What is Fortify Browser Protection browser plugin? — Fix Guide

Fortify Browser Protection – What is it?

“Fortify Browser Protection” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually promoted as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to browse some special details, as an example, about sporting activity events, make your browser far more safe, allow downloading of any type of web video, and so on.

Nevertheless, the “Fortify Browser Protection” plugin is pretty pointless since all such features are already built-in to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However often even qualified users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain scenarios, this hijacker is distributed along with free software.

Fortify Browser Protection Search Hijacker

How harmful is Fortify Browser Protection hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, Fortify Browser Protection hijacker is additionally pretty hazardous for web browser usage. It changes your search engine to its specific – Fortifyshield.com, and also modifies your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the specified symptom).

In addition to aesthetic alterations done by Fortify Browser Protection hijacker, you might discover that several of your search inquiries are redirecting to the dubious websites, filled with links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting increases if you try to open Google search page by force.

However all these activities are a lot more frustrating than truly harmful. The biggest hazard, specifically for individuals who have a great deal of secret information in their browsers, is installed in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, and other activities are easily collected by Fortify Browser Protection hijacker.

How to remove Fortify Browser Protection 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 simple to deal with. For the most part, they have an independent app that can be seen in the list of installed software. Due to the particular distribution method of Fortify Browser Protection hijacker, it can be simply tracked and deleted manually. However, if you got Fortify Browser Protection in the package with a free program, your personal computer can be infected with a lot more harmful malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you use anti-malware tools to delete the Fortify Browser Protection PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and clearing away various malware, including named hijacker. But major malware, that may be present on your personal computer in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antivirus program by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such circumstances, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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

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

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

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert 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 button, the menu will be shown, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing Fortify Browser Protection 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