How to Get Rid of a Hijacker on a PC
Of all the online threats your computer faces, few are as insidious as browser hijacking. Hijacking software can be installed with just one wrong-placed click. Symptoms of a hijacked browser include your homepage being changed, uncontrollable pop-up ads and websites loading without your consent. Aside from the negative effects to your browser, hijacking software can also cause damaging instability to your entire computer and serious security issues. Once you clear your system of hijacking software, steps must be taken to ensure that your computer will not be infected again.
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Instructions
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1
Perform a full system scan with your preferred anti-hijacking software. Follow all on-screen removal instructions. Some programs, such as the freeware HijackThis, are specifically designed with browser hijacking in mind. General anti-virus programs may be able to catch hijacking software as well, but not always. Before you run a scan with your anti-virus software, check the user manual or release notes to find out whether hijacking software is included in its database. Windows users may have success with the Malicious Software Removal Tool, which is included with Windows 7, Vista and XP.
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2
Run a registry cleaner to further erase any system changes that the hijacking software may have caused. Though the application files will have been removed in Step 1, some unwanted registry entries can still remain. The programs Wise Registry Cleaner and CCleaner are two free, tried-and-true registry cleaners that can help get your system working good as new. Editing the registry can cause serious problems if done incorrectly, so always back up your system beforehand, even if you are running trusted cleaner software.
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3
Disable all of your browser add-ons and toolbars. While most add-ons are helpful and harmless, some are hijacking tools in disguise. As for toolbars, if a toolbar appeared on your browser without your consent to install it, there's a strong chance that it's up to no good. Only install add-ons and toolbars that are verified as safe by the browser's developer.
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Enable the pop-up blocker within your browser. Regardless of which browser software you use, you can find this option within the browser's privacy settings. While pop-up ads merely seem annoying, they can actually be more malicious. If you've ever seen a pop-up that tries to get you to click a button within the window (such as "OK" or "Close"), this is a common trick used by browser hijackers. Never click anything if you're not sure what it will install.
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