Browser hijacking refers to the act of displaying a different homepage that disregards the web user’s preferences. Homepages and new tab windows are not the only things that are affected by a hijacker; even search engines can succumb to this browser menace. A search hijacker that pushes for an alternative and unknown search result provider is likewise considered a hijacker. So basically, any unusual visit or redirection to an unwanted website is deemed hijacking, and computer security experts warned that this can lead to further adware or malware contamination if disregarded by computer users.
Causes of Browser Hijackers
Hijacking an internet application such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or Edge requires the installation of a browser extension or add-on. In most cases, these are unwanted programs that are capable of altering browser settings on their own. It does not require permission from web users because it was designed to manipulate internet software.
The so-called browser extensions that are manipulative often arrive at the computer as part of a software bundle that the user has obtained from suspicious file servers and websites. Installing the downloaded application paves the way to the loading of the malicious extension that will set off the hijacking functions of the browser. In most cases of dreaded browser hijackers like Weknow.ac, Search Baron, and Search Marquis, users are blocked from making changes to the browser. It displays a message that the browser is “managed by an organization, and therefore, the removal of the culprit program is difficult.
Online Security and Privacy Risks
The internet is now flooded with browser hijackers because cyber crooks are in pursuit of injecting their malicious software into internet programs for the following reasons:
Data Gathering – Internet cookies are injected into the browser program, allowing the browser hijacker to collect details from web users, including visited pages, favorite websites, search keywords, IP addresses, and other data.
Ad Campaign – Browser hijackers are often coupled with pop-up advertisements. This advertising scheme is meant to gain revenue while exploiting the contaminated internet application.
Product Selling – Redirects and pop-ups produced by browser hijackers can divert the browser pages to sites that are offering different, undependable products. They are being sold online as security software, system optimizers, and creativity apps. Aside from releasing instant payment, these unreliable products may charge the credit card of users for recurring billings.
How to Get Rid of Browser Hijacker
The threat is very much associated with adware. In fact, the majority of adware was made to produce hijacking actions on the browser that push the use of unknown homepages and searches. Therefore, in order to stop the hijacking, the removal of the adware must be the priority of the victims. Below, we have several articles that cover the proper way of eliminating threats that often hijack the internet program.
- How to remove Yahoo Search Redirect
- Fastest Way to Remove Adware from Google Chrome Browser
- How to remove Google Chrome Redirect
- How to reset Google Chrome
- How to remove Adware from Safari
- Remove Fake Warning from Microsoft Edge
- Remove Hijacker from Edge Browser
- How to remove Adware from Mozilla Firefox
- How to remove Adware from Internet Explorer
- How to remove Android Pop-up
Protecting the Computer from Browser Hijacker
Just as vital it is to avoid computer viruses, web users must also prevent the browser from being infected with hijackers. As stated, this may be a browser threat at first. But eventually, it can blow up into a much more hazardous infection, which can be system-wide contamination.
Enabling pop-up blockers in your internet application helps. This built-in feature of the browser program prevents malicious pop-ups from displaying. It is also vital to protect the computer with an anti-malware tool that is able to thwart malicious internet traffic and also block the downloading of malicious files. Furthermore, an effective security application is going to exhibit an alert whenever there is an unusual activity on the internet or file downloads. Thus, it reduces the risk of running into malicious sites and files.
