Search Hijacker

A search hijacker is a form of system modification spyware designed to take control of your default search engine and redirect your search results to a different website. These search hijacker programs return results that might look legitimate but are in fact the web sites of advertisers who pay for this “service”. Search hijackers also take advantage of users who incorrectly type a URL in the address bar of their browser. Instead of being redirected to your desired search engine, a search hijacker will direct you to a targeted search page, one that is advertiser driven. Click here for a free spyware scan to see if your computer is infected with a search hijacker program.

A search hijacker infection will slow down your internet speed, since all your search and address requests are routed through another website. In this way a search hijacker acts as a data miner, collecting information about you and your internet habits for use by a third party advertiser or marketer.

Often a search hijacker will prevent you from changing your browser search settings back to your desired ones, leaving you stuck with these false search pages.

How do you remove a Search Hijacker?

A good anti-spyware program is your best and easiest bet for removing these search hijacker programs, as well as any other forms of spyware that might be on your computer right now. We recommend Webroot Spy Sweeper for spyware removal and for protection from future spyware infection. The program is easy to use and install, and has won the Editor’s Choice award from PC Magazine again this year. Click here to remove search hijackers from your computer now.