Browser hijackers are malicious programs that attack your browser. And it can be very annoying in everyday life. Here’s how to get rid of it.
One day you turn on your computer to pick up where you left off. And you’ll find that your searches aren’t coming to Google, that your homepage doesn’t look like yours anymore. If this is happening to you or has happened to you, you are not alone. This is the work of specialized malware and malware that you should take very seriously, browser hijacker.
Browser hijackers regularly enter your computer through a malicious application or extension. The Privatesearches.org hijacker, for example, hides in a fake Google Docs extension for Chrome. After installing and granting permissions to said extension, the malware affects your browser and changes your search engine, home page, start page, etc. Good news, however, you can get rid of it quite easily and very cleanly.
Use Malwarebytes to scan and remove this malware
First you need to find the malware and remove it. The easiest way to do this is to use the free trial version of Malwarebytes, which can search your entire machine and kill browser hijackers. Install the app, scan your PC and follow the instructions to remove the culprit.
How to manually remove a browser hijacker app
Sometimes Malwarebytes cannot identify malware; in these cases, you have to roll up your sleeves. To get started, look at the page your browser is redirecting you to, open Google in a new tab, enter its name, and add “malware”to the end of the request. You are sure to find reviews from Internet users who have had the same problems as you. And if you’re lucky, you’ll have a procedure to follow.
After receiving this information with the name of the offending application or extension, you can act. Follow the instructions below to clean your machine.
On Windows, right-click the Start button, select Apps and Features. In the Settings window, find the app you want to uninstall. Once found, click on the icon with three small vertical dots and select Delete. On a Mac, open Finder, go to the Applications folder, find the app, and send it to the Trash. Then right-click on the trash icon and empty the trash to completely uninstall the app. You can also use an application such as AppCleaner to completely remove the application and its associated files.
Don’t forget to reset your browser settings
Now you need to take care of your browser. You can start by removing the offending extension. In Chrome, press the Menu button and select More Tools > Extensions. Identify the culprit, then click Remove. The procedure is the same for browsers that use Chromium such as Microsoft Edge and Brave. In Firefox, go to Menu > Extensions & Themes > Extensions. Find the extension, click on the three small dots and select “Uninstall”. In Safari, choose Preferences > Extensions, then click Remove on the culprit extension.
After removing the extension, you need to return the search engine, home page, and default page. The easiest way is to reset the browser to its original configuration. In Chrome, select Menu > Settings > Reset and confirm. In Microsoft Edge, select Menu > Settings > Reset Settings > Restore Defaults > Reset. In Firefox, go to Menu > Help > More Troubleshooting Information > Repair Firefox and confirm. In Safari, all you have to do is clear your history and site data. Go to Safari > Clear History. Select “All History”from the drop-down menu and select “Clear History”.
Now that your browser has been reset, remember to download extensions only after verifying their origin.