Dogpile.com virus - How to remove

Dogpile.com virus is a browser hijacker that changes your homepage and default search provider without your knowledge and brings some other unwanted modifications in your browser. The program can be added to Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome browsers. It is usually installed together with other software that is available to download from the Internet, for example, various video players, PDF creators and so on.

Dogpile.com is similar to Ecosia, Searchengage, Search.gg, and others. What makes some search engines – browser hijackers isn’t just poor functionality, but unwanted installation and dishonest distribution. This means that some people might really like a search engine, while others might consider it malware.

Dogpile.com is a browser hijacker

Dogpile.com appears like a regular search website with its own theme of a cute canine companion “fetching” your answers from all around the web. It claims to find the most relevant results by combining the results of the biggest engines out there, called metasearch. However, some users are complaining about it as it replaces their favorite search provider in their browser settings without their knowledge. This is clearly the behavior of a browser hijacker.

Generally, search redirects viruses and browser hijackers want to get access to your browser so that they can:

• For you to use the search provider they support (either popularize a small one, or get more users for a big one).
• Allow ads in search results and make money that way.
• Get access to your keywords and browsing history in order to use that info to help advertisers make more money.

If Dogpile.com gets forced on your browser, it becomes a hijacker:

Symptoms of a hijacking	Dogpile.com is the default search engine without you even setting it Browser settings refuse to change or revert after a while Ad spam
Threats and problems	Search results are filled with ads Privacy might be compromised
Solution	Delete malware from your computer (Combo Cleaner for Mac, SpyHunter for PC) Remove browser add-ons related with Dogpile.com Restore browser settings
Avoid browser hijackers	Block malicious websites with real-time web protection Be careful when installing freeware to avoid optional offers Scan every setup file before running it Regularly update your security software

When I searched using Dogpile.com, it struck me that this site has more ads than even the other hijackers. Ads above the results, at the bottom of the page, and in the middle. And it’s not just every other search – each query seems to return a lot of ads. This means that finding relevant results will require scrolling and wading through ads every time.

How hijackers get installed

Freeware bundling is a common way for hijackers to spread. In fact, as the program usually comes bundled with other software, users do not notice it as they tend to skip the installation steps of most software they are installing. Actually most of the time you can see all bundled programs at one of the steps of installation. If you deselect an option to install Dogpile.com, it would not be added to your browser. The bundler which installed it should be viewed with suspicion, as well as the site that you got it from.

That said, Dogpile.com is not necessarily a malicious website, and legitimate sites like Bing.com have used bundling, as well. So, if Dogpile.com is stuck in your browser and you can’t remove it, don’t fret too much – it’s not really dangerous.

How to remove Dogpile.com

If you want to restore your previous search engine, how you do it depends on how Dogpile.com was installed. It might be enough to just fix your browser settings, or you might need to review what applications you have installed. It might be enough to set your search engine in your settings. You will have to do it manually by yourself. Depending on the browser you are using, follow the instructions below.

If that doesn’t work, you can check browser extensions for Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, as well as the applications on your computer.  If you do not see Dogpile.com listed, you should use antimalware tools like Combo Cleaner for Mac OS or SpyHunter for Windows and scan your computer with it. Uninstalling the program from your computer doesn’t change your search providers, so try it now.

To remove the search virus manually, if you have Windows, go to Control Panel -> Add and Remove programs list, if you have Mac OS, then your Applications folder, and uninstall it from there. It is important that you remove all other programs installed with the hijacker, as some of them might redownload or reset back browser settings. An antivirus program should be able to find unwanted software.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Remove Dogpile.com from your browser

How to remove Dogpile.com virus using Windows Control Panel

Many hijackers and adware like Dogpile.com virus install some of their components as regular Windows programs as well as additional software. This part of malware can be uninstalled from the Control Panel. To access it, do the following.

• Start→Control Panel (older Windows) or press Windows Key→Search and enter Control Panel and then press Enter (Windows 8, Windows 10).
• Choose Uninstall Program (if you don't see it, click in the upper right next to "View by" and select Category).
• Go through the list of programs and select entries related to Dogpile.com virus . You can click on "Name" or "Installed On" to reorder your programs and make Dogpile.com virus easier to find.
• Click the Uninstall button. If you're asked if you really want to remove the program, click Yes.
• In many cases anti-malware programs are better at detecting related parasites, thus I recommend installing Spyhunter to identify other programs that might be a part of this infection.

How to remove Dogpile.com virus from macOS

Delete Dogpile.com virus from your applications.

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, click Go.
3. Select Applications from the dropdown.
4. Find the Dogpile.com virus app.
5. Select it and right-click it (or hold the Ctrl and click the left mouse button).
6. In the dropdown, click Move to Bin/Trash. You might be asked to provide your login password.

TopHow To remove Dogpile.com virus from Google Chrome:

• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
  
• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
  
• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
  
• Select Manage Search engines
  
• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
  
• Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
• If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
  
• Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Dogpile.com virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How To remove Dogpile.com virus from Firefox:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (Or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything Dogpile.com virus related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on the Firefox menu in the top right corner, select Options → General. Enter a preferable URL to the homepage field and click Restore to Default.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Dogpile.com virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• ChooseTroubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on theReset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program to identify malicious entries.

How to remove Dogpile.com virus from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.

• Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings

• Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.

• Choose Manage search engines.

• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.

• Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
• Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Dogpile.com virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings

• Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
• Press the Restore settings to their default values option.

• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove Dogpile.com virus from Safari:Top

Remove malicious extensions

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences.
  
• Select Extensions and uninstall Dogpile.com virus and other suspicious extensions.
  
• If your homepage was changed, click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Preferences and choose General tab. Enter preferable URL to the homepage field.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings(older versions) If you are still experiencing any issues related to Dogpile.com virus, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Safari menu on the top left corner of the screen. Select Reset Safari…
  
• Select which options you want to reset (usually all of them come preselected) and click on the Reset button.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

Manual removal