I'm having a problem with my Opera GX browser. Whenever I try to launch it, I get sent to a sketchy version of Chrome instead. I used Malwarebytes to scan for malware and removed an adware extension, but the issue persists: Chrome still opens regardless of my attempts to start Opera. I ran another scan with Malwarebytes, checked the task manager for anything suspicious, and even looked at the Opera files for anomalies, but found nothing. I'm hesitant to uninstall or interact with Chrome in case it's unsafe. What steps can I take to resolve this issue? I've heard it might be a good idea to check for malware with different software, but I'm concerned about the security of Chrome too.
3 Answers
Just try changing your default internet browser. It's a simple step but might help.
If you really want to be sure your system is clean, consider a full OS reinstallation. It sounds drastic, but if malware has seriously compromised your system, this is a way to ensure everything is wiped clean. Back up your important files first—just copy them to an external drive or cloud storage before wiping your drive and doing a fresh Windows install. After reinstalling, scan your backed-up files to make sure they're safe before transferring them back.
It sounds like a browser hijacker might have messed with your default settings. Even after removing the malware, the settings could still be altered. To fix this, go to your Windows settings and check 'Default apps' to ensure Opera is set as your default browser. Also, see if a suspicious Chrome shortcut has been created in your app data or temp folders—malware sometimes leaves a fake Chrome.exe behind. For added safety, run the AdwCleaner tool from Malwarebytes, which targets browser hijackers specifically.
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