What are browser redirect viruses?

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Browser redirections happen when the web browser switches the active tab to a completely different page or website. Redirections are what takes place in the middle as you move from one page to another.

Instead of relying on a single site to give us the information and entertainment we needed, all of our internet activities include visiting multiple websites. Every time we switch websites or visit other web pages of a website, the browser is redirected, and that is how the process goes.

By using the redirections, we can navigate the website more quickly than if it were just one page with all the content on it. It is lengthy, to begin with, and will be difficult to read.

While browser redirections are normal, they may also be exploited for detrimental ends because the whole point of a redirect is to take visitors to alternative pages, and if cybercriminals manage to get their hands on this capability, you might find yourself suddenly seeing malware webpages on your browser.

Having your web browser redirected out of nowhere without your consent is a clear sign that you are infected with malware. The browser will display annoying pop-up ads as a result of such viruses, including harmful toolbars and adware, and will be sent to a different search engine.

These symptoms are harmful because they can monitor user inquiries and display malicious advertisements that, when clicked, can lead to other system exploits. Additionally, some browser malware will have access to your whole web surfing data, which they can then sell to other parties to be used in advertising.

Malicious redirections will abruptly reroute your browser to a different and unfamiliar website altogether, whether you like it or not, as opposed to normal web redirections, which just move from one webpage to another. With cybercriminals utilizing this technique, you will be forced to visit advertisements and content even if you don’t want to.

In this comprehensive article, we will cover the various origins of browser redirection malware, the specifics of these threats, the most recent ones we have found, and, most importantly, how to ensure their prevention and complete removal from the computer.

What makes Chrome, Firefox & Edge get redirected?

It’s possible for the web browser to suddenly get infected with a variety of viruses that are intended to redirect the browser. If you browse the internet carelessly or download free files from dubious sites, you will ultimately come across one of these viruses and infect your computer.

Cybercriminals have many different methods for installing these viruses on the user’s computer. And as time passes, their techniques for infecting computers and tricking people become increasingly sophisticated, making it easy for less tech-savvy individuals to be duped and fall for their tricks, which then lead them to download harmful software.

The most frequent sources of the redirection virus that infects computers are given below. The sources listed below have also been gathered from our understanding of the malware we have discovered throughout the years, and we think users should exercise caution and watch out for the following:

Fake malware alert webpages

These web pages are designed to deceive users into thinking that their computers have serious problems. The malware actor’s goal is to get people to click on malicious links by displaying what appear to be genuine alert notifications.

The installation of malware would then occur as a result of the user being prompted to download a specific application or extension. With this, the malicious software or plug-in would have access to the browser and the ability to redirect the tabs.

This kind of approach is widely utilized and has undergone numerous changes throughout the years. Even though this tactic is outdated, people continue to fall for it. With tech support scam webpages stating that your computer is disabled or has been seriously damaged, they will ask you to download software on your computer that is probably malware.

It is difficult to predict how realistic these fake web pages will be in the future as the internet develops and they become more realistic in their tactics. The strongest indicator that this is a fraud is if it did not originate from a legitimate Windows alert or if the website link originates from an unidentified domain.

Typically, illegal streaming platforms and torrenting websites that support virus ads are used to access these phony webpage scams. So please be careful around such websites since they can potentially lead you to be infected with malware. We recommend that you should not visit such websites in the first place.

Drive-by downloads

Drive-by downloading is the act of forcibly downloading malware onto the browser without the user needing to initiate a download. This way, the virus will eventually be downloaded onto the computer, whether the user likes it or not.

Cybercriminals use this dangerous approach to compel the installation of malware on your computer. You will encounter an executable program download by simply being sent to a page, leaving you vulnerable because you are just one click away from becoming infected with malware—that is, of course, if you clicked and ran the program that was downloaded.

The malware that was downloaded is usually the one that hijacks your browser and causes it to be redirected. Therefore, these methods of execution will be unavoidable for users who are unable to distinguish between safe and dangerous downloads.

These malicious downloads are typically links from piracy websites and cracked software, which frequently appear as fake download buttons that lead to malware. Another common source of malware obtained through the drive-by download method is gaming modifications and trainers.

This can also be said when illegally downloaded movies and series with sizes that are expected to be large owing to the length of the show are discovered to have been downloaded in the.exe format instead of the usual .mp4, which at the same time also took less than 10 seconds and was only a few megabytes in size.

If this ever occurs to you, we strongly advise not clicking the downloaded file, especially if its file size is insignificant compared to what you are downloading.

Adware on the computer

Advertising software, more commonly referred to as adware, is a type of software designed specifically to display advertisements to web users across the user interface of the computer screen as well as on the web browser when you are browsing the internet.

This type of threat is frequently downloaded from unidentified websites and installed alongside other programs that are bundled together. The most common way to get adware installed on a computer is through the installation of wizards of rarely downloaded apps.

You should always select the custom installation option so that such programs can be chosen not to be installed; otherwise, they will be installed if you do not read the installation instructions. This will prevent you from downloading adware and from having to see ads on your computer.

Adware also displays advertisements to consumers, but the contents they offer are not regulated or sourced from reliable advertising networks. You might get pop-ups and redirections, which are unsafe and might be the result of malicious software.

With that being the case, advertising software has the potential to be the link that results in the computer being installed, even though it may be on the less dangerous end of computer threats. Therefore, the redirects and unwanted adverts on the device may be caused by an adware infection.

Malicious browser extensions

Although browser extensions are designed to improve web browsing, since they have access to the browser and its settings, cybercriminals have also developed malware in the form of browser extensions that would maliciously alter the browser, leading to redirections and other malware behaviors.

Some of these malicious browser extensions also have browser hijacker elements. By promoting several search engines and rerouting users to unknown websites that could endanger the security of the browser and the computer, malware operators frequently employ these extensions in web users’ browsers.

These browser add-ons can also keep track of a user’s browsing history and monitor their online activity. Some of these are designed to perform harmful behaviors while hiding in the browser.

While some browser extensions are simple to remove, some of these malicious extensions are difficult to remove even when users make an effort to do so. There are also cases where they conceal themselves in the browser by posing as trusted extension names to avoid being deleted.

These extensions are not even installed by the user on their computer. The majority of these dangerous extensions are installed by malware, either by deceiving the user into installing them or by being installed by an injector or loader on the browser.

Browser hijacker

If pop-up ads and adware are not to blame, the virus known as a browser hijacker is the most frequent cause of these browser redirections. Browser hijackers are designed to alter the user’s default tab, homepage, and search engine.

These types of threats take the form of malicious software that is concealed on the computer or a phony browser extension. When using the URL bar to search, the query that should go to your usual search engine, such as Google, may instead be diverted to a completely different search engine.

Additionally, a browser hijacker can alter the search results produced by a genuine browser in addition to changing the search engine. You will be misled into clicking harmful content instead of the search result that should have initially been shown if you are not infected with a browser hijacker.

In addition to altering the search engine and configuration of the browser, browser hijackers can also display advertisements and track your surfing habits, just like any other malware.

Browser hijacking refers to the ability to hijack not just the search engine but also the browser. It may even hijack the clipboard, which allows it to hijack the crypto address you copied and alter it to their address when you paste it.

Impacts of the redirect virus

The most frequent consequence of these harmful browser threats on a computer is, of course, the sudden redirection of the online browser. You could be reading articles and perusing the web when, all of a sudden, you are taken to a random website you are unfamiliar with.

This is a case of malware where you are redirected to a new tab without even clicking on any harmful ad elements. An unexpected browser redirect is a security concern since it opens the door to another website, where, if users do not prompt, they may find themselves in a drive-by download of malware.

While browsing the internet or even when not in the browser, pop-up ads and push alerts may also appear. These pop-ups can be annoying and will display information such as whether or not your browser is infected.

Users may be duped into clicking on the advertisements if they are unaware that the pop-ups are false. While it is simple to get rid of these advertisements—for instance, by disabling the display of notifications—when malware is installed on the computer, they can eventually resurface again.

Additionally, you may find software and browser add-ons on your computer that you did not initially install. Knowing that these apps are unknown and that the fact that they were installed on the computer could indicate malware is installing such programs in the first place.

The web configurations on the browser will also alter as a result of the installation of these undesirable toolbars and extensions, which could lead to browser hijacking, in which the default search engine is replaced with one you do not even recognize.

Browsing the internet may suddenly feel too sluggish with all the malicious activities going on in the background due to the pop-up ads, sudden browser redirections, and unwanted apps that are being loaded. Going from one website to another could feel much slower than it did in the past with the browser.

The reason malware appears on a computer is because the browser is now burdened with extra tasks that it must carry out in the background, such as tracking your data, in addition to the standard activities that it carries out.

How do cybercriminals use the redirect virus?

Your web browser is affected by malicious redirections because hackers take over your computer to redirect you to web pages you do not wish to see. The main reason for this is specifically that they make money off the content they are displaying by forcing users to view unwanted content.

In addition to that, they also make money off of the ads they push on users. The cybercriminals who developed this redirection scheme typically advertise malware as well as illegal content, which cannot be done on legitimate ad platforms.

The same rules apply to browser hijacker-created redirections. Both Bing and Yahoo’s search engines allow users to earn specific point rewards just for using them.

Cybercriminals frequently take advantage of these features by tricking users into installing malware that will cause their browser to switch to one of the two search engines and set the settings so that any points earned through searching will be deposited into the malware actor’s account.

Other instances of browser hijacking don’t have to rely on the points that Bing and Yahoo give their search users; instead, cybercriminals make money by tweaking the user’s browser to use undesirable search engines.

In this case, the search engine developers pay these hackers to spread these unwanted hijackers to unsuspecting users. They are paid merely by inserting these search engines into the users’ browsers.

Additionally, malicious actors can develop their fake search engine and force consumers to use it in place of the normal one. By developing one themselves, they can profit from it by keeping track of users’ search queries and then selling the information to advertising companies for a sizable price.

They can also change the search engine results to favor those who will pay them to appear first in the results, for example, by modifying the searches to favor the websites they want to promote or those who have paid to have their sites and products promoted.

Newly discovered browser redirect viruses

Our team is committed to monitoring the most recent online threats that are categorized as redirection viruses. Due to our years of experience in this field, we have built a network of sources and know how to keep an eye on them.

To make it easier for users to find solutions to redirection-related issues on their browsers, we have provided uninstallation methods for each of these redirections.

 

As you can see, these threats are frequently discovered, and many users continue to fall for them and get redirected. The following are the most recent threats we have discovered, along with their dates of discovery.

Users should not undervalue the threat that redirection malware poses because, for gullible users, these malicious browser redirections might result in a string of computer issues if they are not removed from the system and the browser.

Types of malicious browser redirect malware

Browser redirections come in many different forms and serve a variety of purposes by redirecting the browser to unknown sites. These forms all redirect the browser for various reasons, but they all have one thing in common: they were all made with malicious intent and will only cause harm to the user.

Rogue advertisement redirections

The least risky redirections are those that occur when you click a specific ad on a website or a pop-up that appears when you click a push notification on your browser. These can just look annoying, but their contents are not as safe as they first appear to be.

One of the reasons these malicious pop-up ads appear on the computer is because the user granted the cybercriminals’ request for notification permission.

This is accomplished by having a webpage that initially reads “Click allow to watch the video” or “Click allow if you are not a robot” displayed to you. You permit them to show you notifications by tricking you into clicking allow.

Malvertising

Malvertising refers to the practice of infecting users by inserting malicious code into ads and genuine websites, which, when clicked, would download malware. This is risky since it uses vulnerabilities in trusted websites and legitimate ad networks to display their ads.

Therefore, web users who have complete faith in the website they are visiting risk clicking on a dangerous advertisement even though they were never aware it was malware.

Malvertising, on the other hand, promotes malware as a whole and is only intended to infect users with malware in the first place, as opposed to rogue ads and pop-ups that reveal undesired content and may promote malware.

Hackers accomplish this by inserting malware and malicious components on trustworthy websites that may have security holes in their content management systems, such as WordPress, which are known to have been exploited. Infected websites will direct their visitors to malicious websites even if the webmaster is unaware that their site has been compromised.

Malware links

Malicious links are one-time redirections, but they typically lead to highly dangerous websites, such as those that download malware or conduct phishing scams to steal your sensitive data and personal information. As there is a very high risk of clicking on these links, they should be avoided at all costs.

The majority of these links are known to come from social media platforms, although they are most frequently encountered in group discussions on messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. People are sent phony giveaways, and a link is included in the message to entice them to click it.

They disguised the link with a URL shortener so users would not see where they were headed or what website they were currently going to. It can download malware on whatever device you are using such, as a computer or a mobile device.

The phishing elements of these links are also highly dangerous, as some users tend not to look at the URL of the website they are currently on and as a result, they may type their bank account details on a completely fake website that looks to be the bank they have an account with.

In addition to the malware that can be downloaded when users open the link, they might be asked to complete a bogus captcha, and when they do so, malware could be downloaded onto their device without them realizing it. Overall, we strongly advise not clicking on any links that came from untrusted sources.

Search engine hijacking

Typically, a browser hijacker modifies the user’s default search engine in their web browser. Malvertising, or ads that encourage the installation of malware on a computer, is what leads to the development of this specific kind of malware. Drive-by downloads may also potentially result in the installation of such dangers in the browser.

Malware is usually already installed when the search engine is hijacked. As was already mentioned, such signs are bad, and if they exist, the hijacker infection source needs to be removed as soon as possible to prevent the emergence of additional issues with the computer.

Your searches will be redirected to a different search engine, where you will be exposed to unidentified content that came from unknown sources. Not to mention, browser hijackers frequently request authorization to steal cookies and track further browsing behaviors when a person is accessing the internet.

Browser threats such as redirections should not be kept on the computer for a long period before being removed, which needs no further explanation. The next section provides users with instructions on how to remove the virus that is causing the browser redirections.

Remove Redirection Virus From Chrome, Firefox & Edge

The methods provided below are intended to help you remove any potential malware, trojans, rootkits, and viruses from the computer system, in addition to stopping malicious browser redirections.

Removing malware from the system and the browser should be thorough and carefully executed; therefore, please follow every step provided.

We made the instructions below easy to understand so non-tech-savvy users can still remove the browser threat without needing help from tech support or a computer technician.

Step 1: Reset the browser to its default settings

Resetting the browser includes complete reversal and wiping out history, homepage settings, default search engines, and browser permissions, which may be used by malicious actors to redirect the user to malicious domains.

In addition, the browser reset does not include the favorites tabs, bookmarks, or saved passwords in some cases. To reset your browser to its default settings, please follow the steps below for the browser you are using.

1. Open the Google Chrome browser and click the three dots in the upper-right corner of your screen to access the drop-down menu.

2. From the menu presented, select the Settings button, then click the Advanced menu on the left side of the screen from the settings.

3. On the drop-down menu presented on the screen, select Reset and Clean up.

4. Click on the Restore settings to their original defaults.

5. Then a small confirmation window will appear; click the Reset Settings.

1. Launch the Mozilla Firefox browser, then open the menu by clicking on the three horizontal lines located in the upper-right corner.

2. Navigate down and click Help, then select More Troubleshooting Information from the options given.

3. Select the Refresh Firefox button. Then click Refresh Firefox on the confirmation window that appears.

1. Run Microsoft Edge on the computer and click the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner.

2. Click on the Settings button from the drop-down menu.

3. Find and click Reset Settings from the left sidebar. Then click on the option Restore settings to their default values.

4. A warning window will appear telling you that you are about to reset the browser. Click Reset, and the browser should return to its default settings.

The configurations added by adware and browser hijackers have all been removed, and your browser has now been entirely reset to the settings it had when you initially installed it. You can use your browser with complete security now. Rest assured that the redirects won’t appear again.

Step 2: Uninstall unwanted programs from the computer

Adware, often known as advertising software, is the main culprit behind most browser-related issues which can include malicious redirections. If the redirections persist even after the browser has been reset, the adware may have been installed on the system.

Many users may not know this, but adware can automatically configure the browser to show pop-ups and redirect web pages. When it detects that users have removed the current configuration, it will immediately replace it again without requesting the users’ consent.

Additionally, malware can also be installed through these redirections, which is why it’s crucial to verify the applications that are already installed on your computer to determine whether any malware has possibly been installed.

How will I know what to uninstall?

Giving the exact name of the malicious program may be complicated, but there are ways to make it easier to detect it. One of which is to simply remove all unknown programs you do not recognize or think you do not install. You may have applications that you don’t even know the use for; that is a sign that they can be malware.

Unless it is a system process, which you can see by checking the developer of the application, some trojan viruses also use recognized and legitimate names to obfuscate their programs. If the publisher name or source of the program is unknown to you, it is best to uninstall it.

Another thing to do is to look at the version number; the majority of adware and dangerous programs will have version 1.0 because they don’t need to be updated and are merely running as background applications.

To remove malicious programs from your computer, we have provided two ways to do so: one is through normal uninstallation, and if that does not work, we also provide an advanced uninstall method to make sure it will be removed without issues.

Remove Software via Control Panel

The most common way to remove malware from your computer is to uninstall the program through the Control Panel. You may view all of your installed apps as well as the developer’s name in the list of applications.

You can eventually remove the cause of redirections and other adware-related browser troubles by uninstalling the programs you do not recognize.

1. From the Windows search bar at the bottom of your screen, search for Control Panel and click the result that matches the same application.

2. You will see different options, such as System and Security, as well as User Accounts. But what you want to click is the Uninstall a program under the Programs section. Depending on your Windows version, hovering over the uninstall section will be relatively the same.

3. Now that you are on the Programs and Features page, it will show you all the installed programs. There will be filters you may want to use, such as viewing them in lists with details such as the publisher, version number, and when they were installed.4. Right-click the suspected virus program and click Uninstall to get rid of it (We will be using Adaware as an example). It will then proceed to remove the application, or you will be presented with an uninstaller that will guide you to remove it; either way, it will be removed. There is a chance that the program may not be uninstalled successfully, and when that happens, it is important to use the power of an uninstaller program such as Revo Uninstaller.

It is widely known to be enough to remove malicious programs that are evading uninstallation. If you encounter such an issue when proceeding to uninstall the app, you may utilize the uninstaller to do the job for you.

Remove Malicious Program via Revo Uninstaller

For computer users who are not sure of what to do. You may resort to using Revo Uninstaller since it is much more effective and easy to use. Revo Uninstaller is a handy tool for Windows users.

This uninstaller not only removes programs from the computer but also deletes their changes from the Windows Registry, Host File, etc. Following the steps below will guide you on how to install and use Revo Uninstaller to get rid of the source of the browser redirection.

1. Click the button below to proceed with installing Revo Uninstaller on your computer since we have made an in-depth guide on how to use it on the following page. On the other hand, you can also head over to Revouninstaller.com and download it from there.

Download Revo Uninstaller

2. After the setup file (revosetup.exe) has finished downloading, run the installation wizard, read the license agreement, and click agree to proceed to the next step of the installation. Follow the procedure and wait until the installation of the software is complete.

3. Once the software has launched, find the unwanted application that needs to be removed and double-click the program to uninstall it.

4. Click on the Continue button and follow the procedure to start uninstalling the program. It is also advised to make sure that a System Restore Point is made before the uninstallation, just in case.

5. You will be prompted to choose a scanning mode. From the three options available, select Advanced mode, then click Scan.6. A window will pop up and show all of the leftovers and changes made by the uninstalled program. Click the Select All button and hit Delete to remove the leftovers found in the Windows Registry.

Once the window closes, you have successfully removed the malware threat from your system. And we believe with absolute certainty that once the adware has been removed, the browser issue will now be fixed, and you can now continue browsing the web with ease and comfort.

Step 3: Scan with powerful malware removal software

Highly damaging malware could have been installed on the computer. They can conceal themselves within the system files and registry, making them resistant to browser reset and software uninstallation.

For these virus threats, we recommend running a full system malware scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. This program is widely known and recognized by security experts when it comes to removing viruses from the system.

Remove browser redirects with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

We have also been using this software on our systems ever since, and it has always been successful in detecting viruses. It has blocked the most common browser threats as shown from our tests with the software, and we assure you that it can remove the redirects as well as other malware hiding on your computer.

Not to mention, it is free to use and does not come at any cost to remove the viruses it finds on your computer.

To use Malwarebytes and remove malicious threats from the computer, follow the steps below:

1. Download Malwarebytes by clicking the button below, as we have made an additional and in-depth tutorial on how to use it. Otherwise, you may go to their official website via Malwarebytes.com (Avoid misspelling as it may lead to scams).

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

2. Visit their download section and start a Free Download to begin installing the software on your computer.3. Once the Malwarebytes setup file (MBsetup.exe) has finished downloading, open the executable file in File Explorer, then right-click the setup and select run as administrator to give the highest system authority and make sure Malwarebytes is installed correctly.4. Make sure to carefully follow the installation setup wizard’s instructions and provide the relevant information it requires. You will be prompted with questions such as Personal or Business Use, Email Address, and others.5. From the application’s home screen, go to the scan tab and begin running a system scan. This will scan the whole computer, including memory, startup items, the registry, and the file system. This is done so that not only the redirection malware but also other trojan viruses hiding in the system can be detected.6. Since it can take a while, you should either relax and wait for it to finish or find something else to do. The length of the scan depends on the size of the files you have and the hardware capabilities of your computer. Here are some ways to make scanning faster.

7. Once the scan is finished, Malwarebytes will show the malicious viruses and threats it found on your PC. The source of the browser redirects will also show up on the detection results, and it may also be in a different name or threat name such as Generic.Trojan.Injector.DDS, and many more.8. Select all the detected files from the report and click the quarantine button to remove the malicious items from the computer into the protected safe quarantine zone of the anti-malware program so that they would not affect and do malicious actions on the PC again.9. After placing the virus files in the program’s quarantine, it may prompt you to restart the computer to finalize the full system scan procedure. Please restart your computer if prompted, as it is essential. After the restart, Malwarebytes will open and display a message that the scan was complete.

Note: Don’t forget to delete the quarantined files afterward.

Simply quarantining the malware files is not enough to make sure it is completely removed. This is a very common misconception: once you click the quarantine button, it is all good and gone.

But, while its effects and harmful activities are halted, the malware is still in the system, only placed in the anti-malware program’s quarantine folders. To completely remove it from the computer, go to Detection History from the home screen, select all Quarantined items, and click Delete.

You have successfully removed the browser redirect virus as well as the hidden threats on your computer. Rest assured they would not resurface again since Malwarebytes offers a premium trial for 14 days, so you could take advantage of it for free and prevent malware from infecting your system.

While the detection and removal of malware is free for Malwarebytes, the premium versions include real-time protection that ensures your computer is safe all the time. Although we encourage you to use the premium trial, you are free to purchase the full version if you find it useful.

The program is anti-malware that removes harmful threats like trojan horses, worms, stealers, miners, keyloggers, and many other forms of malware and computer viruses.

We suggest Malwarebytes if you are looking for a removal tool and as a second opinion scanner, but if you want full-fledged antivirus software, we believe that the built-in Windows Defender is sufficient for computer security, or if you want something with a more sophisticated system, and better protection: Kaspersky Free.

If you choose to uninstall Malwarebytes, you may suddenly see that Windows Defender Real-Time Protection is turned off. This is a common issue that users may face when uninstalling the software. To fix this issue, you may refer to this article.

Alternative: Kaspersky Free Antivirus

After removing the redirect virus and other malicious threats, you may want to install antivirus software to protect your system against malware.

More importantly, running an additional scan with a different program’s threat database will alert you to hidden trojan viruses and rootkits that were not removed from the prior scan with Malwarebytes.Kaspersky is a widely known antivirus software that has been on the market for as long as the field of cybersecurity has existed. It is acclaimed by professionals in the field and is one of the most effective antivirus programs available. With its advanced internet security protection, it can also remove additional malware from the computer.

What is the difference between anti-malware and antivirus? Anti-Malware software is designed to specifically remove malware and its variants. In addition, it employs heuristic-based detection by picking up harmful code from files.

On the other hand, an antivirus uses signature-based detection, which examines data for attacks to protect users from dangerous viruses, including keyloggers, loaders, worms, trojans, and others.

Malwarebytes and Kaspersky are identical, but Kaspersky is a better overall program since Malwarebytes’ main purpose is to remove malware, but Kaspersky has been known for comprehensive computer security protection ever since.
Based on our experience removing malware, when two different programs are used to scan, various threats are identified by one software but not by the other. Given that their threat databases differ from each other, it might be able to capture harmful viruses, rootkits, and trojans that Malwarebytes has missed.

Please be aware that if you decide to use Kaspersky, you should first uninstall Malwarebytes because having both security programs installed will cause a conflict. If you choose to do so, please remove Malwarebytes first, as it is essential to do so before we get started.

1. Click the button below to start downloading Kaspersky Antivirus on your computer. On the following page, we have provided clear details on how to install it on the computer. On the other hand, you may go to their official website by searching for the software on your web browser or typing Kaspersky.com (Beware of misspellings since cybercriminals typically use these as exploits to redirect users to malicious webpages).

Download Kaspersky

2. Go to the download page for Kaspersky Free Antivirus. Before clicking download, you will be prompted to choose your continent and where your country is located. This is very important, and you should not choose a different country because you will be met with a “Not supported in your region” message during installation.3. Once you click download, a setup file (startup.exe) will be downloaded on the computer. After it has finished downloading, open its file location, right-click the executable file, and then select Run as administrator. This will ensure that Kaspersky’s installation will be smooth and will not result in certain errors.4. The Kaspersky installation wizard will launch, and you can then proceed to install Kaspersky Free by following the setup instructions. If a UAC prompt appears, simply accept it and proceed with the installation.5. Please be patient while Kaspersky is being installed on your computer. The speed and length of the installation process will depend on your computer’s specifications. Kaspersky also mentioned that sluggishness or dark displays during the installation of their program are normal and should not be worried about.

6. To use the antivirus program, you must first create an account on the sign-in page that appears after the antivirus application has been successfully installed on the computer. If you’re looking for the sign-up button, simply enter your email exactly as it appears; if you don’t already have an account, one will be created for you.7. Kaspersky will ask you to decide which plan to use. It will be either the Standard version or Kaspersky Plus. In this case, the standard version is all you need for now. If you want to try the premium version of Kaspersky, you may opt for Kaspersky Plus to try the features for free. You do not have to add a payment method to get started, and after the trial ends, you will be downgraded to the Standard version unless you pay for it.8. You will be asked if you want to install additional applications, namely Kaspersky Password Manager and a VPN. Feel free to opt for a program you might want to use; otherwise, install both, or choose not to if you do not need them.9. Kaspersky will ask you to scan for viruses in the background. Simply choose not to do so because we will be doing a full system scan later; however, doing a scan now will only initiate a quick scan. However, if you want to be safe, you can run the background scan now and proceed with a full system scan after.10. Once the antivirus application has opened, go to the security tab and click the choose a scan button. You will be presented with several different scans; go for the full system scan to ensure full computer security. Always remember to update the database because this will ensure that Kaspersky can detect newly discovered threats and exploits.11. A full system scan will take a long time to finish since it will look into all the files on the computer, including the registry, memory, startup applications, and many more. The scanning time will depend on how many files there are on the computer and how big the files are. Additionally, the computer’s hardware and specs will also play into how long the scan will take.

12. After the full system scan is finished, it may detect remnants of the redirect virus or other malware hiding in the computer, showing its location along with a detection name (Trojan.Win32.Generic, Exploit.Win32.Generic, etc.) given to it. Go ahead and proceed to disinfect and restart the computer.13. The Advanced Disinfection process will then start, and depending on the amount of RAM the computer has, it could take some time. It will then request a computer restart to complete the operation. Your computer will now have finished the entire system scan after restarting. By doing this, you can be sure that the redirects and all other forms of malware and viruses have been wiped from your computer.

You shouldn’t be concerned if the scan turned up no instances of malware or viruses, which indicates that there isn’t any malware on your computer. If two independent programs declare your computer safe, then that’s probably the case.

For a better and safer web browsing experience, we’ve provided a few security measures and advice below that will safeguard your browser and computer from harmful threats like worms, malware, trojans, keyloggers, stealers, and other kinds of computer viruses that will harm user data.

Protective measures for better overall security

Removing trojan viruses and malware from the device is one thing; keeping it secure for the future and for a long period is a different thing and will require certain things to make sure you are secured, especially if you do not know most of the ins and outs of the device you are using. Cybercriminals are always stepping up their game to make sure they infect users and extract data and money from them.

We encourage you to take the actions listed below to ensure complete security before leaving this page because we strongly promote web security and having a secure online presence.

Safeguard your privacy and data by using a VPN application

VPNs, also known as virtual private networks, guarantee your safety and complete anonymity while you browse the internet.

In contrast to a firewall, which monitors and blocks potentially harmful connections in the network, A VPN hides the user’s connection via a tunnel so that it would appear to third parties as a different IP address and location.

This ensures that your data won’t be leaked because the program hides it. Be aware that visiting infected websites may cause your IP address and location to be disclosed; however, if you use a VPN, this will prevent your true IP address from being revealed to malware actors.

If you already had Kaspersky installed from the previous step, you had the choice to install its integrated Virtual Private Network, which is a good tool that we also advise.

However, if you decide against doing so and instead download a VPN-only program to cloak your web browsing activity, Mullvad, and AirVPN are excellent choices for fast connections and better privacy.

Mullvad VPN

Download Mullvad VPN

Since user privacy is the main focus of a virtual private network program, Mullvad VPN excels at putting users’ privacy first. You do not need to enter your email address while registering to download their application because they maintain anonymous accounts.

If you wanted to hide or didn’t want your credit card information to be disclosed, they also accept Bitcoin payments. According to their website, they support a free internet that is devoid of surveillance and censorship.

They have also been announcing new server locations to guarantee users a fast connection anytime they want to connect to various areas throughout the world.

AirVPN

Download AirVPN

AirVPN seeks to provide users with access to the real internet, in contrast to Mullvad, which promises to offer users a free internet. Along with masking your IP, they also don’t monitor or log any user data, which is good.

You can use it for a long time without worrying about being disconnected because they don’t impose a traffic or time limit when connecting to their sites. In addition, there are infinite, cost-free server changes with physically fast servers in many different nations.

Additionally, when registering for their program, you are not required to enter your email address. They also offer strong encryption and Perfect Forward Secrecy to ensure that it is difficult to determine the user’s connection.

Use an adblocker when browsing the internet

Installing an adblocker on the browser is the best way to get rid of unwanted redirects as well as other threats such as pop-ups, browser hijackers, and unwanted toolbars.

Additionally, by blocking malicious websites before users can even access them, it is possible to prevent malware from being downloaded.

In this case, we recommend uBlock Origin, which is an open-source AdBlock extension that comes at no cost and is free forever. It is one of the most reliable plugins out there, ensuring that every advertisement on a webpage will be blocked.

1. Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for the browser extension, or click here to go directly to the extension page.

2. Click the Add to Chrome button. Then click Add extension when the confirmation window appears.

3. uBlock Origin is now installed in Google Chrome. The adblocker is turned on by default; you can click the power button if you wish to turn it off for a while. The menu can be found by clicking the puzzle icon in the upper-right corner next to the search bar.

1. Visit the Firefox Add-ons Store and search for uBlock Origin, or click here to automatically go to the extension’s webpage.

2. Click Add to Firefox, and after that, a confirmation window will appear stating the permissions it will grant the addon. Finally, to add it to the browser, click Add.

3. Mozilla Firefox now has uBlock Origin installed. The adblocker is activated by default; if you want to disable it for some reason, simply click the power button. The menu can be found in the upper-right corner of the web browser, next to the search bar.

1. Go to the Edge Addon Store and search for the said browser extension. You can also click here to go directly to the plugin page of the Adblocker.

2. Click the Get button, and a confirmation window will appear. Continue installing the extension by selecting Add extension.

3. Now that uBlock Origin is installed on the browser, you can choose to disable the Adblocker by clicking the power button. The menu can be accessed by hovering over the extension’s icon next to the search bar.

The majority of pop-up advertisements, whether they include malware or not, will be filtered by the extension and no longer be displayed to you. Currently, uBlock Origin is not available for Mac or iOS users, but there are plenty of free options on the market, such as AdBlock for Safari.

Utilize a firewall to prevent cyber attacks

A security firewall is required for every internet connection that is made. It is an essential tool that enhances security and stops online attacks. Through a security mechanism, it controls incoming and outgoing network connections on your system and network and filters the undesirable ones. Consider it a further barrier against malicious assaults and zero-day exploits.

You don’t need to do anything if you installed Kaspersky in the previous step because the program we installed earlier comes with a built-in firewall that is turned on by default.

On the other hand, if you prefer a standalone, fully functional firewall utility application that is exclusively focused on securing the network, we recommend these top two firewall solutions for personal computers: Comodo and ZoneAlarm.

Comodo Personal Firewall

Get Comodo Firewall

Comodo Firewall is a well-known software program for securing your network and computer. It is a sophisticated tool with a wide range of features.

It is simple to use and doesn’t require complicated configuration to set up. It also functions by being aware of your computer usage habits to avoid interfering with your work.

It claims to offer the highest levels of protection provided by Comodo Firewall against both inbound and outbound threats.

Additionally, it secures the ports on your computer from hackers and prevents rogue software from sending your sensitive data over the internet.

ZoneAlarm Free Firewall

Get ZoneAlarm Firewall

You can also opt for ZoneAlarm Free Firewall as your first line of defense between your device and the internet. The program safeguards your network and blocks any dangers, and you can use the free version of it without paying anything.

It provides a robust two-way protection solution that guards against spyware from disclosing your data online while also hiding your PC from nefarious hackers.

With its cutting-edge anti-bot protection, it also protects your computer from automated cyberattacks in real-time.

Additionally, it protects your computer against spam, dubious websites, and many others. Lastly, it provides real-time defense against automated cyberattacks with its cutting-edge anti-bot security.

Bottom Line

While this may appear to be typical advice, we recommend users to not visit illegal streaming or torrenting websites or, more importantly, download anything from them because doing so may result in the installation of malware and viruses.

Because these websites are illegal, they are unable to make a profit from legitimate advertising. As a result, they host questionable advertisements from unidentified marketers that want to publicize their contents, which are most likely dangerous codes being propagated by cyber criminals.

Always make sure that your device is protected against sneaky exploits and stealthy cyberattacks. While taking precautions and avoiding dubious websites are crucial, having a solid line of defense is essential to ensuring the security of your network and data.

The threat posed by browser redirection is not the only one on the internet, and there are many more surfacing every day. We are glad to have assisted you in resolving your browser-related problem and are proud of our expertise in this area.

If you experience another virus attack on your device, please visit our website to find a malware removal solution for your problem or get in touch with us, and SecuredStatus will be happy to assist you once again.