If you have a favorite search engine, it can be very irritating to wake up one day only to discover that your default search preferences have mysteriously changed. Now you have to deal with a whole new search engine taking over your internet browser. To make things even worse, you can’t get rid of it no matter what you try.
If this sounds familiar to you, chances are you’re being a victim to hijacker adware or malware. This article will better explain how this happens and how you can take care of it.
How to Remove the Yahoo Hijacker from My Browser
One of the most common hijackers that troubles users all around the world is Yahoo Search. Even though Yahoo is a legitimate company that has been around for decades and doesn’t directly hijack their users’ browsers, many malware developers mimic this renowned platform’s look and use it as a tool to link the user to malicious websites. If you are facing this particular problem, keep reading.
What is a Hijacker?
A browser hijacker is defined as a type of malware or unwanted software, often downloaded and installed in a device without the user even noticing, that modifies your internet browser’s settings without your permission. The hijacker’s objective is to inject the browser with all sorts of unwanted advertising or redirect the affected users to scam sites that can jeopardize their privacy and personal information. Hijackers can completely replace your browser’s homepage or search engine with their own to make you go to certain websites and monetize from each visitor from the advertising revenue. It is also common for browser hijackers to contain even more dangerous settings and spyware to obtain personal data, banking information, and passwords from their victims.
How to Prevent Malware Downloads
When it comes to viruses, malware, spyware, adware, and other malicious software that can put your personal information out there for a potentially dangerous use, prevention is critical. Many seemingly harmless sites offer free downloads, but the hidden truth is that most of the software you get from them is “packed up” along with hijackers as a way for the site to make some revenue from each download.
The definitive measure you can take to prevent these malicious programs from ever getting to your devices is to avoid these downloads altogether. Although they may sound appealing, they’ve proven to be extremely risky. If, despite that, you’re still willing to take that chance, make sure you make a hard pass on the quick installation and to choose the advanced one instead. That way, you can closely follow the installation process, read the privacy agreements of each download, and catch the potential threats before they affect your devices. Never consent to the installation of any third-party provider that you’re not familiar with.
What to Do If You Have Already Been Hijacked
If you’re already trapped in this scenario, take it from the more simple solutions to those requiring a little more effort. Your first option would be to try to change the default settings of your web browser manually. You can easily achieve this by finding the settings/preferences menu, going to your default search engine and home page settings, and selecting your preferred one.
If this doesn’t work, you can then try resetting your browser to its default settings and then manually reactivating all of your previously downloaded extensions to try and find the ones you don’t recognize and removing all of them. You can also try and reinstall your browser altogether. This will eliminate the issue for most users, but some others may be facing a more persistent type of malware. If that happens to be the case, the hijacker might not be just attached to your browser but installed directly onto your device’s operating system. Luckily, many malware removal tools can dig deeper into your affected device to detect and delete any suspicious software before it does any more harm. Once you get rid of the malware, the problem should be gone, and your search should work as intended.
Some Final Words
It’s true, malware such as browser hijackers can be a nightmare, but there are ways to deal with it. Once you get rid of the menace and take control over your search engine and home page preferences again, you can also learn how to enable JavaScript in my browser to improve your web navigation experience altogether.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).