You just tried to Google something but instead of getting a Google results page, your browser takes you to some sketchy-looking search engine that you've never heard of. The results it brings back are completely irrelevant and of no use. Clicking any of the links seems to take you to more useless sites cluttered with pop-ups, and endless redirects to other sites. What the heck is happening here? Your browser has just been hijacked. Malware and/or Ad-ware has taken control of your browser and is making it almost completely useless. Browser hijacking software may also work its way onto your system as a "bundled utility" that is often installed with freeware or shareware. Some companies will pay software developers to bundle their hijacking software in with other applications as a way to generate additional revenue for the software developer. This is a form of affiliate marketing. In addition to traditional affiliate marketing programs there are also elicit underground malware affiliate marketing programs that pay unscrupulous entrepreneurs money to infect systems with these hijacking tools and other assorted malware apps.
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Why Doesn't Antivirus Catch This Stuff
One reason your antivirus might not catch browser hijacking software is that hijacking apps are sometimes part of legitimate applications that you install, another reason is that not all hijacking tools are considered malware. They are annoying for sure, but they don't necessarily do harm to your PC, so anti malware software might overlook them.
What Should You do After You've Tried Traditional Antivirus And Your Browser Still Appears to be Getting Hijacked?
Get a Second Opinion Scanner
If your current anti malware didn't catch the hijacking software that made it onto your computer, consider installing a Second Opinion Scanner. A Second Opinion Malware scanner is exactly as the name implies. It provides a second line of defense to help catch malware that may have evaded your primary scanner.
Uninstall Suspicious Software
Some browser hijacking software applications may have been bundled into other legitimate apps that you have consciously installed which is one reason that made it by your anti malware scanner. The hijacking software may call itself a tool bar , search assistant or something else innocuous. It may even let you uninstall it without further trouble, but traditionally this software doesn't want to leave your system quietly and may leave traces of itself that attempt to re-establish control of your browser. Look in your list of installed applications and check for things that might be hijacking software. If something looks suspicious, Google it (on another device if yours is hijacked) and find out if it's a known hijacking app, you will likely find removal instructions in the search results as well.
Reset Your Browser
After your computer has been cleared of whatever malware infection is causing your browser to be hijacked or otherwise redirected, you'll likely need to reset your browser settings in order to return them to the home page and search engines that you prefer. This may require several visits to various configuration pages within your browser.
Check out the following official links for post hijacked browser reset procedures:
Google Chrome Hijacking Clean Up Procedures [Official]
Internet Explorer Browser Reset Procedures [Official]
Firefox Browser Reset Procedures [Official]
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