Browser hijacker is a type of malware program that modifies a web browsers settings without a user's permission, to inject unwanted advertising in the browser. A browser hijacker replace default browser home page and search page to generate traffic and revenue. These are generally used to force to hit a particular website to create online traffic and increasing its advertising revenue. Some browser hijacker install a software called keylogger to gather information such as banking, email username and password. They also damage the Windows registry and your computer didn't work properly or not functional anymore. When you install a pirated software or third party software to your computer, laptop or Mac, their also some program in the software which install automatically with no uninstall options.
To avoid contamination with Browser hijackers, I recommended you to read user agreements carefully while installing third party software, toolbar, pirated software etc.
Prevent and Remove Browser Hijacking from PC
There are thousands of browsers hijackers present on the internet such as Astromenda, Ask toolbar, Binkiland, Delta and Claro, Vosteran, TV Wizard, Taplika, SourceForge Installer, Snap.do, Searchnu.com, Searchgol.com, Searchult.com, Search-daily.com, Searchassist, RocketTab, Onewebsearch, MyStart.IncrediBar Search, Mixi.DJ, istartsurf, GoSave, Coupon Server, CoolWebSearch, Conduit Search, Babylon Toolbar, Dregol, Jamenize, Mindspark, Groovorio, Sweet Page, Trovi, Tuvaro, Spigot etc.
1. Remove Potentially Unwanted Programs : To uninstall a potentially unwanted program, Click on Windows Start Menu > Control Panel > Add or Remove a Program. Here is a list of program listed on your computer, search for suspicious and unwanted program in the list. Once the program is located, click on uninstall/change to begin process.
2. Remove Unwanted Browsers Add on or extension : Follow these steps to remove unwanted browsers add on from Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
- Google Chrome : Click on Chrome Menu > Settings > Select Extension and find the unwanted add on or extension. Click on the trash icon to delete the extension and restart browser.
- Mozilla Firefox : click the Menu button > Add-ons > select Extension panel and remove all unwanted add ons from list, restart browser.
- Internet Explorer : Open IE, Click on Tools > Manage Add on and find unwanted or suspicious add on. Click on add on to remove or disable and restart your browser.
3. Remove Browsers Hijacker from Search Engine : To remove browser hijacker from search engine from chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer follow these steps given below.
- Mozilla Firefox : Navigate to Firefox Menu > Options > Search and click on unwanted search engine to remove from list.
- Google Chrome : click on Chrome Menu > Settings > Search > Manage Search Engine and click on search engine to remove from list.
- Internet Explorer : Open IE > Tools > Manage Add on > Search Providers and remove a unwanted search engine from the list.
4. Remove Browsers Hijacker from Homepage : You must remove browser hijacker from homepage to change your browser homepage from Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer.
Also See : How to Change Browser's Home Page
5. Use Anti Malware Software : Download and install the free version of Malwarebytes Anti Malware to scan your computer. When the malware scan is complete, click on the button Quarantine All to isolate and remove the suspicious files. Reboot your computer to completely remove detected files.
You can also use HitmanPro to eradicate existing malicious files and automatically repair corrupted settings.
You can also use HitmanPro to eradicate existing malicious files and automatically repair corrupted settings.
6. Clean Up and Repair Settings : Download and install free version of CCleaner by Piriform and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button, after this click the Run Cleaner.
Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search for suspicious entries through each tab starting from Windows, Internet Explorer, etc., all the way to Context Menu and click Disable and Delete once anything you do not recognize is found.