How to remove Stop Notifications browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

About Stop Notifications hijacker origins

Stop Notifications search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some particular information, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser a lot more secure, enable downloading of any kind of web video, and so on.

However, the Stop Notifications plugin is fairly pointless due to the fact that all such functions are already built-in to your browser and/or system. Such advertising slogans are targeted on low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. However often even qualified users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific scenarios, this hijacker is distributed along with free software.

How harmful is Stop Notifications hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Stop Notifications hijacker is likewise rather harmful for web browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its specific – stopnotifications.com, and also modifies your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the specified sign).

In addition to seeable modifications done by Stop Notifications hijacker, you may notice that some of your search inquiries are redirecting to the uncertain web pages, filled with web links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can contain the web links for malware downloading. The possibility of redirecting boosts if you try to start Google search page by force.

But all these activities are far more frustrating than really harmful. The greatest risk, especially for people who have a great deal of secret information in their browsers, is installed in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited websites and other activities are easily collected by Stop Notifications hijacker.

How to remove Stop Notifications 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 often rather easy to remove. For the most part, they have an independent application that can be seen in the list of installed programs. As a result of the specific marketing manner of Stop Notifications hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and deleted by hand. However, if you got Stop Notifications in the package with a free application( s), your computer can be infected with a lot more major malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I ‘d advise you to make use of anti-malware programs to delete the Stop Notifications PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of recognizing and clearing away different malware, including mentioned hijacker. But severe malware, that can exist on your personal computer in the specified situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To stay clear of such scenarios, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all unwanted applications on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can see the detected malware sorted by their possible harm during the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious programs, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

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

Reset 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 malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.

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

Deleteing Stop Notifications 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 the time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of 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