Hdwallpaper123.com – a browser hijacker you should avoid
Hdwallpaper123.com is a questionable search tool that might disappoint very soon after it is installed. In fact, some users might be surprised it resides on their web browser in the first place. This is because this potentially unwanted program is commonly spread in software bundles, which can often result in unintentional installation.
As soon as the PUP is established, it applies its own homepage and new tab – users can also find a customized search engine there. Once used, people soon realize that the results are nowhere near to what they used to be, as top space is filled with sponsored links and ads. In the background, the app may also record data about users' activities online.
| Name | Hdwallpaper123.com |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Distribution | Software bundling |
| Symptoms | Homepage and new tab URL changes; redirects to a customized search provider; sponsored links at the top of search results |
| Removal | Uninstall PUPs by following our manual guide or employ antivirus program |
| System fix | After the elimination of adware or malware, we highly recommend running a scan with FortectIntego repair software |
When first installed, the app may seem like a useful addition to the browser. It presents a plain homepage with the quick access links to Web, Images, Videos, and News. Despite its name, there are no links or implementations of new wallpapers to view, which makes this app fall flat. Besides, links to different websites can be added without having a hijacker installed on the computer, so keep that in mind.
If you enter any search entry, you get directed to Google database. Though it is an advantage, it seems that it is the only one. The following aspect fortifies the suspicion that it is PUP. In addition, it may be associated with browser hijackers since it is capable of plaguing a browser, even though it has not manifested such tendency yet. Nonetheless, you should take these aspects into consideration:
- no terms of use, privacy policy or contact information
- no HTTPS
Regardless of the fact that the hijacker uses Google database, the absence of the above-indicated documents and the HTTPS protocol suggest you to remove Hdwallpaper123 rather than use it. FortectIntego or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes does it for you faster.
It would be a mistake to ignore the presence of this search tool. Since it does not provide any privacy policy, you are not sure what kind of policy it executes. It is very likely that it is set up to spy upon users and transmit the collected information to its sponsors.
However, with no privacy policy or terms of use, you are not sure whether this search tool does not gather personal details. Since major sites, such as Google or Facebook, tend to eavesdrop on their users[1], such PUP-like sites is more likely to engage in such activity.
However, sharing personal details with business partners may not only result in the surplus of personalized ads distracting you during browsing sessions but also lead to privacy violation issues and more menacing cyber issues.[2]. In addition, you might be bothered by occasional redirect issue. You might be diverted to insecure sites. As a result, Hdwallpaper123.com removal might be a better decision.
Ways to pinpoint PUP-like programs
So-called browser hijackers often contain their own websites. Depending on the number of partners, they might be promoted in sponsored websites. There are dozens of identical PUPs that do not differ at all, apart from their names. All of them possess plain design and contain no terms of use. As a result, they are likely to be promoted in other domains, for instance, gaming or gambling web pages. They contain the web scripts.
Clicking on a video or an ad directs users to this search tool. In order to avoid unwanted apps, restrain from clicking on every intriguing link and post in sites overcrowded with commercial offers. Lastly, pay attention to the installation wizard when installing free apps. Opting for “Advanced” settings might disclose peculiar elements.
Get rid of Hdwallpaper123
You can remove all potentially unwanted programs easily from Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Internet Explorer. You can do so manually or automatically. The latter removal method takes less time and might be more efficient. Update your security tool and scan the browser.
We provide full elimination steps to be done manually below also. If you follow the guide carefully, all the unwanted apps should be gone from your device. Keep in mind that you should clean your browsers regardless if you eliminate PUPs with the help of anti-malware software.
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.
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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