GoAdblockSearch

The GoAdblockSearch is yet another browser hijacker tasked with generating artificial traffic and promoting a fake search engine. In this case, the application is diverting traffic towards its own page at goadblocksearch.com. Users should keep in mind that PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) such as GoAdblockSearch are seldom distributed through fully legitimate channels. In the vast majority of cases, they are either hidden in the installation settings of a more desirable product (a scheme known as bundling) or injected into fake software installers.

Even if you failed to notice exactly when GoAdblockSearch was delivered to your computer, the presence of the application will become glaringly obvious almost immediately. After all, the PUP will waste no time and go after the settings of the installed web browsers. More specifically, GoAdblockSearch will change the browser's homepage, new tab page and default search engine. All three settings may now be changed to open the promoted page.

Most fake engines rely on a legitimate one (Yahoo, Bing, Google) for the results they show to users. However, is not uncommon for the user's search queries to instead be taken to a dubious engine, such as nearbyme.io. Although these engines are capable of producing results, usually they are of lower quality and feature various sponsored advertisements that may not even fit the terms of the search.

it is not uncommon for the user's search queries to instead be taken to a dubious engine, such as nearbyme.io. Although these engines are capable of producing results, usually they are of lower quality and feature various sponsored advertisements that may not even fit the terms of the search.

Users also should be aware that most PUPs are equipped with data-collection functionality. The suspicious applications could siphon various information from the system including the browsing history, search history, IP address, browser type, geolocation, ISP and more. The harvested data will be packaged and then transmitted to a remote server.