I've been dealing with a persistent browser hijacker that keeps redirecting my Google Chrome to Yahoo and some sketchy search engines with clickbait articles. I've already scanned my computer with Norton and Windows Defender, and both say there are no threats left. I even tried resetting my startup settings, clearing Chrome's data history, and changing the default search engine, but the hijacker just keeps coming back. Any suggestions on how to fix this?
5 Answers
Make sure to use an independent malware scanner as well. SuperAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, and HitmanPro are good options. And seriously, ditch Norton—it's not effective against many threats.
Try using Malwarebytes; it's great for catching adware and it's free! If that doesn't work, reset your browser, remove any unfamiliar extensions, clear the cache, and make sure your default search engine is back to Google.
Honestly, I wouldn’t trust any PC that has had malware on it. I’d recommend the nuclear option: format your drive and reinstall your operating system. Before you do that, just be sure to back up important files. Also, yeah, Norton is pretty much useless—cancel that!
You might have a rogue JavaScript messing with your settings. Before going for the extreme measures, try resetting your Chrome or Edge settings using these links:
- For Chrome: chrome://settings/reset
- For Edge: edge://settings/reset
First off, reset your preferred search engine in Chrome's settings. Sometimes, you just need to set it back to Google again and make sure to save your changes.
Related Questions
Keep Your Screen Awake Tool
Favicon Generator
JWT Token Decoder and Viewer
Ethernet Signal Loss Calculator
Glassmorphism CSS Generator with Live Preview
Remove Duplicate Items From List