PrimeLookup browser hijacker (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge)

PrimeLookup browser hijacker Removal Guide

What is PrimeLookup browser hijacker?

PrimeLookup – a potentially unwanted browser extension that changes how your browser behaves, in a bad way

PrimeLookup

PrimeLookup is a browser hijacker that targets Chrome and other browsers using the Chromium engine, including Microsoft Edge. This intrusive application can alter your browser settings without consent, immediately adjusting your homepage and new tab options to redirect you to its favored search provider.

With PrimeLookup taking over, your online search experience shifts significantly. Instead of delivering unbiased results, PrimeLookup reroutes all searches to its affiliated search engine (for example, boyu.com.tr, finditfasts.com, or potterfun.com), which may vary depending on your region. The search results are then inundated with ads and promotional links, making it harder to find relevant information and filling your browsing with unwanted and potentially misleading advertisements.

Additionally, like other hijackers, PrimeLookup has the capacity to observe and record your browsing habits, raising notable privacy risks. If PrimeLookup has unexpectedly appeared in your browser and you’re looking to remove it, keep an eye out for detailed steps on how to fully uninstall this hijacker and restore your browser’s original settings.

Name PrimeLookup
Type Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted application
Distribution Software bundling, third-party websites, ads
Symptoms The extension takes over your homepage and new tab address setting it to boyu.com.tr, finditfasts.com, or potterfun.com, placing promotional links as the top search results
Risks Installation of other potentially unwanted programs/malware, personal data disclosure to unknown parties, monetary losses
Removal You can eliminate the browser extension by accessing your browser's settings. A scan with powerful security software SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner is also recommended
Other tips After removing all browser hijackers and other PUPs from your computer, clean your web browsers and repair any damaged system files. You may accomplish this automatically with FortectIntego

How unwanted applications access users' devices

The creators of the PrimeLookup browser hijacker rely strongly on aggressive promotion and distribution tactics to reach users. Unfortunately, they often employ misleading strategies commonly seen with other potentially unwanted programs.

A large number of users end up installing free software from third-party sites, often unaware that these sources are popular for distributing harmful or unwanted applications. Users frequently rush through installation steps without paying attention, which opens the door for additional software components to be installed alongside the main program. This is known as software bundling.

To avoid unwanted installations, it’s essential to carefully review each step when setting up software from unofficial sources. Opt for Advanced or Custom installation modes whenever available and make sure to uncheck any boxes that are pre-selected by default. Be cautious of hidden details, such as small text or barely visible buttons, that may try to bypass your notice.

Furthermore, it’s best to stay away from cracked software or sites that offer pirated applications, as these are often linked to ransomware or other severe malware infections. This practice is not only illegal but also presents serious risks to your device. Pirated sites are unsafe and can lead to significant system damage.

How developers of browser hijackers try to convince people to keep them installed

While browser hijackers like PrimeLookup may not be as dangerous as other forms of malware, ignoring their presence can lead to a disrupted browsing experience. The most noticeable inconvenience is the change in search behavior, where your search results become filled with promoted content rather than organic results.

These modified results frequently display ads at the top, which some users might unknowingly click, mistaking them for regular search links. In some cases, these ads may even direct users to deceptive or unreliable websites.

PrimeLookup and similar hijackers often present themselves as helpful tools that claim to make browsing “faster,” “safer,” or “more efficient.” However, these enticing descriptions conceal their true goal: modifying your search engine to increase ad placements, allowing them to generate more revenue through pay-per-click advertising.

Ultimately, while PrimeLookup may not be highly dangerous, it diminishes your browsing quality by flooding your searches with ads and potentially compromising your privacy through tracking. This issue can be particularly bothersome if you’re not cautious about the sources of your downloads or the permissions granted to apps.

PrimeLookup browser hijacker

Persistence techniques of PrimeLookup hijacker

PrimeLookup uses a misleading approach that leads browsers to display the message “Managed by your organization.” Normally, this message is associated with corporate settings, where administrators control browser policies on company devices. However, when this appears on a personal computer, it signals that an outside program has altered the browser’s settings without the user's approval.

By enabling the “Managed by your organization” status, PrimeLookup gains administrative access to the browser. It modifies system policies or registry settings to lock certain configurations, making it difficult for users to change their default search engine, or homepage, or remove any added extensions. This tactic not only ensures the hijacker remains active but also complicates the process of restoring the browser to its original settings.

Remove the unwanted app and all its traces

Although browser hijackers like PrimeLookup may not be as harmful as traditional malware, they still pose considerable risks to a user’s online privacy and experience due to their tracking abilities. Such programs can alter browsing settings without permission, monitor user activity, and flood the screen with unwanted advertisements.

It’s important to remove any potentially unwanted applications promptly, as allowing them to persist offers no benefits and can impact both your system's performance and security.

PrimeLookup generally infiltrates systems through a browser extension. To address this issue, it’s best to first locate and remove this extension. Before taking this step, it’s recommended to scan your system for more severe threats to ensure the hijacker hasn’t opened the way for other malware infections.

Using tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes can quickly and effectively check for these threats, helping you secure your system. Once you’ve verified that no other malicious software is present, you can proceed to remove the PrimeLookup extension, restoring your browser's settings and overall functionality.

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.Remove extensions from Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

  • Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the window's top-right).
  • Select Add-ons.
  • Here, select the unwanted plugin and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

MS Edge (Chromium)

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

Safari

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

Internet Explorer

  • 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.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Browser hijackers, like many potentially unwanted programs, are well-known for their data-tracking practices. They collect data valuable to marketing firms, often selling or sharing it for profit. To achieve this, third-party programs use various tracking methods, including cookies, web beacons, and pixels.

These small tracking tools can linger on your device and continue functioning even after removing a hijacker like PrimeLookup. It’s essential to thoroughly clean out web caches where these trackers are stored. Regularly clearing your cache not only removes these tracking elements but also boosts overall security and helps prevent errors and bugs during browsing.

The easiest way to fully cleanse your system of remnants from unwanted programs is to use FortectIntego. This tool effectively removes all trackers and unnecessary files and resolves any issues that may arise after malware infections, such as system crashes and application errors. Alternatively, if you prefer a manual cleanup, you can follow specific steps provided below.

You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of PrimeLookup browser hijacker. Follow these steps

Remove from Google Chrome

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. Remove extensions from Chrome

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. Clear cache and web data from Chrome

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. Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. In the new window, pick Extensions.
  3. Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall. Remove extensions from Safari

Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Clear History…
  2. From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
  3. Confirm with Clear History. Clear cookies and website data from Safari

Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. Go to Advanced tab.
  3. Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  4. From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches. Reset Safari

Remove from Microsoft Edge

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. Remove extensions from Edge

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. Clear Edge browsing data

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. Reset MS Edge

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 Advanced MS Edge reset 1
  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 Advanced MS Edge reset 2

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. Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

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. Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

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. Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove. Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Options.
  3. Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data…
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear. Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information. Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox. Reset Firefox 2

After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of PrimeLookup browser hijacker registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.

How to prevent from getting browser hijacker

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 Private Internet Access 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 Private Internet Access 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. Data Recovery Pro 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.

About the author
Lucia Danes
Lucia Danes - Virus researcher

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