This article has been made with the main goal to help explain how you can fully block random browser redirects to third-party sites that you do not want to see.
Threat Profile
| Name | Redirect Viruses |
| Type | Browser Redirects |
| Short Description | Many redirects to suspicious sites, often scamming or malicious. |
| Symptoms | Automatic transfers to pages you did not wish to open. |
| Distribution Method | Infected sites, Unwanted Apps, Adware, Viruses |
| Stop Redirects for Windows Users | Windows Removal |
| Stop Redirects for Mac Users | Mac Removal |
Browser redirects are probably what appears to be the most annoying part of having an adware or a browser hijacker on your computer. However, browser redirects can also be caused by visiting several suspicious sites and falling victims to their scripts. Usually these redirects are caused with the main idea in mind to get the victim to visit pay-per-click sites that drive traffic to third-party domains and in this way drive a lot of traffic to those sites and generate income to the ones who cause the redirects. But there are also those malicious redirects that may lead you to websites that may infect your computer with malware and cause a lot of headaches for you. This is why we have created this article which explains how you can remove redirects from your computer and how you can make sure to prevent those from appearing in the future as well.
How to Remove Browser Redirect Adware or Malware
To remove browser redirects from your Mac, you will need to first identify the source. Usually, in most cases this is a toolbar, a browser extension and it might even be a malicious program running directly on your machine. So to remove such unwanted software, you should consider the following two scenarios:
Scenario 2: You do not know what is the threat and you still see redirects.
Scenario 1: You know what is causing the redirects.
In case you know what exactly seems to be the problem, we advise you to follow the instructions for manual removal of the toolbar from your browsers and uninstalling any suspicious apps that you know to be causing redirects on your Windows or Mac device.
Manual Removal Steps for Windows
Preparation before removing Redirect Viruses.
Before starting the actual removal process, we recommend that you do the following preparation steps.
- Make sure you have these instructions always open and in front of your eyes.
- Be patient as this could take a while.
Step 1: Uninstall Redirect Viruses and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 2: Clean your Browsers from Redirect Viruses.
Remove an extension from Mozilla Firefox
Remove an extension from Google Chrome
Remove an extension from Internet Explorer
Remove an extension from Microsoft Edge
2. Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu.
3. Select the unwanted extension and click “Remove“
4. After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” button at the top right corner and start it again.
2. Move the cursor over “Tools” and then from the extended menu choose “Extensions“
3. From the opened “Extensions” menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its “Remove” button.
4. After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red “X” button at the top right corner and start it again.
2. Click on the gear icon labeled ‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and select ‘Manage Add-ons’
3. In the ‘Manage Add-ons’ window.
4. Select the extension you want to remove and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
5. After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ button located at the top right corner and start it again.
2. Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
3. From the drop menu select “Extensions”.
4. Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
5. Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Redirect Viruses on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Redirect Viruses there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click “Modify” to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Manual Removal Steps for Mac
Preparation Phase:
Before starting to follow the steps below, be advised that you should first do the following preparations:
- Backup your files in case the worst happens.
- Make sure to have a device with these instructions on standy.
- Arm yourself with patience.
Step 1: Uninstall Redirect Viruses and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Redirect Viruses via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Remove Redirect Viruses – related extensions from Safari / Chrome / Firefox
Remove an extension from Safari and reset it.Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Scenario 2: You do not know what is the threat and you still see redirects.
If you have tried manual removal and you still seem to see redirects, you should use another method that will be more effective against hidden threats. According to security professionals, the most effective way of detecting a threat that is causing redirects on your Mac or Windows machine is to scan it’s file system for the objects that cause redirects. The best way to scan your machine is to use an advanced anti-malware program. Scanning your machine with such tool will significantly improve your chances of fully detecting and removing any files and hidden objects from your browser and system. Furhtermore, such software also ensures that you protect your computer against any threats that might appear in the future too. Below you can find the appropriate removal tool, capable of handling such unwanted programs, based on what operating system and machine you are using, whether it is Mac or Windows OS.
Automatic Removal for Windows
Before starting, please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Scan for Redirect Viruses with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Automatic Removal for Mac
Threats such as redirect viruses may be persistent. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like Combo Cleaner will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. Combo Cleaner’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read Combo Cleaner’s EULA and Privacy Policy.
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Redirect Viruses, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
What If You Removed All Malware, But You Still See Redirects?
If you still experience redirects on your web browser, then we recommend that you either secure your default web browser by installing the necessary browser extensions to keep you safe:
1.Install an Ad Blocker extension. – Since a big percentage of browser redirects get on your machine as a result of being caused by ads, we strongly suggest that you install an ad-blocker extension. One such extension is Adblock Plus, which is available for basically every browser.
2. Set up a Blacklist. – If you are using a mainstream browser, like Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome, we recommend that you install a web browser extension that is running a blacklist of the websites that cause redirects each time you visit them. One such extension is “Blacklist” for Google Chome, but there are many analogues of the extension for other web browsers as well.
3. Set up a VPN Connection. – Usually, some browser redirects tend to take you through sites that install cookies on your PC or Mac. These cookies stay on your system and they track your online behavior. Since they are authorized by your browser automatically, you have no way of knowing they exist. This is why, if you set up a VPN connection, the cookies may not actually track information linked to your IP address. And not only this, but you also become anonymous for any websites and redirect pages that may want to track your information. Below you can see the best VPN services for 2018:
4. (Optional) Install a Security Browser – With a big percentage of malware infecting victims via web browsers, you can now install a web browser that is specifically created for security. The security field has become denser and denser with security-specific browsers made by big cyber-sec companies. Below, in the related story, you can see secure web browsers among which you can choose. These browsers have all the necessary online protection that blocks redirects and performs scans of phishing and scam pages:
How to Stop Redirects on Your Android Smartphone?
For Android smartphone, there are many apps that can be installed and that aim to cut connection, but sometimes, these apps are not as effective. For example, Adblock Plus for Android might block ads on your browser, but then you have to disable certain defneses from our Android phone, like the ability to install it as a third-party app, for example. One way is to change your DNS to an ad-blocking type of DNS that will cut out any random redirections that appear on your smartphone. Below, you can see how you can use DNS66 to block out ads and redirects on your Android device:
Conclusion
Protection against browser redirects is something that is very crucial and must not be disregarded when it comes to your online security, because this accounts to a big percentage of the viruses that enter computers each day. Not only this, but redirects may also track a lot of the information you type online, such as your online searches, clicks and even personal data, if you type it on sites that are unsecured, like phishing ones to which you might get redirected eventually. This is why, it’s best to play it safe and install all of the security measures so that you minimize any risks, because an infection can happen anytime, to anyone.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
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- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Redirect Viruses from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Redirect Viruses with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Redirect Viruses and related software from Windows
Uninstall Steps for Windows 11
Uninstall Steps for Windows 10 and Older Versions
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Redirect Viruses on Your PC.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by Redirect Viruses there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Video Removal Guide for Redirect Viruses (Windows).
Get rid of Redirect Viruses from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Redirect Viruses and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Redirect Viruses. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove Redirect Viruses via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove Redirect Viruses files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Redirect Viruses, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Video Removal Guide for Redirect Viruses (Mac)
Remove Redirect Viruses from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Erase Redirect Viruses from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window:
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Uninstall Redirect Viruses from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Remove Redirect Viruses from Safari
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the Redirect Viruses will be removed.
Eliminate Redirect Viruses from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Redirect Viruses-FAQ
What Is Redirect Viruses?
The Redirect Viruses threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of Redirect Viruses?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like Redirect Viruses?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does Redirect Viruses Work?
Once installed, Redirect Viruses can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
Redirect Viruses can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is Redirect Viruses Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the Redirect Viruses Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Redirect Viruses how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Redirect Viruses?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Redirect Viruses threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.