Point Dark browser extension (Free Guide) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

What is Point Dark browser extension?

Point Dark is yet another useless browser add-on that inserts ads into your searches

Point Dark is a browser-hijacking app that changes your homepage and new tab address

Point Dark is advertised as an extension that can provide a dark mode for all visited pages. While it may seem like your average app for Google Chrome or other compatible browsers, there have been reports about bad experiences from users. This is not surprising, as it is considered to be a browser hijacker – a type of potentially unwanted application that takes over the web browser to show intrusive ads and record data.

In order to do that, soon after the infiltration, the Point Dark browser hijacker changes the settings of the browser, namely, it starts promoting a suspicious search engine known as ytood.com, which the searches are redirected through. People are also often rerouted to an alternative search provider (e.g., websearches.club, although this can vary depending on your location and other factors).

The changes are not only visual, however, as users would soon notice that the alternative search results are nothing like they used to – top ones are usually filled with plenty of sponsored links and ads. These links are not organic and are simply placed there to generate ad revenue from users' clicks. There is never a guarantee that these results are accurate or even safe. Thus, we recommend refraining from clicking the ad links, as you may end up installing other potentially unwanted programs, losing money to useless services, or handing in your personal data to unknown parties.

Distribution and avoidance

While the Point Dark extension can be downloaded from the official Chrome Web Store, it is not the main distribution method used to spread it. PUP developers are well aware that most users don't pay close attention when installing freeware^[1] from third-party websites, hence they use a few tricks to ensure that at least some would install the app regardless of whether they want it or not – this technique is commonly referred to as software bundling.^[2]

Bundled software is a concept that originated a long time ago when Microsoft started offering additional apps with the operating system as one package.^[3] Users were free to accept or decline it, and many opted to make use of the offer, as it did make a lot of sense financially.

However, this practice became quite a bit twisted over time when various third-party distributors began using deceptive methods to make users install apps they otherwise wouldn't. A good example of such is pre-ticked checkboxes which, if not unticked by the user, would result in an automatic installation of optional apps.

Thus, you should always pay close attention to the installation process of new apps, especially if you download them from freeware websites, as all of them bundle software to an extent. Always read the fine print, remove ticks from pre-ticked checkboxes, and, most importantly, always opt for the Advanced installation method to stay in control of what is being installed on the system. Recommended settings often automatically provide permission to install optional components.

Point Dark removal steps

Browser hijackers are not considered high-risk infections, in most cases at least. It is true that none of them would ever come close to the severity of ransomware, Trojans, or rootkits and similar threats, but it does not mean that their presence should be ignored. Not only do they distort the way users browse the web by exposing users to plenty of commercial content, but they sometimes might also put users' security and privacy at risk, as the ads might sometimes be dangerous.

Point Dark asks to read and change data on all websites upon installation

Therefore, it is strongly recommended you remove a browser hijacker from your system and check for other potentially unwanted apps on the way. Likewise, there could be malicious programs running in the background without giving out any symptoms, all while performing malicious deeds in the background.

Before you proceed, please check your system with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner, Malwarebytes, or another security software that would check it properly and remove anything suspicious and malicious automatically.

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.

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.

MS Edge

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

MS Edge (legacy)

• 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 on Uninstall at the bottom.

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.

Safari

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

After you are done with the extension removal, we strongly recommend you perform a full system scan with powerful anti-malware software to ensure

Clean your browser

The main goal of a browser hijacker is not to provide users adequate functions in exchange for ad revenue; most PUP authors do not really care about the usefulness of their applications – some of them even promote fake features that do not actually exist, for example, “enhanced search results” are nothing more but promotional links at the top. In other words, the generation of revenue through ads becomes the centric goal of the developers.

In order to ensure that the constant flow of ads accompanies users and they actually click them, potentially unwanted applications commonly collect a variety of user data related to their web browsing activities. This guarantees that users receive ads that are more related to their interests, making them more likely to click them.

For that, third parties use various tracking technologies, including cookies, web beacons, and other elements. These are typically stored locally on users' devices. Even if you delete all the potentially unwanted apps, their trackers might remain on your device, thus it is advised to remove them. You can either do it manually as explained below or employ a powerful maintenance and repair utility FortectIntego.

Google 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.

Mozilla Firefox

• Click Menu and pick Options.
• Go to Privacy & Security section.
• Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
• Click on Clear Data…
• Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content, and press Clear.

MS Edge (Chromium)

• Click on Menu and go to Settings.
• Select Privacy and services.
• Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
• Under Time range, pick All time.
• Select Clear now.

MS Edge (legacy)

• Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
• Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
• Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.

Internet Explorer

1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
2. Select Reset.
3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

Safari

• Click Safari > Clear History…
• From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
• Confirm with Clear History.

Please remember to take precautionary measures when browsing the web online or installing new programs.