Today, the power and knowledge of the Internet is in the palm of our hands, quite literally. Whereas in the past, we would need to call the local bulletin or go to the library to find the answer to an unique question that popped into our brains, we can now just whip out a phone or a laptop, type in what is on our minds, and be met with thousands, if not millions, of related responses. It’s safe to say we put quite a bit of trust in the search engines and browsers that bring us all of this information – but what happens if someone infiltrates your browser without your knowledge? Malicious actors can infect a computer with malware that then changes the settings in the user's browser without their awareness or consent; this is often done for the purpose of redirecting the person's earnest search for true information toward fake advertisements online that the hacker profits off of. This is an example of what is known as browser hijacking and it is unfortunately a very common form of malware seen today. Cybercriminals carry out a browser hijack when they replace some element of the user's Internet search experience with a false page - this can include the landing page of the person's Internet browser or the search engine itself. This is not the only way a browser hijacking might be carried out - sometimes this form of malware presents itself via a significant increase in pop-ups or being redirected to dangerous sites instead of the false ads.
One of the most common versions of this attack is the Yahoo landing page for Chrome. Chrome, Google's Internet browser offering, would obviously have its own search engine, Google.com, as the homepage for the browser. However, many people have found that one day, when they log onto their computer to search for something, they are met with a Yahoo search engine and not the Google screen they are accustomed to seeing. You’ll know you have the Yahoo browser hijacker virus if you use Google Chrome as your browser and you have never changed your search engine from Google.
How to get rid of a browser hijacker on your device
If you are reading this because you suspect you might be the victim of the Yahoo browser hijacker virus, here are some steps you can take to get rid of it:
-Open Google Chrome and click on the three dots in the upper right hand corner.
-Select Settings and find the option to the left that says Search Engine.
-From the dropdown list, make sure that the “Search engine used in the address bar” is Google and not anything else. This action should make it so that your default search engine in Chrome is back to being Google, as it should be.
-To ensure the malicious browser extension is no longer active on your computer, click on Manage search engines and site search. Then, scroll down and remove any unknown search engine listed.
While these are specific to a Chrome browser hijacking, there are some other steps to take to avoid this and other browser hijacking attempts.
How to avoid a browser hijacking
Be intentional when using your devices - A device typically becomes infected with a browser hijacking malware via some action taken by the user, such as clicking on a malicious link from a phishing email, downloading a suspect file, or visiting a questionable site. Be intentional and diligent in your operations online in order to try and avoid such an attack.
Update all software regularly - Another way that is commonly seen as an entrance point for malicious actors is through dormant or out-of-date software. Check the software that is installed on your computer often in order to ensure that there are no suspect things lingering on your device.
Read the details on bundled software - Along the same lines as the last tip, be sure to read the details on any bundled software that is downloaded, as hijackers often sneak into your devices through bundled software downloads. Hijackers cannot gain access to your browser without being granted permission, so be sure to check what you are signing up for before hitting the agree/allow all permissions buttons. This step should also be taken after the removal of a browser hijacking malware so that you can ensure your devices are secure.
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