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If you’ve gone into your Chrome browser to conduct a Google search and have been mysteriously redirected to Bing.com, you could have a virus. You could also have accidentally installed a malicious extension or downloaded some shifty software that’s redirecting you. Google is the default search engine for Chrome, so it’s unusual if it redirects you to Microsoft’s competing search engine.
What can you do to stop Chrome from redirecting to Bing? You’ll need a good antivirus and/or a little time to reconfigure your settings. If you aren’t sure how to do this, we’ll walk you through it.
You’ll have to take several steps to get rid of Bing. Some users have reported being able to stop it by uninstalling Microsoft Edge, while others have said they just had to disable an extension.
Another common issue is a piece of malware or a computer virus creating the redirect. Whatever it is, you’ll need to do a little investigation into your own system to figure out exactly which one is causing you grief. If that feels overwhelming, we’ve provided a tutorial you can follow below.
This is likely going to be the most time-consuming part of the process. If you know the redirect started after you installed a certain extension, disable, uninstall, and delete that extension to see if the problem is solved.
If you don’t know if a certain extension is causing it, you’ll have to disable each one individually and continue to retry until you find the problem.
There are various ways to remove applications from Windows in both Windows 10 and Windows 11, but removing them from the Control Panel will be the easiest way. If you want to try another way, you can do a quick internet search with the question of how to remove an application.
Resetting your Chrome settings will help make sure any changes you’ve made take effect. It’ll also allow you to return your homepage and search engine to the default settings.
Next, to make sure that everything is clean and running smoothly, you’ll need to open your antivirus software and perform a system scan. We recommend doing a full disc scan rather than just a quick scan. This way, you can be sure to catch anything that may have hidden in another part of your hard drive. If you use an external hard drive for any reason, scan that too.
If you don’t have an antivirus program, it’s recommended you get one. We’ve tested and reviewed all the best antivirus software programs available, and our top recommendations are below. Installing and using antivirus software is one of the easiest methods of prevention you can take against malware and viruses.
4 plans available, all including antivirus, malware, ransomware, and hacking protection, Cloud backup, and a secure password manager
Option to add VPN connection, dark web monitoring, privacy monitoring, and more
Available for up to 10 devices depending on plan
If your antivirus scan comes up with malware, a virus, a Trojan, or anything else that shouldn’t be there, you’ll need to follow the instructions from your particular service to quarantine and remove those files.
Downloading extensions from the internet, or even browsing online without real-time antivirus, can leave you susceptible to all types of nasty stuff. If the redirect you’re experiencing is from malware or a virus, it won’t go away by simply resetting your Chrome browser. You’ll need to get rid of the files, and that’s where antivirus comes in.
Once you’ve cleaned all the malware off your hard drive and any external devices like hard drives or USB sticks, you’ll need to run a second scan. This ensures you clean all of the malicious files and code from your hard drive, external hard drive, and any USB sticks you may have connected to your computer.
If the next scan says your computer is still infected, make sure you quarantine and clean that and then run another scan. Keep running scans until you get a clean scan with no suspicious activity.
Once you’re sure your device is clear and all your scans come back clean, you can go ahead and restart your computer. This will reset everything back to its proper working state.
If you really want to double down, shut down your computer entirely instead of hitting the restart option. Once it’s powered down, unplug the power cord from your computer. Let it sit for 60 seconds, then plug the power cord back in and boot up your computer. It sounds silly, but killing the power completely will make sure everything resets, and there’s nothing left holding on.
The Bing redirect might be happening because a hacker has infiltrated your system and installed malware, or you downloaded something suspicious that takes you to Bing search.
Why would someone want to redirect your traffic? This is likely to redirect you to spam or scam sites with the intention of stealing your credentials, money, and other sensitive data. There’s also the possibility of spamming you with endless ads or potentially using this issue to create a vulnerability and install more aggressive malware.
It’s also possible that you downloaded a browser extension with some kind of unwanted redirect or malware. Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) are annoying but not necessarily malicious. There’s always a chance you just stumbled across a prank from an internet prankster who likes mischief, but that’s becoming less and less the case. No matter what, you’ll need to correct the problem so you don’t end up with worse issues down the road.
The best way to protect yourself from this happening in the future is to use a security stack that keeps unwanted programs off your computer and other devices. A security stack is bundling applications together (like antivirus, a VPN, and others) to create a secure wall around your devices. Major companies and corporations use security stacks, and you definitely should too.
To stop Google Chrome from redirecting to Bing, you’ll need to remove any compromised extensions and scan your device for malware, viruses, and Trojans. You’ll also likely need to reset your Chrome browser after disabling and uninstalling the unwanted program. Finally, you’ll have to restart your computer after you’ve scanned and fixed all the issues to make sure everything’s working properly.
If Google Chrome is redirecting you to Bing, you’ve likely been hacked. There’s also the chance you downloaded software or a Chrome extension that contained malware or a virus. You need to correct the problem immediately to avoid further complications.
No, Bing isn’t a virus. Bing is a legitimate search engine offered by Microsoft. If your search engine is redirecting to Bing, it’s likely not Bing’s fault. There have been some instances where users have reported downloading some Microsoft software that redirected their Chrome searches to Bing, but we can’t confirm or deny the validity of those claims.
If you find yourself experiencing the Bing redirect virus, you need to take the steps to correct it as soon as possible. Removing hijackers, malware, viruses, or Trojans from your computer is completely doable without ruining your device. As long as you correct the problem early, you shouldn’t have any other problems.
If you aren’t using antivirus software, you need to choose one. We’ve reviewed some of the best malware removal tools to make sure you’re getting powerful protection. Antivirus and anti-malware tools are your best line of defense against these kinds of hijackers, hackers, and malicious programs. This isn’t exclusive to Chrome; it happens on Firefox, Safari, Edge, and even Opera and Tor browsers, so don’t feel bad if your device gets infected. Now you’re equipped with the tools to keep yourself safe in the future.
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