How do I remove or uninstall My Web Search completely from my computer?

How do I remove or uninstall "My Web Search" from my computer?

Do you have kids?  I do.  And that's how I got My Web Search toolbar installed on my computer.  Kids these days are very curious about computers.  And they just LOVE to play computer games.   (ok I admit it...some games ARE pretty cool)   So when the greatest game on earth can be downloaded for FREE off of the internet...this is an easy sell for kids!  "But it's FREE dad!"  I hear this all the time.  Read on to easily get rid of this annoying toolbar that has taken over your computer.

Both you and I know that Nothing is FREE!  Download that free computer game for the kids and WHAMMO!  For no extra charge you get spyware, malware, and/or TROJANS!  The Vundo trojan virus has ties to MyWebSearch.  So I would recommend that you get going on the process of removing MyWebSearch sooner than later.

The nasty My Web Search toolbar software installs tracking cookies to follow your every internet move.  This software eats up valuable computer  resources which may have already slowed down your computer.  Your anti-virus may also have considered this software to be spyware. 

MyWebSearch toobar or My Way Speedbar (same software), can be removed using the "Add/Remove Programs" portion of your operating system.  But you may have noticed that the toolbar is still present in your browser.  Therefore I will walk you through all the steps necessary to completely rid yourself of MyWebSearch.

MyWebSearch software will take a few steps to completely remove.  I would rate this process as:  EASY.  But just make sure you follow all the instructions step by step all the way to the end.

Step 1: Uninstalling MyWebSearch

Some of you may have already tried removing MyWebSearch in the "Add/Remove Programs" section.  If you have, great!  Move on to step #2.  If not... do so now.  Here's how.

• Click on "Start"
• Click on "Control Panel"
• Click on "Add or Remove Programs."  A list of your installed programs will appear.
• Scroll down the list to "My Web Search."
• Double click on "My Web Search" and follow the on screen instructions.

The writers of My Web Search are "slick".  Also look out for names like "My Way Search Assistant", "My Way Speedbar", these are the same program as mentioned above.  Look for these "alias" names in the following steps as well.

You will see a window pop-up saying, "Are you sure you want to uninstall My Web Search?"  Click absolutely "Yes" or "Ok."

Step 2:  Next, check the directories for MyWebSearch

Now that the software is uninstalled, we need to do a follow up to make sure ALL portions of the software is gone.  There are just a few extra steps to follow.  It won't take you more than about 10 mins from here.  But this is necessary to ensure that all of MyWebSearch is completely gone from your computer.

MyWebSearch doesn't always go away completely on it's own.  The writers of this software want it to remain on your computer.  And so we have to follow up to remove the remaining portion that was left behind.

From here, hit the Windows Key + R on your keyboard.  The "Run" window will pop up.  In this window, you'll want to type the following:  c://   (It may already be present)  Click "ok".

A directory folder will pop up.  Double click on the folder named "Program Files".  Once in the Program Files folder, you'll want to look for any folder that are named, MyWebSearch", or "My Way Search Assistant", or "My Way Speedbar".  Right click on the folder and select "Delete".

If you don't see any folders with those names.  No worries, we are just following up to make sure that they don't.  Let move on.

Step 3: Removing MyWebSearch from Windows Registry

In this step, you'll be deleting registry keys, so you may want to backup your registry in case you click on something you are supposed to.

Hit the Windows Key + R so that the "Run" window is open again.  But this time Type the following: regedit

Click "Ok"

Here you will find the Registry Editor.  Click on the + sign or the > sign next to the folder called "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE".  Then click on the + or the > sign next to the folder called SOFTWARE.  In this folder, look for a folder that has "MyWebSearch" in the name.  Right click the "MyWebSearch" folder and delete it. 

Once you delete the “MyWebSearch” folder, open the Microsoft folder which is located in the Software folder.  If you see any folders that are named "MyWebSearch" (or any of the alias that are named above), delete it.

Also look for a folder named CurrentVersion in the Microsoft folder.  Click on the + or > sign and look for the "Run" folder.  Click on this folder and you will find some files listed.  If you see a file that has "MyWebSearch" in the name, delete it.  You can now exit our of the registry.

Step 4: Getting Rid of MyWebSearch in Your Browser

You may have first noticed "MyWebSearch" in your browser as it replaced your normal home page with it's own search engine.

Changing the search bar in the browser's home page is the most annoying thing about malware and spyware!  "MyWebSearch" also changed your setting in your browser.  Now you have to set it back. 

Now that you have confirmed that "MyWebSearch" is gone from the directories, go into the browser's "add-ons" section and make sure MyWebSearch is not there as well.  If it is... you know what to do, DELETE IT!

Know you can change your browser's home page through your browser's settings section.  If your browser has a built-in search bar, right click on the icon next to the bar to change to the search engine of your choice.

Your almost done...  just one last note.

Run your anti-spyware program.  If you have followed my instructions completely, you should be very happy with your familiar home page.  But run the anti-spyware just in case to ensure all is running as it should and that your computer is malware free!

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