What is browser hijacking? How do you get rid of redirect virus from your browser like Chrome, Firefox or Internal Explorer (IE)? Now, this post from MiniTool gives you much information on the redirect virus, a guide browser hijacker removal, a good way to protect your PC to avoid data loss caused by viruses and some prevention tips.
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Hey there, I have a MacBook Pro that is attacked by a browser hijacker called the Smart search.net. This page controls my Safari, every time I open the browser, this page pops up, and also, when I try to open other pages, I can be redirected to this page instead. Jul 13, 2020 To uninstall and remove WebAdvancedSearch manually from your computer or any unwanted software from your Mac device we recommend that you use a specific anti-malware for Mac machines. The main goal of such a program is to scan your machine and uninstall or terminate the files with malicious behavior and also clean up any malicious code in your repositories.
Anti Hijacking Software
Browser Redirect Virus on Windows PC
Usually, when mentioning malware, you are talking about a virus like Trojan that can freely roam through your Windows operating system, threatening your PC. Additionally, adware attacks are another form and can also create a lot of troubles.
Browser hijacking is one of the most common adware bugs and it can take full control of your browser like Google Chrome, Firefox, Internal Explorer (IE), etc. Perhaps you have encountered such a situation: when you click on a website it redirects you somewhere else.
Hijackers gather search results and links, change the search and error page of a definite browser, and redirect you to their own page where they can receive a commission or some sort of revenue. In most cases, Google, Bing, Firefox, etc. are the susceptible browsers.
Here are some typical signs that your system has adware:
The browser search engine and home page have been changed without your consent.
Web pages that you often visit are not displaying properly.
New toolbars, extensions, and plug-ins appear in your browser.
Pop-ups and ads bombard you.
Tip: In addition to redirect viruses, you may encounter a security warning scam when using a browser. In our previous posts, we have mentioned two common situations: Windows Defender Alert Zeus Virus and Windows protected your PC.
Browser Hijacker Removal Windows 10/8/7
Common browser hijacker types include SafeSearch, CoolSearch and IBIS WebSearch. Once your PC is infected with a browser hijacking or any type of browser redirect virus, your daily browsing experience will be bothered and sensitive data is at risk. So, it is necessary to remove browser hijacking from your Windows PCs.
How to remove redirect virus from Chrome/Firefox, etc.? It is not easy. The redirect virus is still here even if you reinstall the browser. But don’t panic and here we give you step-by-step instructions on browser hijacker removal. Just follow these steps below.
Step 1: Uninstall the Malicious Programs from Windows
The first thing you should do is to uninstall any strange or unknown programs from your computer. This is because something suspicious tends to hide behind many programs.
Description: You may want to know how to uninstall a program Windows 10 with the right way. Read this paper, it will show you four easy and safe methods.
How to remove redirect virus from a browser via app un-installation? Follow the guide:
1. Input control panel in the search bar of Windows 10/8/7 and click this tool from the result list.
2. List all the items by large icons and click the Programs and Features link.
3. Go to each suspicious and untrusted program, right-click on it and choose Uninstall.
Note: Read all prompts carefully since some malicious programs try sneaking things.
Step 2: Use Browser Hijacker Removal Tools
To remove Firefox/IE/Chrome redirect virus, you should download a browser hijacker removal tool on your Windows 10/8/7 computer.
Malwarebytes
As one of the most popular and most used anti-malware software for Windows, it can destroy many types of malware that other software may miss.
Its premium edition offers you a 14-day free trial of the premium edition which offers extra functions including real-time web, malware, ransomware and exploit protection. Just go to its official website and download this tool to clean up malware infection.
Malwarebytes may not open on Windows. You need to pay attention to this issue. You can read this post and get some useful solutions to fix this annoying issue.
Malwarebytes AdwCleaner
In addition, you can use another browser hijacker removal tool – Malwarebytes AdwCleaner to scan your system. This tool can locate and terminate all kinds of adware, including the browser hijacker that you are dealing with at the moment. Label program for mac.
1. Download AdwCleaner from here and click the .exe file to open it.
2. Click the Scan Now button to have a scan.
3. Click Quarantine after the scan to delete found items.
HitmanPro
This tool can clean malware, viruses, rootkits, trackers, spyware, Trojans, worms, etc. And it can also scan files where malware normally resides for suspicious activity. So, you can also use this tool to do browser hijacker removal.
Of course, the tools that you can use to remove redirect virus from Chrome/Firefox/IE are various. Here, these three tools are enough.
Step 3: Reset Your Browser to Its Default Settings
If you find your home page or default search is hijacked, you need to reset your browser to its default settings in Windows 10/8/7. The way for this work will differ depending on the browser that you are using.
Google Chrome
1. Click the menu button that is represented by three horizontal lines and choose Settings. Alternatively, you can type chrome://settings in the address bar and press Enter.
2. Hit Advanced, go to Restore settings to their original defaults under the Reset and clean up section.
3. Click Reset settings finally.
Firefox
A guide on browser hijacker removal Firefox via browser resetting is here.
Go to its menu (three horizontal lines), and choose Help > Troubleshooting information.
When seeing the Refresh Firefox button, click it and confirm to reset the browser.
Internet Explorer
1. Click the Settings button and go to Internet Options > Advanced.
2. Click the Reset button.
3. Make sure you select Delete personal settings and click Reset.
4. When the process is completed, click Close.
Another Step: Reset Hosts File (Optional)
When encountering a browser hijacker, if your links are redirected to other sites or you are unable to open certain websites, this situation is more serious. It is likely that your Hosts file is hijacked. So, you should reset this file. You can go to C:WindowsSystem32driversetc to find this file.
1. Rename the Hosts file to hosts.old.
2. Create a new .txt file named hosts in the %WinDir%System32DriversEtc folder.
3. Copy the following text to the new file and save it.
# Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
In conclusion, after finishing all the operations, now you should have removed browser hijacking from your Windows 10/8/7 PCs and you can use your browser properly.
Tip: Various viruses including a browser redirect virus always exist anywhere, which is threatening your PC. To avoid data loss caused by virus or malware attacks, we give you a suggestion – creating a backup for your important files.
Back up Your Important Files to Avoid Data Loss
To back up your PC data easily and effectively, MiniTool ShadowMaker is recommendable. This free backup software is compatible with many Windows systems including Windows 10/8/7, etc. It offers powerful features, for example, file/system/disk/partition backup and restoration.
For file backup, you can also use it to sync files to another location. This way can keep both the source and target folder identical. Importantly, it supports automatic file backup to keep your important data safe well.
Right now, download MiniTool ShadowMaker Trial Edition from the following button and then install it on your PC for a try. Note that this edition allows you to use it for only 30 days. To use it all the time, upgrade to a full edition.
1. Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker.
2. Continue using the trial edition by clicking Keep Trial.
3. To start a local backup, click the Connect button from the left section. To start a remote backup, type an IP (in the same LAN) and click Connect on the right side.
Tip: By default, MiniTool ShadowMaker backs up the Windows operating system.
5. Specify a storage path (a USB flash drive, an external hard drive or a shared folder) for the created backup file.
6. Click Back up Now to start file backup at once.
In addition, you can sync files for backup. For more information, refer to this post - How to Sync Folders Windows 10 to External Drive? 3 Tools Are Here!
Backup is important. If viruses attack your PC causing data loss, you can restore your critical files from the created backup. Now, get this tool for PC backup.
Browser Hijacking Prevention Tips in Windows 10/8/7
To keep your PC safe, you should take some other measures in addition to file backup. Redirect viruses are bothering and browser hijacker removal is troublesome. In order to avoid browser hijacking to the greatest extent, try these browser search hijack prevention tips.
1. Install excellent security software. If your antivirus program permits, let it detect potentially unwanted programs.
2. Never install extensions and plug-ins that are suspicious. Remember to uninstall apps that you do not need.
3. Don’t click suspicious emails and attachments.
4. If you can, install a program that can monitor your system in real-time like WinPatrol.
5. While installing any new program, c. Never click Next blindly.
6. Update the Windows operating system and the browser software. System updates offer security patches, blocking attacks. Besides, having the latest version of a browser with all the latest security patches applied can prevent internet-borne attacks. And, new anti-hijacking features may be added to the new browser.
Tip: Before the Windows update, it is best to create a system backup to restore the PC to a normal state in the event of system issues. MiniTool ShadowMaker can be also helpful for you to back up Windows operating system.
7. Harden the ActiveX settings. To do this, go to Internet Options via the search box, click Security > Internet > Custom Level. Then, ensure Download signed ActiveX controls, Download unsigned ActiveX controls, Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe for scripting are set to Prompt, Disable and Disable respectively.
Further Reading on Browser Hijacker Removal Mac/Android
In this post, we only show you how to remove redirect virus from Chrome/Firefox, etc on Windows 10/8/7 PCs. Additionally, you may want to know something about Mac or Android browser hijacker removal.
What you should do is the same as the operations in Windows, for example, removing unknown or suspicious apps, using a third-party software to scan for viruses, malware, adware, etc., and resetting the browser. Ubuntu update graphics driver. Just search the Internet to find specific removal instructions based on Mac or Android devices.
When browsing the webpage on a mobile phone, you may receive “Your system is heavily damaged by Four virus”. The methods in this post can help you.
Bottom Line
Now, here comes to the end of this post. After reading this post, you clearly know what browser hijacker is, how to remove browser hijacking in Windows 10/8/7 and some things that need to be done. If you are bothered by a browser redirect virus, just try steps mentioned above.
Mac os print center app. On the other hand, let us know if there is any suggestion or question regarding browser search hijack. Sending an email to [email protected] and leaving a comment below are available.
Browser Hijacker Removal Windows 10 FAQ
Uninstall the malicious programs from Windows
Use browser hijacker removal tools
Reset your browser to its default settings
Reset Hosts File (optional)
Browser hijacking is a form of malware software that can modify the settings of a browser without any permission and redirect you to its own web pages.
Uninstall the malicious programs from Windows
Use Malwarebytes Free to remove Thegoodcaster.com redirect
Use HitmanPro to scan for malware and unwanted programs
Double-check for malicious programs with AdwCleaner
Reset the browser settings of Chrome to remove Thegoodcaster.com
Go to the three dots icon and click Settings.
Scroll down to the Advanced section.
In the Privacy and security section, go to Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects and ensure it is set to Blocked.
Around a month ago, I got a hysterical call from my mother (I'm Sicilian, so this is nothing new). Turns out her printer wasn't working, so she decided to call HP support staff. Long story short, the number she called wasn't exactly what she was looking for, and she gave a complete stranger/asshat the permissions he needed to poke and prod around her iMac.
After around half an hour of 'help', the stranger demanded $200, to which my mom told him to eat it and hung up the phone. She realized that she had made a mistake and tried to fix it, this time by calling the proper number to get some security help, but even after putting up a firewall, my mom was beside herself.
'He was clicking for me!' She cried through the phone as I struggled to understand her through sobs. 'He took over the computer!'
Fast forward to around a month later, and my mom's assured me everything is fine. She has the firewall up on her iMac, nothing is sluggish or slow, and no one has 'taken over her computer', but she needs some help signing into something. When I pull up Google Chrome, rather than have the familiar Google search bar and bright, primary-colored font staring back at me, I saw this:
I was perplexed at first, because what the hell is this. I assumed she had mistakenly set some random site as her homepage and told her to be more careful, but when I tried to set it to Google, the page kept coming back. Samsung gear 360 download mac.
I tried Bing. It came back.
I tried Yahoo. It came back.
That's when I noticed that where the URL normally is, a strange address appeared that I didn't recognize; something called Search.kuklorest.com.
A quick real Google search told me everything I needed to know:
Search.kuklorest.com is a dubious website that claims to be an Internet search engine. The appearance of this site is identical to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other similar websites and, therefore, users often believe that search.kuklorest.com is legitimate. In fact, developers promote this site using bogus 'installer set-ups' that hijack web browsers and modify their settings… This site gathers visitors' Internet Protocol addresses, search queries, clicks on search results, and other similar information. This data may seem insignificant, however, it might contain private details. For this reason, visiting search.kuklorest.com is risky and can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. (PCrisk.com)
Well. Shit.
Shit shit shit.
But before my mind imploded, I figured a) if this is just something that's exclusive to the browser (in this case, Google Chrome, because Safari was acting just fine), then it might not be a huge deal, and b) I'm sure this is an easy fix.
Well, I was right. and I was wrong.
How to remove Search.kuklorest.com from your browser
Easy. Uninstall it.
Online, I came across a couple of great articles that talked about deleting the extensions from Google Chrome, which is also a really good/smart call, but because panic/Sicilian hysteria had set in between my mother and I, we decided to uninstall Chrome completely.
If you're looking to try and uninstall the Search.kuklorest.com extension on Google Chrome, then here's how!
Open Google Chrome that's infected with Kuklorest.
Click the Chrome Menu which looks like three vertical lines in the upper right corner.
Click More Tools.
Click extensions.
Click the garbage can to delete any suspicious-looking extensions.
Click the Settings on the left side of the page.
Click Set pages in the Open a specific page or set of pages in the On startup column.
Delete the browser hijacker.
Add in the URL of your choice.
Click Manage Search engines in the Search section of the Settings page.
Click the X to delete suspicious search engines.
Click the Search Engine you would like to make default (Google, Yahoo, etc).
Alright! Done! Easy peasy! Everything is great, right?
Well, not exactly.
I had a strange feeling that perhaps it wasn't that easy. I mean my mom's computer was running fine (despite not being updated for 4 years) and it seemed to even be a bit faster, but that could have just been the placebo effect of tossing Chrome in the trashcan.
After doing a bit more digging, I realized that Kuklorest is like a dandelion: once it has its roots planted, it buds and spreads its seeds to more than just your browser, depending on your activity. One minute it's affecting your browser, and the next there are dozens of documents littered throughout your iMac with names like com.iyogi.plist, niceplayer.jave, and sometimes straight up just kuklorest.update.plist.
How to remove Search.kuklorest.com from your Applications
The easiest step to clearing out Kuklorest is removing the suspicious looking applications from your Applications folder.
You may see random apps with names like Mac Tuneup, NicePlayer, FriendlyPoll, or, again, an app straight up called Kuklorest.
These apps come accompanied by pretty simple looking icons, like a black box with a white triangle or a green orb with gears in it.
Always remember that kuklorest will do its best to imitate and blend in with your Mac icons, so literally go row by row to see which apps are masquerading as dangerous malware
How to remove Search.kuklorest.com from your files and folders
Anti Browser Hijacking Software
Once you're done clearing out your Applications folder, there are four other main folders that you're going to need to look through:
/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/Application
~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Going to each of these folders and deleting the Kulkorest malware is a bit tricky, because there is no set number of files to keep an eye out for, and it's easy to get confused between a legitimate sounding and sketchy sounding filenames from time to time.
If you're unsure if you should delete a file or not, try googling the name of the file to see what comes up. This was very helpful when I was deleting Kulkorest files, because normally the first search results on Google are 'is this random file called _________ actually a virus?'
Click the Finder icon.
Click Go.
Click Go to Folder.
Type in the name of the folder to search for it.
Once you are at the folder you would like to search, go through and delete any suspicious-looking files. They could have names like myppes.download.plist, mg.mg.niceplayer, MplayerX, or (yet again) simply kuklorest.update.plist.
Keep repeating these steps until you've deleted all the malware files.
The end result
Once all of the documents were deleted, the folders were searched & scourged, and Google Chrome was in the trash can, permanently deleting was actually kind of a pain.
Enthought canopy download for mac. An error message continued to appear as I tried to empty the trash, and I kept getting prompts to enter my password. Eventually I restarted the computer and tried again, and suddenly, those spooky, malicious files were gonzo.
Though after going through this process, and then double- and triple-checking that everything looked okay, I'm honestly still not 100% sure if the computer is safe…
Moral of the story?
Kuklorest isn't just harmless browser malware; it can hurt your iMac or MacBook. A lot.
Having something like anti-malware software set up is probably a good call and will definitely save you a migraine in the future.
Oh, and always dial the right number for tech support.
(I love you, mom!!!)
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Hacked
Breaking: More Twitter account features disable due to crypto hack
Hijacking Software Removal
Verified and non-verified Twitter accounts are having some features disabled, including the ability to tweet. Twitter is recommending resetting your password.