Browser homepage changed to a strange search engine? Searches redirecting to unknown sites? You have a browser hijacker. Here’s how to remove it.

Signs of Browser Hijacker

• Homepage changed without permission
• Default search engine changed
• New toolbars appeared
• Pop-up ads everywhere
• Searches redirect to other sites
• New tabs open to unwanted pages
• Browser running slow
• Unknown extensions installed

Common Browser Hijackers

• Yahoo redirect (unwanted)
• Bing redirect (unwanted)
• Search Marquis
• Search Baron
• MySearchDial
• Conduit Search
• Ask Toolbar
• Trovi
• Delta Search

Remove from Chrome

Remove Extensions

1. Click three dots menu > Extensions > Manage Extensions
2. Review ALL extensions
3. Remove anything you don’t recognize
4. Remove anything you didn’t install
5. When in doubt, remove it

Reset Search Engine

1. Settings > Search engine
2. Change to Google (or your preference)
3. Click “Manage search engines”
4. Remove unwanted search engines

Reset Homepage

1. Settings > On startup
2. Choose “Open the New Tab page”
3. Or set specific page to your choice
4. Remove hijacker URLs

Reset Chrome Completely

1. Settings > Reset settings
2. Click “Restore settings to their original defaults”
3. Click Reset settings
4. Restart Chrome

Remove from Edge

Remove Extensions

1. Click three dots > Extensions
2. Manage extensions
3. Remove unfamiliar extensions
4. Remove recently added extensions

Reset Search and Homepage

1. Settings > Privacy, search, and services

2. Scroll to Address bar and search

3. Change search engine

4. Settings > Start, home, and new tabs

5. Set homepage to your preference

6. Remove hijacker URLs

Reset Edge Completely

1. Settings > Reset settings
2. Restore settings to their default values
3. Click Reset
4. Restart Edge

Remove from Firefox

Remove Extensions

1. Menu > Add-ons and themes
2. Extensions
3. Remove unknown extensions
4. Remove recently added ones

Reset Search and Homepage

1. Settings > Search

2. Set Default Search Engine to your choice

3. Remove unwanted search engines

4. Settings > Home

5. Set homepage to Firefox Home or your choice

6. Remove hijacker URLs

Reset Firefox Completely

1. Click menu > Help
2. More troubleshooting information
3. Click “Refresh Firefox”
4. Confirm and restart

Run AdwCleaner

Best Tool for Browser Hijackers

1. Download AdwCleaner from Malwarebytes (official site)
2. Run the program (no install needed)
3. Click “Scan Now”
4. Wait for scan
5. Review results
6. Click “Clean & Repair”
7. Restart computer when prompted

What AdwCleaner Removes

• Browser hijackers
• Unwanted toolbars
• Adware
• Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)
• Browser settings modifications

Run Malwarebytes

Comprehensive Scan

1. Download Malwarebytes Free
2. Install and run
3. Click Scan
4. Wait for scan to complete
5. Quarantine all threats
6. Restart computer

Uninstall Suspicious Programs

Check Installed Apps

1. Settings > Apps > Installed apps
2. Sort by Install date
3. Look for:
   • Programs installed same day as hijacker
   • Unknown programs
   • Toolbars or “search” programs
   • Anything suspicious
4. Uninstall them

Common Hijacker Programs

Look for names containing:

• Search
• Toolbar
• Browser Helper
• Shopping
• Coupon
• Deal
• Optimizer
• Cleaner (fake ones)

Check Browser Shortcuts

Hijackers Modify Shortcuts

1. Right-click browser shortcut
2. Properties
3. Look at “Target” field
4. Should end with just .exe"
5. Remove anything after the .exe
6. Example of hijacked:

   "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\chrome.exe" http://hijacker.com

7. Should be:

   "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\chrome.exe"

Check All Browser Shortcuts

• Desktop shortcuts
• Taskbar shortcuts
• Start menu shortcuts

Check Hosts File

Remove Redirects

1. Open Notepad as Administrator
2. File > Open
3. Navigate to: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
4. Select “All files” in file type
5. Open “hosts”
6. File should only have:

   127.0.0.1       localhost

7. Remove any other entries
8. Save file

Check Scheduled Tasks

Remove Hijacker Tasks

1. Search “Task Scheduler”
2. Click Task Scheduler Library
3. Look for suspicious tasks
4. Delete tasks that run browsers or unknown programs

Registry Cleanup

Advanced Users Only

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type regedit
3. Search (Ctrl+F) for hijacker name
4. Delete related entries
5. Be careful - backup registry first

Common Registry Locations

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Prevention

How Hijackers Get Installed

1. Bundled with free software

   • Always choose Custom install
   • Uncheck additional offers

2. Fake download buttons

   • Only click real download links
   • Avoid ads that look like downloads

3. Malicious extensions

   • Only install extensions from official stores
   • Read reviews before installing

4. Clicking pop-ups

   • Never click unexpected pop-ups
   • Close them using Task Manager if needed

Safe Downloading

1. Download from official websites only
2. Avoid download mirrors
3. Read installation screens carefully
4. Decline optional software
5. Use reputable sources

Browser Protection

1. Keep browser updated
2. Use browser’s built-in protection
3. Consider ad blocker
4. Be cautious with extensions

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If Hijacker Returns

Stubborn Hijackers

1. Reset browser again
2. Run all scanners again
3. Check scheduled tasks again
4. Consider malware infection
5. May need system reset

Dallas-Fort Worth Computer Repair

We remove browser hijackers throughout DFW including Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Irving, Arlington, Richardson, and all surrounding areas.