There are times when you use browsers or click on a particular link, you might find some useless results on your screen. If that happens with you regularly, you should know that there’s something seriously wrong with your web browser.
Browser hijacking is one of the common issues that people deal with. In simple words, when your browser gets attacked by malware or adware, it starts redirecting you to sponsored links. Also, these hijackers might take you to the web pages that could easily benefit from your traffic.
You should know that hijacking your browser is a source of income generation for people who get paid when you click on those irrelevant links. But, unfortunately, hijacking your browser also means sneaking into your personal profile and stealing your browsing history without your permission. And that is not good.
Here are some crucial things you need to know about browser hijacking and how to deal with it like a pro.
- There are some telltale signs
One of the most apparent signs that clearly say your browser is hijacked is that your homepage is not what it used to be. An exploited browser changes the appearance of the homepage without your consent.
You might start seeing some new bookmarks or favorites and modified toolbars or address bars. If you feel that your browsing sessions are a bit sluggish, there is a huge chance that something just got successful in sneaking into your system and is controlling things.
- Take a closer look at your extensions
Browsers such as chrome allow you to download and install extensions that help in customizing your browsing experience. It is just like adding new features to the browser.
But when online viruses such as malware or adware infest into your system, you might notice some undesired browser extensions- one of which is Any Search Manager.
It generally hijacks the browser after updating Flash Player. The worst part of it is that it ends up changing the default start page in the browser. Another warning sign that your browser might have been hijacked by Any Search Manager is that you start seeing URLs such as “search.anysearch” or “search.anysearch.net.” It is essential for you to get rid of it, and here’s a great post to read to have all the answers. In fact, you can also try Malware removal tools to get rid of unwanted and suspicious extensions from your browsers.
- Get a reliable antivirus
One of the surefire ways to eliminate browser hijackers is to install functional and reliable antivirus software. Once you are done with that, make sure that you scan your system regularly. The antivirus software will recognize potential threats and try its best to get rid of them.
Also, make sure that you don’t download stuff from suspicious websites and refrain from clicking on malicious links to be on the safer side.
To sum it all up
Working with a hijacked browser is nothing but pain. It hinders your work routine, and you end up experiencing unnecessary glitches on your computer. So, once you are sure that your browser is attacked, do whatever you can to get rid of it as soon as possible.