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WHY DOES MY COMPUTER KEEP REDIRECTING ME TO SITES I DIDN'T ASK FOR?

 * Small Business
   |
 * Business Technology & Customer Support
   |
 * Computers

By David Nield
 * 

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 * 
 * 

RELATED

 * How to Test Website Security
 * How to Use Quarantine in Kaspersky
 * How to Remove Advertising Bots
 * Google Chrome Won't Load Web Pages
 * Google Chrome Hangs When Opening

Website redirects are most commonly caused by adware and other types of malware
present on your computer. The aim of these unwanted programs is to point you
towards certain types of advertising or dangerous code that could further damage
your system. The best way to combat it is by removing the offending malware from
your computer using a reputable security package.







HOW MALWARE REDIRECTS WORK

 1. Malicious software can redirect your Web browsing in a number of ways. There
    might be an infection on your machine that monitors incoming and outgoing
    requests and sabotages your Web searches or the URLs you type into your
    browser's address bar. Alternatively, hackers can inject code into a website
    server so that anyone who visits the site is redirected somewhere else, even
    if their own system is secure. More benign types of malware can be installed
    as toolbars or browser extensions that intercept search queries and display
    an alternative results page that is heavy with advertising and sponsored
    content.





CLEARING BROWSER PROBLEMS

 1. All of the major browsers enable you to disable and remove toolbars and
    extensions you don't need that may be interfering with your browsing. In
    Microsoft Internet Explorer, click the "Tools" button (a cog icon) and then
    choose "Manage Add-ons." In Mozilla Firefox, open the Firefox menu and
    select "Add-ons." In Google Chrome, choose "Tools" followed by "Extensions"
    from the Chrome menu. Check within your browser's documentation to see if
    there is a full reset or safe mode feature that can also disable the plugin
    causing your problems. Uninstalling and reinstalling the browser is another
    way of resetting its key files and removing unwanted add-ons.


CLEARING SYSTEM PROBLEMS

 1. It's possible that the problem you're experiencing with browser redirects
    goes further than the browser itself. The malware in question may not appear
    in your browser's list of extensions or in Control Panel's list of installed
    programs. Run a thorough system scan using your installed security software
    to look for problems and remove any threats that are discovered. If you
    think your current anti-malware applications are missing the root cause of
    the problem, you can install additional standalone utilities: Microsoft
    Safety Scanner (free), Spybot Search And Destroy (starting at $39 per
    computer for business users), RKill (free) and Kaspersky TDSSKiller Rootkit
    Removal Utility (free) can all be useful in removing stubborn malware
    infections without interfering with your current security products.


AVOIDING FUTURE REDIRECTS

 1. To avoid hijacking software and redirects taking a hold in the future,
    ensure that your security applications are set to automatically update
    themselves and run system scans at regular intervals. Keep your default Web
    browser and operating system up-to-date to ensure you are protected against
    the latest online threats and viruses. Be wary of installing any software or
    following any links if you aren't sure of their origin or authenticity.


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References

 * MalwareTips: How to Remove any Browser Redirect Virus
 * Microsoft: Manage Add-ons in Internet Explorer
 * Google: Manage Your Extensions
 * Google: Search Engine and Other Settings Taken Over by an Unwanted Program

Resources

 * Microsoft: Microsoft Safety Scanner
 * Spybot: Business
 * Bleeping Computer: RKill
 * Kaspersky: TDSSKiller Rootkit Removal Utility

Writer Bio

An information technology journalist since 2002, David Nield writes about the
Web, technology, hardware and software. He is an experienced editor, proofreader
and copywriter for online publications such as CNET, TechRadar and Gizmodo.
Nield holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and lives in Manchester,
England.





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