GoogleFix.exe – malware that adds dubious entries which disable proper browsing
GoogleFix.exe is a virus which modifies specific system settings and hardens the browsing process for its victims. This malicious program manages to install an application called “Amazon AMS”. Even though this type of program is completely legal, cybercriminals find ways how to misuse it. Additionally, the provider of this application is Amazon, and it is not a Windows computer component. GoogleFix.exe virus might sneak into the system unnoticed and start its activity by making changes to the Microsoft Windows “hosts” files and by adding questionable entries. As a result of this activity, users are not capable of browsing normally and face the consequences of other unwanted activities this malware program causes.
| Name | GoogleFix.exe |
|---|---|
| Category | Browser-hijacking app |
| Sub-category | Malware |
| Related app | Amazon AMS |
| Changes performed | Modification of Windows “hosts” file, adding dubious entries, disabling normal browsing |
| Possible dangers | Can relate in identity theft or unwanted financial losses |
| Elimination | Use reliable software for the elimination. Find all malware-related content with FortectIntego |
When GoogleFix.exe malware infects the computer system and starts performing its rogue activities, users start overcoming dubious-looking pop-ups in their web browser, while using Google-provided services such as the search engine. These rogue notifications force the browser to crash which makes the browsing activity almost impossible to maintain.
It is known that these misleading pop-ups link users to this IP address: 91.205.174.26/GoogleFix.exe. However, GoogleFix.exe performs more unwanted activities such as data collection. This cyber threat is capable of gathering information which relates to the user's browsing and computing activities. Collected details turn out to be:
- visited pages;
- IP addresses;
- screenshots;
- geolocations;[1]
- pictures and videos viewed.
According to computer researchers, these type of viruses can lead to even more dangerous consequences such as personal data theft, unnecessary money losses, and others. If you have been infected with this malware, you should remove GoogleFix.exe virus as soon as possible. Use anti-malware tools for the process and do not forget to clean your web browsers.
GoogleFix.exe malware also has the ability to redirect. Once infected with this computer virus, there is a big chance that you will start experiencing dubious redirects to questionable-looking pages. Note that, you might overcome a malware-laden website where you can easily get your computer system infected with other dangerous malware, e.g. ransomware.[2] Additionally, we suggest downloading a tool such as FortectIntego to detect all malware-laden components in the infected system.
The GoogleFix.exe removal requires more effort than usual potentially unwanted programs. First, you will need to open all infected web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, or Explorer, and eliminate all rogue extensions from them. After that, you should fully recover the Windows “hosts” file. Microsoft has released some instructions for this purpose.
Distribution techniques of malicious software
According to cybersecurity researchers,[3] malware-related applications often pretend to be legitimate applications which allow them to easily sneak into the targeted system. However, there is a big risk that you will get infected with malware if you often visit third-party websites such as P2P networks[4] or other secondary downloading/installing sources.
Moreover, other programs can come together with regular software. There is a term for this kind of marketing technique, it is known as “bundling”. To avoid secret installation, use original downloaders only. Furthermore, it is a great idea to track your downloads, you can do so by choosing the Custom or Advanced installation option in your web browser.
Additionally, you can take care of your computer system and web browsers by using automatical computer security tools. There is a big variety of programs to choose from but be careful not to pick a fake one. After the installation, such software will protect your computer from various possible infections and bombard alerts if any threats are found after the scan.
Get rid of GoogleFix.exe malware from your Windows system and refresh web browsers
If the malicious program has shown up on your Windows computer system, you need to eliminate the program as soon as possible. For the GoogleFix.exe removal, use only reputable anti-malware tools as manual deletion is not a good option for this case. You might skip some malicious content which will renew the virus-related activity.
Remove GoogleFix.exe virus from the system and all web browsers infected. Make sure you check each web browser to search for any malware traces. This includes Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and Safari. After the process is completed, refresh both and the system, and the web browser just to make sure that the virus is gone.
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.
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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