Toolbars&Hijackers

If you spotted that your browser settings have been changed, then it is because a browser hijacker is installed on your computer. After infiltration, this specific virus alters your homepage to Securedsearch.org which will be seen each time you boot a browser. Unfortunately, any attempts to restore the settings are useless since Secured Search immediately changes them back. Browser hijackers are supposedly meant to improve the browsing experience by adding various features. For example, Secured Search extension assigns a new securedsearch.org search engine that ostensibly generates more accurate and sorted results. However, after entering a query, you will be redirected to legitimate Yahoo.com. Not only browser hijackers can bother your browsing by showing intrusive ads, banners, and links without your consent, but they are also capable of gathering personal data (passwords, IP-addresses, geolocations, history, etc.) that can be sold to third-parties. Securedsearch.org is fake and brings no promised value, therefore, it needs to be removed from your PC to secure your data.

At some point, you may be wondering why your browser is constantly redirecting your homepage to search.optimum.icu. Unfortunately, this is because your system is infected with a browser hijacker (OptimumSearch extension), that altered some settings. Often, such applications are meant to bring ostensibly good value. They assign new search engines and add a couple of features that smoothen the browsing experience. OptimumSearch is not an exception, however, its activity seems to be very suspicious and useless. It does not generate any unique results, instead, it just copies them from legitimate pages like Yahoo, Google, or Bang. Furthermore, the main target of such programs is collecting sensitive data for revenue purposes. The recorded intel is therefore shared with cybercriminals that put your identity under a threat.

Browser hijackers have been one of the most prevalent methods for generating money and Select-search.net is not an exception. Unfortunately, most users remain unaware that potentially unwanted programs can lead to various privacy issues. Luckily, it is easy to detect the activity of Select-search.net. After installation, it changes your address bar and search engine to select-search.net which ostensibly improves the browsing experience. Instead, they generate fake advertisements and display results from legitimate Google search engine.

If you spotted that your browser has changed its search engine and the whole homepage to Searchactiv.com, then your PC is infected with a browser hijacker. Browser hijackers are a type of malware, that sneaks into the systems without the user's consent. After doing so, they modify browser settings and apply a couple of changes. Searchactiv.com assigns a new search engine that allegedly improves browsing. Instead, it displays malicious ads and other banners that can endanger your device. Furthermore, potentially unwanted programs expose browser-related data for cybercriminals. Thereby, such information like passwords, IP-addresses, and geolocations can be misused by third-parties for revenue purposes.

If you are constantly being redirected to Search-aholic.com, then your browser is being controlled by a browser hijacker. Programs of this type are ostensibly meant to provide better search queries based on innovative algorithms delivered by its developers. In fact, it looks a bit awkward when a shady organization claims its software to outrace Google or other world-class companies. The research throws away all doubts and proves that Search-aholic.com indeed gathers personal data and simply shows queries from legitimate engines like Google or Yahoo. With the help of SearchAholic browser extension, the hijacker controls the settings in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari.

Like Select-search.com and other clones, Search-space.net is a suspicious redirect forced by browser extension or hijacker that is installed on your PC. These apps are supposed to improve browsing, however, the affected changes allow its creators to collect personal data (e.g. passwords, geolocations, IP-addresses, etc.) and share it with cybercriminals for making a profit. These changes include a new search engine (search-space.net), customizable interface, and other insignificant features. Search-space.net generates no unique results, instead, it simply replicates them from legitimate platforms like Google.

Tinychill.com is a malicious redirect categorized as a browser hijacker. Developers state that their software is meant to improve browsing capabilities, however, this is a fool. Instead, Tinychill.com tracks sensitive data that is therefore misused by third-parties for making a profit. To do so, the program modifies browser settings and prevents any attempts to roll them back. As a result, the app assigns a new search engine and homepage as well. In our case, the search engine is changed to feed.tinychill.com and does not generate unique results since it just redirects users to legitimate Yahoo.com. Some browser hijackers can disturb browsing experience by imposing deceptive ads and banners that contain redirects to other malicious pages. These manipulations can lead to significant problems that put your data under severe risk.

CapitaSearch is a sheer example of a browser hijacker. By applying a new search engine (search.capita.space) and altering other settings, it ostensibly improves overall browsing. However, such programs tend to exploit these changes for monitoring user's data and earning money on it. After installation, you can also spot a title like "Managed by your organization" in the Google Chrome menu which means that your browser is being controlled by third-parties figures. In fact, there is nothing bad about this feature, but it can be an indicator of the hijacker's activity. Besides that, CapitaSerach does not generate unique results as intended, instead, it replicates them from legitimate engines like Yahoo.com. Thus, to prevent unauthorized data pursue, you should get rid of CapitaSearch in the guideline below.