This article will aid you to remove GamingJunkie Home fully. Follow the browser hijacker removal instructions at the end of the article.
GamingJunkie Home is a browser hijacker redirect. The extension and its website will redirect you to a search engine related to the hijacker’s search platform for games. From there, you can find yourself on pages with lots of adverts and sponsored content that go through this hijacker. The hijacker will modify the start page, new tab, and search settings for the browser applications you have on your computer machine.
Threat Summary
| Name | GamingJunkie Home |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | Each browser application on your computer could get affected. The hijacker can redirect you and will display lots of advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Browser settings which are altered are the homepage, search engine and the new tab. |
| 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 GamingJunkie Home. |
GamingJunkie Home – Distribution
GamingJunkie Home might be distributed via various methods. One of those methods is through third-party installations. Those installer setups come from bundled applications and freeware that could be set to install additional content by default on your computer system. Typically, that might happen without any notification. You might have tried installing a media player or free software and got your browser settings modified by the hijacker. To avoid unwanted programs from affecting your PC is doable if you find Custom or Advanced settings. There you should be able to deselect what you don’t want.
The browser hijacker redirect is also distributed via the Chrome Web Store under the name GamingJunkie Home as seen from the below screenshot:
GamingJunkie Home could be distributed via other methods, like add-ons or browser extensions which install on your browser (as the one shown above). Other distribution ways use advertisements, such as banners, pop-ups, pop-unders, and redirect links. Sponsored advertisements, including targeted content on suspicious websites could distribute the hijacker, too. These websites might also be partners or affiliates of the GamingJunkie Home website and services. These browsers could be affected: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari.
GamingJunkie Home – Analysis
GamingJunkie Home is a browser hijacker redirect. You will get redirected when you are using its services, from links, ads and pages hosted by its search engine. The main page can be viewed from the screenshot given below:
The following Web domains are related to the hijacker:
- www.medianetnow.com
- theappjunkies.com
- playmediacenter.com
The GamingJunkie Home browser hijacker will redirect you if you use its services and interact with links, ads and other content from its search pages. If you are using its search engine to browse the Web, you will be redirected to its search results page.
Be aware that each search that you do on its pages will be sending information to servers connected to this GamingJunkie Home hijacker. The pages displayed in the above and bottom image can replace the homepage, new tab and default search of every browser that you have installed.
If you have the GamingJunkie Home extension related to the hijacker on your PC, all affected browsers will be modified by the malicious application as it will:
- Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
- Replace the page you see when opening a new tab
- Read and change your browsing history
The screenshot that is shown above this paragraph shows what is one of the results when you try to make a search query through the GamingJunkie Home search bar. It could redirect you to another search page which is related to the hijacker or to a search engine that looks like Yahoo! for instance. Every search query in the search results will get filtered and sent to servers associated with the malware developers. Thus, everything that you provide as information will be gathered by the browser hijacker.
Below you can see a typical advertisement loaded from the hijacker:
In case another search engine loads rather than that of the website, you could be served with even more advertisements and redirects that could place browser cookies on your computer device, and they could track your online habits. Other, more advanced tracking technologies could have been used, too. Be wary of the information you provide on such search pages, especially on ones, associated with GamingJunkie Home. Refrain from clicking on suspicious advertisements and links that can show up.
GamingJunkie Home – Privacy Policy
You can access the Privacy Policy page of the GamingJunkie Home site by clicking on the footer link of its search window. The Policy provides just enough detail about the data collection done by the browser hijacker. Below, you can see exactly what information can be obtained from you when you are using any of the GamingJunkie Home service.
You can preview the Privacy Policy in the below screenshot:
The following information can be collected from you, according to the Policy:
- Your Name
- E-mail address
- Country of Origin
- Nickname
- Telephone Number
- Your Website (if you have such)
- Company and Job Title
- Information you provide (Via Surveys etc.)
Cookies connected to the browser hijacking site and services of GamingJunkie Home are also dropped by them to acquire more information related to your internet activity and habits. The GamingJunkie Home service could collect even more data with which you could be identified.
To conclude, you should be wary of what information you give out to search engines and websites. In case you do not like the idea of any information to be acquired about you by this browser hijacker or its services, you should consider removing it.
Remove GamingJunkie Home Fully
To remove GamingJunkie Home 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 redirect and its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such a program can keep your computer safe in the future.
- Guide 1: How to Remove GamingJunkie Home from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of GamingJunkie Home from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove GamingJunkie Home from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase GamingJunkie Home from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall GamingJunkie Home from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove GamingJunkie Home from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate GamingJunkie Home from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove GamingJunkie Home from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove GamingJunkie Home
Step 2: Uninstall GamingJunkie Home 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 3: Clean any registries, created by GamingJunkie Home 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 GamingJunkie Home 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.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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of GamingJunkie Home from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall GamingJunkie Home 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 GamingJunkie Home 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 malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, 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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove GamingJunkie Home 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
Erase GamingJunkie Home 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
Uninstall GamingJunkie Home 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
Remove GamingJunkie Home 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 GamingJunkie Home will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate GamingJunkie Home 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.
