Carefully read end user license agreement (EULA)documents when installing software.

Here are some ways to prevent your browser from getting hijacked: They can also use information on your browsing habits to sell to third parties for marketing purposes.īrowser hijackers are annoying and sometimes they can be tough to get rid of. As you click on these links, the cybercriminal gets paid. For example, one browser hijacker, CoolWebSearch, redirects your homepage to their search page and the search results go to links that the hijacker wants you to see. Like other malware and scams, hijacked browsers can bring in a good chunk of money for the hacker.

Browser hijackers impede your ability to surf the web as you please. The program can change your home page to a malicious website, crash your browser, or install spyware.

Once your browser has been hijacked, the cybercriminal can do a lot of damage. A browser hijacker is usually installed as a part of freeware, but it can also be installed on your computer if you click on an attachment in an email, visit an infected site (also known as a drive-by download), or download something from a file-sharing site. This is done through malicious software ( malware) called hijackware. Your default home or search page might get changed or you might get a lot of advertisements popping up on your computer. Chrome, FireFox, Internet Explorer) settings are modified.

Guess what? You’ve been hijacked.īrowser hijacking is when your Internet browser (eg.

You sit down at your computer about to do your daily perusal of Buzzfeed or check out The Financial Times but your homepage is now some weird search engine you’ve never seen before.

How to scan for browser hijacker