How to remove Around Tasks browser hijacker

Around Tasks changes your new tab address and other key settings

Getting your browser hijacked is an annoying occurrence. Changed new tab address, homepage can be confusing for users who did not add the Around Tasks extension themselves. Add-ons can significantly affect the browsing experience by inserting ads, causing redirects, and altering the search results. Additionally, it can slow down the device.

Hijackers can sometimes try to appeal to users by adding some basic features to tempt users to keep the extension and not remove it. Around tasks claims to make planning, organizing, and scheduling easier for busy people. But it is simply not worth it to receive altered search results and have cookies collect your data for basic functions.

Although you can add this particular extension from the Chrome web store, browser hijackers are usually spread through bundled software^[1] when users download apps from third party sources. If it is the fault of a potentially unwanted program,^[2] simply changing the browser settings like the homepage back to what it was will not work. After some time, or even immediately, the browser will return to the hijacked stage.

User privacy is important to most people, but they lack the knowledge of what they can do to protect it. Around Tasks, in its website, states it adds these functions:

– State-of-the-art To-Do lists;
– Smart links to Gmail, Youtube, Facebook, Yahoo News;
– Easy scheduling process with fast redirection to New Tab;
– Convenient outlook of the recently viewed processes.

It is simply an attempt to stay relevant. Half of the things stated in the list are available on most search engines, so it is just not worth the hassle.

The add-on has the ability to monitor your browsing activity. It collects your IP address, search habits, purchases, and other information. It can provide this data to third parties, and they will not be liable for what those third parties do with your information.

Cookies help advertisers appeal to customers but are a privacy threat

Almost every website you visit asks for your permission to use cookies. It has become a habit to click “Accept” and proceed with your business quickly. These cookies are simple text files that a website can store on your browser. The main purpose is to identify users, save site login details or create customized web pages.

Most websites will use cookies as a way of creating a profile for a person. The cookies will track each time a user visits a site, what they are searching for, what they are buying, and generally provide a detailed picture of their online activity. The purpose of this is to improve the user experience and create a more relevant browsing session.

This goldmine of information could not be unseen by individuals who want to exploit it for their own gain. In 2015, Yahoo suffered from a breach that compromised the data of over 32 million users.^[3] Hackers managed to break into its systems and steal the code relating to Yahoo’s use of cookies. The code enabled the hackers to forge cookies for all 32 million accounts without using a password.

The stolen user account information included names, email addresses, dates of birth, telephone numbers, hashed passwords, and in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers. That is, all attackers need to commit identity fraud.

Since the attack, there have been major changes in privacy laws surrounding the use of cookies. All companies within the EU are now legally bound to inform us that their site uses cookies, and we must provide our consent for this data to be used.^[4]

But let's be honest, not many people will have the patience to read through the long text of how their information will be used. If you care about your privacy, it is good to clear your browsers regularly. You can do it automatically with FortectIntego, and you will not have to waste your precious time.

Remove the unwanted Around Tasks extension manually by accessing your browser settings:

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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

MS Edge:

1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
3. Click on Uninstall at the bottom.

MS Edge (Chromium)

• Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
• Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.

Mozilla Firefox

• 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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.

Safari

• Click Safari > Preferences…
• In the new window, pick Extensions.
• Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.

Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

You take a risk when installing freeware

If manual removal from the browser did not work and you are still experiencing symptoms, you will have to locate a potentially unwanted program in your machine and uninstall it. These programs most commonly come together with free programs you download from unofficial sources. When users rush through the installation process, they do not notice that additional apps are included as a package.

When downloading anything from the internet, it is important to go through all the steps by choosing “Advanced” or “Custom” installation methods. Read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, see if you like the way your information will be used. Usually, when downloading files for free, you have to trade something in return. Individuals can monetize your data, so read about it. If you see any unrelated programs in the installation window, be sure to uncheck the boxes next to them.

If you have no idea what programs could be responsible for such behavior, use SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes anti-malware tools that will scan your machine for PUPs and delete them automatically. They can also prevent such installations in the future by warning you about suspicious programs.

If you think you can do this yourself, you can follow the step-by-step instructions below for Windows and macOS operating systems. At the bottom of this post, you will find additional helpful guides that show how to change your homepage and clear your cookies manually.

Instructions for Windows 10/8  machines:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Instructions for Mac machines:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)

To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.