Are you seeing your browsers infested with Packages Tracker right after having something new installed or when you try to make a search? Read this insightful article and see how to remove all traces of Packages Tracker hijacker. The session, Packages Tracker is a redirect that will install on your browser, push advertisements and redirects.
Packages Tracker Hijacker Virus
Packages Tracker will be displayed when you open a new tab page if you have the related browser hijacker redirect installed on your computer system. The company which developed it is called Polarity Technologies which is known previously as SaferBrowser, before its rebranding. The undesired Packages Tracker hijacker modifies the new tab window, homepage, and search engine for all browser applications that you have. The starting page of a browser may also feature a toolbar and browsers may get an extension related to the hijacker.
Packages Tracker Hijacker
Hijackers such as Packages Tracker Hijacker take over primary browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and other ones. You can see the above mentioned hijacker redirecting you to other pages, while you are trying to search for something on the Internet.
Threat Summary
| Name | Packages Tracker |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | The hijacker redirect can alter the homepage, search engine and new tab on every browser application you have installed. |
| Symptoms | The homepage, new tab and search engine of all your browsers will be switched to the hijacker’s main page. You will be redirected and could see sponsored content. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Packages Tracker. |
What Does Packages Tracker Hijacker Do?
Packages Tracker uses different ways to place its files on a compromised computer. Installation setups from third-party programs are mainly responsible for delivering the browser hijacker. Without any notification, freeware, and bundled packages could spread the hijacker to your computer system. Packages Tracker could be delivered via a browser add-on. The browser hijacker redirect can appear from redirect links and advertisements found on suspicious websites or on verified ones such as the Google Web Store.
The browser hijacker. The default search engine for your browsers is going to load the page Packages Tracker, which is displayed in the image below:
If your computer system is affected by this hijacker, you will see redirects to the search engine that comes with it and changes the other browser settings such as your homepage, new tab, themes etc. The developer of the hijacker is Polarity Technologies, according to the Privacy Policy of the product. That is just a rebranding of SaferBrowser – a company known for developing a lot of applications with browser hijacking capabilities.
Other browser hijacker redirects developed by the same authors are these:
Packages Tracker filters whatever searches go through it so you should be careful of what you provide as information. Content, some of which is sponsored, can appear as targeted advertisements, and be displayed after you make a search or if you are just surfing the Web. That advertising content can be of a few types and presented as in-text links, pop-ups, pop-unders, and similar advertisements. Polarity Technologies as a company, obtains information about you and your online activity. The website also uses browser cookies, and more tracking technologies, like web beacons.
Remove Packages Tracker Hijacker
If you are asking yourself “How do I remove Packages Tracker from my computer?”, then read this paragraph. To remove Packages Tracker manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions given below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the browser hijacker entirely, you should search for and remove any leftover items with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software helps keep your computer secure in the future.
Tsetso Mihailov
Tsetso Mihailov is a tech-geek and loves everything that is tech-related, while observing the latest news surrounding technologies. He has worked in IT before, as a system administrator and a computer repair technician. Dealing with malware since his teens, he is determined to spread word about the latest threats revolving around computer security.
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- Guide 1: How to Remove Packages Tracker from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Packages Tracker from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Packages Tracker from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Packages Tracker from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Packages Tracker from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Packages Tracker from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Packages Tracker from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Packages Tracker from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Packages Tracker
Step 2: Uninstall Packages Tracker 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 Packages Tracker 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 Packages Tracker 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 Packages Tracker from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Packages Tracker 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 Packages Tracker 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 Packages Tracker files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Packages Tracker, 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.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove Packages Tracker 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 Packages Tracker 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 Packages Tracker 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 Packages Tracker 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 Packages Tracker will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Packages Tracker 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.
