How to remove On The Radio browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

On The Radio – What is it?

“On The Radio” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is spread as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to browse some specific information, as an example, about sporting activity events, make your browser far more secure, allow downloading of any kind of video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nevertheless, the “On The Radio” plugin is quite pointless due to the fact that all such features are currently integrated to your browser and/or system. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But in some cases even skilled users are getting caught on such an attraction. In particular instances, this hijacker is spread along with free programs.

On The Radio Search Hijacker

How harmful is On The Radio hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, On The Radio hijacker is also pretty hazardous for web browser utilization. It transforms your search engine to its particular – Hontheradio.co, and also alters your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the specified symptom).

Apart from visual adjustments done by On The Radio hijacker, you might discover that some of your search queries are redirecting to the unknown websites, filled with web links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting rises if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

However all these actions are much more bothersome than really hazardous. The greatest hazard, primarily for people who have a great deal of confidential information in their web browsers, is installed in information collecting functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as various other activities are simply collected by On The Radio hijacker.

How to remove On The Radio search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are usually quite easy to delete. Most of the times, they have a separate app that can be seen in the list of installed programs. As a result of the certain marketing way of On The Radio hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and removed by hand. Nonetheless, if you got On The Radio in the bundle with a free program, your computer can be infected with a lot more harmful malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you utilize anti-malware tools to remove the On The Radio PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of discovering and clearing away various malware, including mentioned hijacker. However, severe malware, that can be present on your computer in the discussed case, can disable the Windows antimalware program by editing the Group Policies. To avoid such scenarios, it is far better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all unwanted programs on your computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can see the detected malware sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against malware, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious app. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing On The Radio hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender