by Berta Bilbao | September 19, 2016 | 0 Comments ad-supported application, browser hijacker, redirects

Footybase.com is the domain of a browser hijacker, which can be generated by the Climbon.top/search.php redirect. Settings which this hijacker can alter are the homepage, search engine and new tab of nearly every browser you use. All search queries you make will be filtered and be sent to servers connected to the hijacker. You will experience advertising and redirect links while you browse. To remove this browser hijacker, you should read the article to the end.

Threat Summary

Name	Footybase.com
Type	Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description	Browser programs on your computer device could be affected. The hijacker redirects you and displays sponsored advertising content.
Symptoms	The start page, search engine and new tab setting will be altered. You will get redirected from the search results every time you do a search or open a new tab window.
Distribution Method	Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss Footybase.com.

Footybase.com – Distribution Methods

Footybase.com can be distributed in various methods. One of them is through third-party installer setups of bundled applications or freeware. These setups could have been set to put additional content on your PC, by default. Without you knowing, the hijacker can alter settings on browsers before you notice it. Preventing such setups from installing undesirable application can be done if you find Custom or Advanced options. There, you should be able to deselect the additional content.

Another distribution methods might utilize an add-on of some sort, and place it in your browser applications. Banners, pop-unders, pop-ups and more advertisement types can spread the hijacker redirect and be a viable distribution method. The redirect is distributed with multiple redirect links of other websites, such as Climbon.top/search.php. Such websites are either run by the same owners or partnered up with Footybase.com. The following browsers could be affected: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox.

Footybase.com – More About It

Footybase.com is the primary landing page for a hijacker redirect and search engine. The page Footybase.com/search.php will be put as your default home page, new tab window and search engine. You can view that page from the picture shown down below:

The Footybase.com search page is made of a pure white background, a search bar with a logo and a banner space for advertisements under it. You can see the scam from the name of the new tab that says “Google Search” and that the logo is made to look like the one of Google. That page will change your default homepage, search engine, and new tab setting of any browser programs you are running on your computer device. The design of the page looks exactly like the MyLucky123.com hijacker.

The hijacker could change entries in the Windows registry to make the redirect appear on each start of the Google Chrome browser:

→HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Google\Chrome\HomepageLocation

and

→HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Google\Chrome\RestoreOnStartupURLs\1

In the screenshot underneath the paragraph, you can see how a search results page of Footybase.com looks. You get redirected to Google’s Custom Search results. That is made to trick people into trusting the hijacker redirect, as though it is a legitimate Google service or Google affiliate. Advertisements and sponsored contents show inside the search results as shown in the picture below.

You know you are trying to get scammed when you are offered tickets to a “Live” show of a dead artist. That’s just not right.

Your search queries will be filtered by the Footybase.com search engine. Before redirecting you to the Google service, every piece of information you provide from the search bar will be sent directly to servers of the hijacker. That information is going to be stored there for an unknown period. Be on alert if you are still using that search – it will intrude your privacy space and track browsing activity.

Be very careful with what information you give out to this service. Refrain from providing any account data, credential details, banking or personal information. In-text and redirect links can be generated when you are surfing the Internet. Information could also be gathered from the website when you use cookies. Read further to see what the Footybase.com website does to gather information from you.

The Privacy Policy of the Footybase.com is nowhere to be found. Instead, there are browser cookies which can accumulate data obtained from your searches and interaction with the website and redirects.

You can see how many cookies are injected to your PC, in the image below:

Usually, by only visiting such websites, browser cookies are placed on your computer system and begin obtaining statistical data. Like, how much time you stay on the page, what time you have accessed the page, what your hardware and software are, what is your preferred language, what is the browser in use, etc. Cookies can also gather personal details about you from your searches and interactions with advertisements and text links. So, be wary and do not use such shady services.

If you do not approve of how your privacy is being intruded, then you should remove the browser hijacker redirect and all of its related components from your computer device.

Remove Footybase.com Completely

To remove Footybase.com manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the hijacker and its redirects completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such a program can keep your computer secure in the future.

Berta Bilbao

Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.

Guide 1: How to Remove Footybase.com from Windows.
Guide 2: Get rid of Footybase.com on Mac OS X.
Guide 3: Remove Footybase.com in Google Chrome.

Guide 4: Erase Footybase.com from Mozilla Firefox.
Guide 5: Uninstall Footybase.com from Microsoft Edge.
Guide 6: Remove Footybase.com from Safari.
Guide 7: Eliminate Footybase.com from Internet Explorer.
Guide 8: Disable Footybase.com Push Notifications in Your Browsers.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

How to Remove Footybase.com from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Footybase.com

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter's malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall Footybase.com 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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Footybase.com 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 Footybase.com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
Before starting "Step 4", 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.

Step 4: Scan for Footybase.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

1. Click on the "Download" button to proceed to SpyHunter's download page.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter's EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the 'Next' button.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Get rid of Footybase.com from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall Footybase.com and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to Footybase.com:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to Footybase.com. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. 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 Footybase.com. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 Footybase.com 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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as Footybase.com. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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 Footybase.com files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Footybase.com, 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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for Footybase.com:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove Footybase.com 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.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Erase Footybase.com 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.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Uninstall Footybase.com 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.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove Footybase.com 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 Footybase.com will be removed.

How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.

Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.

Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Eliminate Footybase.com 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.