Browser hijacker pertains to an act of displaying a different homepage that disregards the web user’s preferences. Homepage and new tab window are not the only thing that is getting affected by a hijacker, even search engines can succumb to this browser menace. A search hijacker that pushes for the alternative and unknown search result provider is likewise considered as hijacker. So basically, any unusual visit or redirection to unwanted website is deemed as hijacking and computer security experts warned that this can lead to further adware or malware contamination if disregarded by computer users.
Causes of Browser Hijacker
Hijacking the internet application such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or Edge requires an installation of browser extension or add-on. In most cases, these are unwanted program that is capable of altering browser settings on its own. It does not require permission from web users because it was designed to manipulate the internet software.
The so-called browser extensions that are manipulative often arrives at the computer as part of a software bundle that 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 the 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 organization and therefore, removal of the culprit program is difficult.
Online Security and Privacy Risks
The internet now is 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 to the browser program allowing the browser hijacker to collect details from web users including visited pages, favorite websites, search keywords, IP address and other data.
Ad Campaign – Browser hijackers are often coupled with pop-up advertisements. This advertising scheme 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 optimizer, 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 to adware. In fact, the majority of adware were made to produce a hijacking actions on the browser that pushes the use of unknown homepage and search. Therefore, in order to stop the hijacking, removal of the adware must be the priority of victims. Below, we have several articles that cover the proper way of eliminating threats that often hijacks 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 how vital it is to avoid computer viruses, web users must also prevent the browser from being infected with hijacker. As stated, this may be a browser threat at first. But eventually, it can blow up to a much hazardous infection, which can be system wide contamination.
Enabling pop-up blocker from 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 anti-malware tool that is able to thwart malicious internet traffic and also blocks downloading of malicious files. Furthermore, effective security application is going to exhibit an alert whenever there is an unusual activity on internet session and file downloads. Thus, it reduces the risk of running into malicious sites and files.
