GamingJunkie Home Redirect Removal

by Berta Bilbao | March 15, 2018 | 0 Comments browser hijacker, redirect

Threat Summary GamingJunkie Home – Distribution GamingJunkie Home – Analysis GamingJunkie Home – Privacy Policy Remove GamingJunkie Home Fully

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.

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 GamingJunkie Home from Windows.
Guide 2: Get rid of GamingJunkie Home on Mac OS X.
Guide 3: Remove GamingJunkie Home in 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.
Guide 8: Disable GamingJunkie Home 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 GamingJunkie Home from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove GamingJunkie Home

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 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:

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 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:

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 GamingJunkie Home 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 GamingJunkie Home from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall GamingJunkie Home 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 GamingJunkie Home:

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 GamingJunkie Home. 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 GamingJunkie Home. 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 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:

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 GamingJunkie Home. 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 GamingJunkie Home files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as GamingJunkie Home, 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 GamingJunkie Home:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

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

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 Stop Push Pop-ups

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 Stop Push Pop-ups

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 Stop Push Pop-ups

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.

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 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.