Porseek browser hijacker (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge) - Free Guide

What is Porseek browser hijacker?

Porseek is a browser hijacker causing rogue installations

Porseek redirect promotes various dubious pages.

Porseek redirect is a program designed to alter particular browsing patterns. It is a potentially unwanted program that can lead to the installation of extensions and other programs, such as browser add-ons. The machine can get slow and perform poorly pretty quickly after the installation, when users notice something is wrong with the PC.

Porseek browser hijacker is only one of the programs like this that affect the browsing experience. For some, it is not that big of a deal, but others cannot use their devices and are kept from work or study assignments. Unfortunately, the more intrusive these PUPs get, the more knowledge the people who suffer from them need.

Porseek redirect might seem harmless because it resembles a normal browser add-on and does nothing that could pose a danger. However, PUPs come in bundles and are linked to one another. These threats can allow the processes to run in the background. It sets the main search engine to findflarex.com on most cases, but is related to other unwanted sites too.

The Porseek browser hijacker is a type of malicious software that takes control of your web browser settings, changing your default search engine, homepage, and the URLs for new tabs or windows to direct you to the findflarex.com website. This means that whenever you type a search query into your browser's address bar or open a new tab, you are automatically redirected to findflarex.com.

Porseek browser hijacker is a fake search engine that redirects you to other suspicious sites, such as boyu.com.tr. Unlike legitimate search engines like Google or Bing, these fake engines rarely provide real search results. Instead, they often redirect users to authentic search sites or, as in the case of boyu.com.tr, display search results that are inaccurate, irrelevant, or filled with sponsored and potentially harmful content.

The specific websites you might be redirected to can vary depending on factors like your location. Adware, browser hijackers, and other PUAs can track and record information like this, which is where privacy issues related to the Porseek hijacker stem from.

This application is difficult to remove because it exploits Google Chrome's “Managed by your organization” feature, making it harder for users to change settings or uninstall it. Hijackers often misuse this feature to ensure they stay active on your browser. These PUPs have other silent functions, so uninstalling the extension might not mean that the Porseek redirect will not appear again.

Browser hijackers are annoying as well as potentially dangerous

Many browser hijackers, including the Porseek redirect, track your browsing activity. They can collect data such as the websites you visit, your search history, login details, and even personal and financial information. This data can then be sold to third parties or used for malicious purposes, leading to serious privacy issues, financial losses, or even identity theft.

The presence of Porseek hijacker on your device is more than just an annoyance; it can open the door to system infections and other security risks. This type of software often masquerades as a legitimate tool, but its primary purpose is to generate revenue for its creators through aggressive ads and site promotions.

Porseek browser application manipulates settings.

Porseek redirect and similar hijackers often get installed on your computer bundled with other software. This happens when you download programs from unreliable sources, such as free file-sharing sites, or when you rush through the installation process without reading the terms and conditions or selecting “Custom/Advanced” settings.

Hijackers can also be promoted on deceptive websites, and users may end up on these sites through misleading ads, misspelled URLs, or spam notifications. Some ads are particularly sneaky; simply clicking on them can trigger automatic downloads or installations of unwanted software like Porseek browser hijacker.

To avoid this, always download software from official, verified sources and take your time during installation to ensure you're not inadvertently adding any extra programs or extensions. Be cautious when browsing the web, as seemingly harmless content can often lead to dangerous sites. Intrusive ads, for example, might redirect you to scam websites, adult content, or other questionable pages.

Keep the machine PUP free with proper tools and manual intervention

If your browser frequently redirects you to unwanted sites or shows intrusive ads, it's important to check your system for suspicious applications or extensions and remove them immediately. If your computer is already infected with Porseek browser extension, consider running a scan with a reliable antivirus tool to remove the hijacker automatically.

The application can affect Google Chrome, Safari and other browser extensions, so you might want to check the one that you frequently use and others on your computer. Changes might need to be done either way. It is crucial to do this manually because blocking the intruder is stopping its activities.

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
2. 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.

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
4. Click Clear data.

Change your homepage:

1. Click menu and choose Settings.
2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
3. 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:

1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
5. Confirm with Reset settings.

The creators of Porseek redirect and similar hijackers are primarily motivated by profit, using these hijackers to push aggressive ads and site promotions. While these tactics are annoying, the bigger concern is the potential danger the promoted content poses.

Delete unwanted extensions from 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.

Clear cookies and other browser data:

1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
3. Select everything (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:

1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
2. Then find On startup section.
3. Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
3. Select Details tab.
4. 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.

If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.

1. Find the following folder on your computer: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
2. Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
3. Right-click on them and pick Delete
4. Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
5. When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:

   Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

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

Clear cache and site data:

1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
2. Select Privacy, search and services.
3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
4. Under Time range, pick All time.
5. Select Clear now.

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
4. Confirm with Reset.

To protect your system and personal information, it's crucial to remove the Porseek redirect as soon as possible. You can do that with applications like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes, which are designed to eliminate threats thoroughly. After the automatic PUP cleaning, you can clean browsers from unwanted apps as per manual fixing.

Follow the detailed removal instructions carefully, as these hijackers often use various tricks to avoid detection and removal. If you worry about possible damage, run FortectIntego tool to repair any issues caused by the PUP.