Edge Stable version is reportedly redirecting Google Search results via “OKSearch” to some other sites. There were multiple reports on this on Reddit and one, on the Answers forum. As of now, Microsoft is aware of this and is investigating the issue. Meanwhile, the company suggested the affected users turn off all extensions.
Malicious Extensions hijacking the browser Home page, new Tab Page, and search settings isn’t a new thing. But this is happening in the new Edge for some users and with different extensions installed.
Google Search Results redirecting via OKSearch reported
According to reports [1] [2] [3], users searching from the address bar in Edge with Google as the default search engine have this issue.
When clicked on one of the search results on Google, they’re seeing redirection from “https://oksearch.org/xa2/click.html?<more here>”, to some other sites such as Amazon, Shopify, and others.
Redirecting from search links is happening randomly, but not consistently.
Most of the users confirmed their PCs came clean when scanned with Malwarebytes, AdwCleaner, and Microsoft Defender.
Beware of Fake extensions in Edge Add-ons Store
One affected user claimed a Fake version of the “AdGuard VPN” extension installed from the Edge Add-ons Store is doing the redirection.
Another user says he doesn’t have that extension but with Great Suspender installed, he claims it is also Fake and has malware attached.
Microsoft Edge Community Manager, Missy said Microsoft is investigating the issue and suggests to disable extensions and report if they’re still seeing the injections after that.
A little bit of searching for OKSerch reveals, it has a New Tab extension for Chrome and Edge browser.
Microsoft Edge and Google Search engine are the common things among the users with different extensions.
Recently Google has removed malicious extensions from Chrome Web Store that injected ads into search results, Microsoft also did that for few adware extensions in Edge Add-ons Store.
Are you affected? Does your Search results in Edge redirect to elsewhere? Let us know in the comments below
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This happened not with google search I faced the same issue even with Bing search as well
I just got this with a Bing search as well. I don’t have the listed extensions installed.
Not sure if related and been happening awhile that search results contain weird sites usually on page 3 and more. mine are ending in “it” but I’ve seen them end in different “not the norm” domain names. When clicked on iPhone they redirect to scammy sites that you can just close. Not sure on other devices and have seen it happen on other devices, networks, and web browsers. I do have extensions on pc browsers but of course not on iPhone and it happens on their as well. Not dns hyjack or malware can be detected so I think it’s actually googles results. Usually I’m searching things that are IT related problems. Seems like less and less results and more times see these redirect results. Like I said usually a page or two down. Pretty sure never seen them on first page of searches.