Mail.ru browser hijacker removal instructions

Mail.ru – What is it?

“Mail.ru” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is usually shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some particular info, for example, about sport events, make your browser a lot more secure, allow downloading of any kind of web video, and so on.

Nevertheless, the “Mail.ru” plugin is rather useless because all such functions are currently built-in to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However often even skilled users are getting caught on such an attraction. In particular scenarios, this hijacker is distributed together with free programs.

Mail.ru Search Hijacker

How harmful is Mail.ru hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, Mail.ru hijacker is likewise considerably harmful for web browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its specific – Go.mail.ru, and additionally transforms your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Aside from seeable modifications done by Mail.ru hijacker, you may observe that some of your search inquiries are redirecting to the unfamiliar sites, full of links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can have links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting increases if you attempt to launch Google search page by force.

However all these activities are much more frustrating than really dangerous. The biggest danger, specifically for individuals who have a lot of confidential information in their internet browsers, is embedded in information gathering capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as other activities are simply collected by Mail.ru hijacker.

How to remove Mail.ru 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 generally fairly simple to remove. In many cases, they have a separate application that can be found in the list of installed programs. Because of the certain distribution method of Mail.ru hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted manually. Nevertheless, if you got Mail.ru in the package with a free applications, your computer can be contaminated with far more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you make use of anti-malware programs to deal with the Mail.ru PUA and all various other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and eliminating different malware, including mentioned hijacker. However, severe malware, that might exist on your personal computer in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antivirus program by modifying the Group Policies. To stay clear of such circumstances, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all malicious programs 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 malicious programs, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can spectate the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious programs, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious app. By default, all the viruses 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 cannot be counteracted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found 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 the original.

Deleteing Mail.ru 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