Browser hijacker

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Browser hijackers are small programs that manipulate the settings of the browser in order to redirect page views (such as the homepage ) and search queries to certain websites .

distribution

Browser hijackers mostly belong to the category of so-called malware , which often install themselves in the background without the knowledge of the user, often by exploiting security holes in the browser software . More rarely, they are also installed by adware with the user's consent in order to display advertisements.

Most of the users of Microsoft Internet Explorer under Microsoft Windows are affected by these malware threats , but alternative browsers such as Firefox , Opera or Google Chrome under Windows can also be affected.

Free programs such as Spybot - Search & Destroy (for Windows) or Adware Medic (for Mac OS-X) enable even less experienced computer users to clean their PC from this pest. Experienced Windows users can also use the free analysis program HijackThis the registry check of your computer for infection.

Mac users are not safe from malware either, the malware conduit hijacks the Apple Safari web browser and switches the default search engine to Bing, which also becomes the new start page. The same goes for all alternative browsers on Mac OS, Conduit hijacks these too.

Examples of common browser hijackers

Awesomehp

Awesomehp spreads through apparently free downloaded full versions of software and through alleged update packages of well-known Windows extensions (e.g. Java, Flash). After the unwanted installation of this adware, the start page, the new tab page and the standard search engine are changed in all installed web browsers so that they point to www.awesomehp.com. This website, which is visually adapted to well-known search engines, refers to other adware and spyware, saves advertising cookies and displays superfluous advertisements. This hijacker can be removed with the help of appropriate software. However, the restoration of all manipulated program start links is a difficulty .

NationZoom

NationZoom is a browser hijacker that manipulates all installed web browsers in such a way that the website www.nationzoom.com is set up as the homepage and the standard search engine . The hijacker landing page is also opened when a new tab is opened. This search engine sometimes refers to dubious advertising offers on the Internet, sets cookies for commission accounting for online purchases and scatters advertising links in the search results list. This adware is mainly distributed within the installation routines of free and shareware programs, which is why during the entire installation it is always necessary to carefully check which boxes are checked and which installations and queries are confirmed.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Daniel Weihmann: Instructions for removing the awesomehp hijacker . browserdoktor.de. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  2. ↑ Daniel Weihmann: Instructions for removing NationZoom . nationzoom.de. Retrieved February 11, 2014.