Dolohen is a domain used by adware authors to redirect users to potentially dangerous websites
Dolohen is a suspicious domain often used in adware[1] campaigns. Many users start noticing pop-ups, banners, in-text links, as well as redirects on web browsers and are confused where the intrusive activity is coming from.
While an unexpected visit on Dolohen.com site and its subdomains is possible, most users experience persistent redirects. This happens due to adware that managed to slip into the machine when they were installing freeware or shareware, of installed ad-supported software intentionally.
Once inside, Dolohen virus alters Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox, or other browser settings in a way that intercepts users' searches and sites they visit, changing the search results, which often prevents them finding relevant information on the web. Additionally, potentially unwanted programs often track users' data related to their browser activities, which might include personal data, in some cases.
Therefore, if you see frequent redirects, you need to remove Dolohen adware that is installed on your machine and reset each of the installed browsers in order to stop the disruptive behavior by the PUP.
| Name | Dolohen.com |
|---|---|
| Type | Adware |
| Category | Potentially unwanted program |
| Danger level | Low. Dolohen.com is not affecting any significant parts of the system or files |
| Main symptoms | Causes redirects to questionable pages, exposes to malicious content, pushes fake updates or programs |
| Distribution | Deceptive websites, software bundling |
| Removal tip | Use FortectIntego and check the system for PUPs, clean Dolohen.com virus damage |
While some Dolohen.com redirects may lead you to safe sites like eBay, some rerouting might bring you to phishing,[2] scam, and even malware-laden websites. Therefore, you can quickly lose money, expose your sensitive information, or get infected with dangerous malware[3] such as backdoor, trojan, or ransomware.
Also, Dolohen redirects might result in download and installation of browser tools like add-ons and extensions that disturb your web browsing sessions even more. This behavior is quite common in the redirect-virus type of infections, and many other domains (Bodelen.com, Xml.seavibes.club, etc.) are employing it.
Dolohen infection can become apparent due to the following symptoms:
- advertisements get delivered to your screen regardless if the browser is on;
- the homepage and new tab get set to suspicious websites;
- banners and pop-up ads appear on commonly visited websites;
- pages are not displaying correctly;
- promotional content pushes updates or programs;
- other PUAs get installed without your consent.
All Dolohen.com ads are aimed to promote the installation of additional programs like optimization tools, toolbars or browser extensions and generate traffic for the affiliated domains, so you see lots of third-party advertisements.[4] Unfortunately, clicking on those pop-ups or banners might redirect you to potentially malicious realms.
But according to many experts,[5] one of the most important functionalities of PUPs like this adware, is the data tracking. When you don't remove Dolohen as soon as possible, developers can access, track and collect information about you that include personal details like location or email address.
Make sure to proceed with Dolohen.com removal once you notice any of the above-mentioned activity and employ the anti-malware program as we recommend. You can also rely on FortectIntego for general system cleaning and virus damage elimination.
Do not get tricked into installing potentially unwanted programs by deceptive ads and freeware installation wizards
Surfing the internet is all fun and games until your machine gets infected and you cannot access the content you need. It happens because of the lack of attention you pay while spending your time online.
Deceptive advertisements, suspicious websites, p2p networks, pirated software services, and generally insecure sites can lead to malware infiltration because one click on the link or pop-up can automatically trigger the download of the program.
Also, when you skip through steps by choosing Default or Quick installation options during freeware installs, you agree to everything that is packed on that download manager. You can avoid PUPs if you choose reputable sources for your software and opt for Advanced or Custom installation process.
Get rid of Dolohen and clean the system with professional anti-malware tool
You should already know that Dolohen removal requires professional help from antivirus programs due to the distribution method and the stealthy functionality. You can use your trustworthy antivirus program from many vendors. There are many options so choose the one that suits you the best.
Make sure to choose official providers for tools that you use to remove Dolohen.com, so you can be sure that additional PUP infiltration is not going to happen. We recommend a few tools for virus damage termination and system cleaning to help you choose from reputable options.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
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