Although it’s not malicious, Omniboxes is considered a browser hijacker as it acts a bit intrusive: it alters your browser settings without permission, may display subjective search results, and will track and collect your personal information.
How Does Omniboxes Work?
Once in your system, Omniboxes will change your default browser settings and home page whether you want it or not. The browser hijacker is likely to manipulate your search results in order to lure you into clicking links to possibly infected websites that you wouldn’t otherwise open.
It is also possible that Omniboxes will start displaying various unwanted pop-up ads that could also redirect you to corrupted webpages when you click them.
Omniboxes is created by SuperNet Technology Limited , and according to its Privacy Policy, it will collect some personally identifiable (email address, age, gender , address, telephone, login name, areas of interest, etc.) and non-identifiable information (IP address, browser type, Internet service provider, browsing habits, cookie information, etc.).
The Privacy Policy also states that Omniboxes uses cookies in order to “improve the users experience while visiting the website.”
Although Omniboxes claims that the personal data it tracks and records from you is to improve your user experience, it may share your data with third party advertising agencies which will use it to customize your search results and spam you with even more ads.
How Did I Get Omniboxes on My PC?
You can either personally install Omniboxes from its official website or it can infiltrate your system bundled with other freeware you download from the Web.
The bundling method is a popular and legal option of attaching various PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) to free programs. This method is legal because it is mentioned during the installation process of the freeware, and you are even given the option to opt out of it. Unfortunately, most users rarely pay attention to such details and miss to disable the bundling. This way, they often end up with unwanted programs that could slow down their system, annoy them with multiple pop-up ads, and even put their system at risk.
It is then of utmost importance to read carefully the information during an installation process, disallow the bundling, uncheck all options you know nothing about and aim for custom installation.
Should You Remove Omniboxes?
Omniboxes is not malicious as it does not harm your system. It acts intrusive because it can enter your system without permission; will make changes to your browser; will track your browsing routine; will record your personal information; may manipulate your search results and could annoy you with multiple ads.
Needless to say, you have no benefit of keeping Omniboxes in your system. If you already have it on your PC without intentionally downloading it, it’s best to remove it – just to save yourself a little hassle.
In order to remove it, make sure you use a well-trusted anti-malware tool that would scan and clean your system successfully.
Spy Hunter FREE scanner will only detect the threat. If you want the threat to be automatically removed, you need to purchase the full version of the anti-malware tool. Find Out More About SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
