9oogle: what it is and how to remove it
9oogle virus (also known as 9o0gle, g00gle, 90ogle, etc.) is a browser hijacker which has been annoying its victims with constant redirects to sponsored sites.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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9oogle: summary
| Distribution | Bundled software |
|---|---|
| Name | 9oogle |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Also known as | 9o0gle; g00gle; 90ogle |
| Category | Potentially unwanted program |
| Symptoms | Delivers intrusive commercial content and questionable search results |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 8 more facts
| Main dangers | Collects information about your habits online, exposes to possibly malicious content |
|---|---|
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | 9o0gle.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 2 January 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is 9oogle dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
9oogle — a browser hijacker that annoys its victims with constant redirects
9oogle virus (also known as 9o0gle, g00gle, 90ogle, etc.) is a browser hijacker which has been annoying its victims with constant redirects to sponsored sites.
Its name has been mimicking the famous search engine Google. However, no matter how similar these names are, they don't mean the same behavior. While you can use Google for your searches, you should never rely on 9oogle while trying to do that. Infected users will agree that every search session becomes useless because the virus alters results and fills them with the commercial content.
Like many other PUPs, this application is focused on displaying pop-up ads to reroute victims' online traffic to third-party sites. Unfortunately, that's how you can end up on malicious site pushing malicious tools or fake deals. To stop redirects to 9o0gle.com, you need to remove the potentially unwanted content from Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers.
9oogle is a common potentially unwanted program that affects users' time online by delivering intrusive commercial content each time the browser is used. This advertising method is not considered malicious, but you should eliminate the program for other reason - data tracking. Collecting information about browsing activity and preferences starts immediately after PUP infiltration.
9oogle virus cannot be compared with malicious programs like ransomware or cryptojackers , but various browser changes, constant redirects, and information collecting cannot be considered as valuable functionality. If you notice this activity your device is infected by potentially unwanted program:
When the PUP infects the system, it adds unwanted products like browser extensions, bookmarks or toolbars to your Chrome or Firefox web browsers. Unfortunately, it is not enough to delete them from the browser alone. The cyber threat you need to eliminate is 9o0gle virus.
Remove 9oogle using anti-malware tools like and forget about constant redirects and intrusive promotional ads. Also, a full system scan improves the performance of your PC as the anti-malware program scans the system and indicates possible threats, malicious intruders, corrupted files and useless browser extensions.
Remember that 9oogle is a cyber threat that keeps reappearing if not removed properly. The PUP can drop additional files and registry entries to keep on the system for as long as possible. Make sure you get rid of the following Registry keys to get rid of this hijacker:
Note: double-check the system (by rebooting your device and scanning again) that 9oogle removal is finished successfully. According to researchers at Virusai.lt, you should also use a few suggestions down below:
- constant redirects to questionable websites;
- pop-up windows with commercial content;
- banners promoting games or tools;
- changed appearance of browsers' homepage;
- high usage of computer resources;
- slow browser and system freezes.
- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Google\Chrome\HomepageLocation;
- HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Google\Chrome\RestoreOnStartupURLs\1.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Bundled software bring cyber intruders on the device
You need to pay more attention to software installations because there is a high risk of getting additional intruders if you skip through steps or choose questionable sources.
Opting for Default or Quick setups is not advisable and using p2p networks can be marked as dangerous.
Get your software, tools or applications from reputable sources, official websites or App Stores and always opt for Advanced installations to make sure that nothing is added without your permission. Custom options allow you to de-select suggested programs.
Also, deceptive advertisements promoting software or tools in banners and pop-up windows cannot be legitimate. If you keep your programs up-to-date, you can be sure that fake downloaders are not going to trick you into purchasing useless products.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
Terminate 9oogle with professional tools
To remove 9oogle, you should use professional and trustworthy anti-malware tools.
This method allows you to eliminate all possible threats from the system, no matter if there is an association with the hijacker in question or not. A full system scan indicates malicious programs or files and deletes them from the computer.
The manual 9oogle removal process may look difficult if you don't have much knowledge about PCs. However, employ steps that we suggest below to check the device thoroughly and uninstall the virus from the device manually. After all, make sure you reset browser settings are set to block suspicious notifications.
From our report of Jan 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on 9oogle
- Get and scan the system for general cleaning and 9oogle removal
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
9o0gle.com
How to remove 9oogle
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete 9o0gle.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
9o0gle.comfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If 9o0gle.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
9oogle rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of 9oogle that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
To remove 90ogle from the system, make sure you follow these steps precisely:|
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
Clean the browser individually and forget about suspicious notifications or redirects:
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.
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.
Delete from macOS
If your Mac device got affected, follow this guide and eliminate browser hijacker from the computer:
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.
Protect your privacy - employ a VPN
There are several ways how to make your online time more private - you can access an incognito tab.
However, there is no secret that even in this mode, you are tracked for advertising purposes. There is a way to add an extra layer of protection and create a completely anonymous web browsing practice with the help of VPN. This software reroutes traffic through different servers, thus leaving your IP address and geolocation in disguise.
Besides, it is based on a strict no-log policy, meaning that no data will be recorded, leaked, and available for both first and third parties. The combination of a secure web browser and VPN will let you browse the Internet without a feeling of being spied or targeted by criminals.
No backups? No problem. Use a data recovery tool
If you wonder how data loss can occur, you should not look any further for answers - human errors, malware attacks, hardware failures, power cuts, natural disasters, or even simple negligence.
In some cases, lost files are extremely important, and many straight out panic when such an unfortunate course of events happen. Due to this, you should always ensure that you prepare proper data backups on a regular basis.
If you were caught by surprise and did not have any backups to restore your files from, not everything is lost. is one of the leading file recovery solutions you can find on the market - it is likely to restore even lost emails or data located on an external device.
Questions about 9oogle
How do I change my search engine back from 9o0gle.com?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove 9o0gle.com from the list.
If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.
When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put 9o0gle.com back.
Can 9o0gle.com see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to 9o0gle.com first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
What is 9o0gle.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker 9oogle. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is 9o0gle.com dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove 9oogle, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, 9oogle affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did 9o0gle.com record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of 9o0gle.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove 9oogle
- clear cookies and site data for 9o0gle.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Why can't I change my search engine back?
Because something keeps setting it. If an extension controls the search engine, Chrome and Edge show a note that an extension is controlling this setting, and your change is reverted. If a policy controls it, the field is greyed out and the browser shows Managed by your organization.
Remove the extension first, then the policies, and only then change the search engine; the change will stay. If it still reverts, look for a program in Installed apps or a scheduled task that reinstalls the extension.
Why does my search page look slightly different?
Because it is not your search engine's own page. 9oogle sends searches to 9o0gle.com, which may copy the colours and layout of a known search engine while adding its own ads and tracking. Small differences give it away:
- an unfamiliar address
- more ads than usual
- a different logo
- a search box with a brand name you do not recognise
Remove the hijacker and set your search engine again from the browser's settings to get the real page back. Then delete the hijacker's entry from the saved search engines list.
Is only one browser affected?
Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.
If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.
Will Fortect remove 9oogle?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For 9oogle, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Pandasecurity: From the year of ransomware to the year of cryptojacking (read October 6, 2026)
- Virusai: Virusai (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)