so it’s generally best to delete everything you see in that list.
The next thing you can do is to use the free Chrome Policy Remover tool, but only if you are a Google Chrome user.
This automates the removal of rogue policies and is super easy to use – you just need to run it and will take care of the rest.
Download and run it with administrator privileges. Your system might warn you about the program, since it’s not from an official developer, but don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe so ignore the warning: Click “More Info” and “Run Anyway” and the tool will open and automatically eliminate policies applied by the hijacker.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Manual Group Policy Removal
Automatic Group Policy Removal
How to Remove DSR Search From Chrome and Edge
We are at the final step of the removal guide. You need to once more go to your browser’s settings and this time successfully reverse the changes made to them by DSR Search:
Start with the Extensions page. Delete any suspicious extensions linked to DSR Search.
Next, visit the Privacy and Security settings to delete the browser cache, cookies, and other temporary data which may hold records linked to the hijacker.
Click the Delete browsing data button, go to the Advanced tab, and put ticks on everything. Leave only Passwords unchecked. Then choose a time frame long enough to include the entire period DSR Search was in the browser, and then delete the data.
Once again, review the Site Settings, but this time check every single permission type to remove unfamiliar URLs like “Search-redir.com” listed in the “Allow” section.
Also, don’t forget to reset your search engine to a trusted provider and to delete any rogue addresses shown in the Manage Search Engines section.
Lastly, ensure there aren’t any suspicious URLs in the “On Startup” and “Appearance” tabs. If there are, delete them.
Video walkthrough for this step:
Chrome
Microsoft Edge
Mozilla Firefox
How to Remove the “Fast!” Virus
If you’re dealing with the “Fast!” virus, it’s time to roll up your sleeves. This rogue app, often paired with the DSR Search hijacker, doesn’t just disappear on its own. You’ll need to dig deep to remove it completely. It’s frustrating, but leaving any traces of this malware can lead to the hijacker reappearing. Don’t worry—I’ll guide you through every step.
Step 1: Start by Removing the App
Fast! likes to cling to your system, so you’ll need to handle it carefully. First, open the Fast! app if you can, go to its settings, and turn off any features that let it run in the background after closing. Next, type “Startup” in the search bar, check the list, and disable Fast! from launching when your PC boots up.
Once you’ve disabled its sneaky settings, open Apps & Features, find Fast!, and uninstall it. Don’t stop there. Look for related programs, such as “PC App Store,” and remove those too. Rogue apps like Fast! often travel with friends.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye out for other suspicious apps you don’t recognize. If something looks out of place, research it before deciding to keep it.
Step 2: End Remaining Processes
Even after uninstalling, Fast! leaves remnants behind. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, and look for any active processes linked to Fast!. You’re likely to see a process named FastSRV. Right-click it, select Open File Location, and delete the entire folder.
Sometimes, the system won’t let you delete the folder because it’s “in use.” When that happens, use a tool like LockHunter to unlock and delete the files. After that, return to Task Manager and click End Task for any remaining Fast!-related processes.
Removing these stubborn files ensures the malware doesn’t come back.
Step 3: Clean Up Scheduled Tasks
Fast! often hides tasks in the Task Scheduler to reinstall itself. Open Task Scheduler, click on Task Scheduler Library, and check each task one by one. Pay special attention to the Actions tab for tasks executing unknown .EXE files or accessing strange URLs. Delete anything that looks suspicious.
It’s tedious, but missing a single task could undo all your hard work.
Final Check: Verify It’s Gone
Restart your computer and check for any signs of Fast!. Look in Apps & Features, Task Manager, and your system tray. If it’s nowhere to be found, congratulations—you’ve removed it for good.
To prevent future issues, keep your antivirus software updated and run regular scans. Taking the time to secure your PC now can save you a lot of headaches later.R Search into your browser.
Spy hunter has not fixed the problem
hi Kevin Myers,
what happened? Can you be more specific why SpyHunter did not fix this?