Social-Media browser hijacker removal instructions

Social-Media – What is it?

“Social-Media” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is spread as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some particular information, for instance, about sport events, make your web browser far more safe, allow downloading of any type of web video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nonetheless, the “Social-Media” plugin is quite pointless since all such features are already embedded to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even experienced users are getting caught on such an attraction. In certain cases, this hijacker is dispersed along with free apps.

Social-Media Search Hijacker

How harmful is Social-Media hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Social-Media hijacker is additionally considerably hazardous for web browser use. It transforms your search engine to its specific – Funsocialtabsearch.com, and likewise changes your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, sometimes, changing it to default with the mentioned symbol).

Apart from seeable transformations done by Social-Media hijacker, you may discover that several of your search questions are redirecting to the dubious sites, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can consist of links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you attempt to launch Google search page by force.

However all these actions are much more bothersome than really damaging. The major danger, specifically for individuals who have a great deal of confidential information in their web browsers, is installed in data gathering functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited sites, and other activities are easily collected by Social-Media hijacker.

How to remove Social-Media 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 typically very simple to remove. Usually, they have an independent app that can be located in the list of installed software. Because of the particular distribution tactic of Social-Media hijacker, it can be simply tracked and erased manually. Nonetheless, if you got Social-Media in the bundle with a free applications, your computer might be infected with a lot more major malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware programs to delete the Social-Media PUA and all various other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and clearing away a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, serious malware, that can be present on your computer in the discussed situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such situations, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and delete all unwanted applications on your PC 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 folders.

You can spectate the detected malware sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to perform any actions against malware, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

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

Reset browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

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

Deleteing Social-Media 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