Shipment Trackers: what it is and how to remove it
Shipment Trackers is a browser hijacker that provides a capability for users to track their parcels. However, since the app is typically distributed with the help of a deceptive technique called bundling, they rarely install it intentionally, and it enters a computer without their consent.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
Automatic
Get a free scan and check if your PC is infected.
Fortect finds malware, unwanted programs and the Windows damage they leave behind, and repairs it in one pass.
A quick scan confirms nothing else was installed alongside the search.hshipmenttracker.co search hijacker.
Do it yourself · free Remove Shipment Trackers yourself 5 steps, about 15 minutes, no software needed.
Start the steps
Shipment Trackers: summary
| Damage | Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, sensitive details disclosure to unknown parties, extensive anonymous tracking by third-parties, monetary loss |
|---|---|
| Name | Shipment Trackers |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Associated URL | search.hshipmenttracker.co |
| Infiltration | In most cases, users are tricked into installing a potentially unwanted program either by an attractive ad or a fake update. Nonetheless, the most popular distribution method remains software bundling, where several apps are packing into a single installer, and their presence is not evident |
| Symptoms | New tab URL and homepage set to search.hshipmenttracker.co A customized search engine is appended to the browser and redirects all results to Yahoo Unknown extensions installed on web browsers Intrusive pop-ups show up on the desktop, delivering dubious ads Search results are filled with sponsored links, etc. |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 7 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Distribution | Not recorded in the old report |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | search.hshipmenttracker.co |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 6 April 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Shipment Trackers dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Shipment Trackers - a potentially unwanted program that might hijack all installed web browsers
Shipment Trackers is a browser hijacker that provides a capability for users to track their parcels.
However, since the app is typically distributed with the help of a deceptive technique called bundling, they rarely install it intentionally, and it enters a computer without their consent. Once inside, the app changes new tab functionality and homepage of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or another browser, alters homepage to search.hshipmenttracker.co and appends a customized search engine that redirects searches to Yahoo.
It is important to note that users can avoid Shipment Trackers hijack, as long as they don't agree to keep the changes after the infiltration. However, they are actively encouraged to keep them and allow the hijacker to settle.
Additionally, users are also asked to allow notifications from Shipment Trackers - this is another way to deliver users advertisements that might sometimes be unsafe. In the background, the PUP will gather a variety of information about users' web browsing habits, deliver sponsored search results, and increase the number of ads users encounter while browsing the web.
Unsurprisingly, the homepage that is set by the Shipment Trackers virus is filled with links to the most popular carriers like UPS, FedEx, DHL, and others. Additionally, a "Track Package" functionality is added at the top of the screen, although its credibility is doubtful, to say the least. The homepage will also display ads, even if the ad-block is present.
This is typical functionality of a browser hijacker as it tries to lure users into believing that it is useful and exclusive, while in reality, Shipment Trackers ads are all that they are getting.
The so-called functionality can be easily achieved by simply adding your favorite links to the web browser - either favorites or links that are displayed on the main page. In other words, Shipment Trackers does not deliver any functionality that is useful, it merely disguises itself of being useful by configuring web browsers in order to benefit the developers financially.
Whose who install Shipment Trackers and agree to keep the changes will notice that their searchers are redirected to a reputable Yahoo engine. However, the results are not genuine, as they are littered with sponsored links at the top. Users might not notice this behavior and visit affiliated pages, fundamentally changing the way they browse the internet.
Talking about the developers of Shipment Trackers, they are an affiliate with a Polarity Technologies Ltd - another company that is notorious when it comes to browser hijacker produce. It created such PUPs like Search Encrypt, Best File Converter, My Inbox Helper, and many more. All of these apps promise some type of allegedly useful functionality but actually provide a non-functional or poor service.
Another issue with Shipment Trackers is that it tries to abuse the well-known browser notification feature. As soon as users access the site, it asks to allow notifications to be shown.
Those who agree will be displayed ads on their desktops whether they like it or not, and some of them might be click-bait, fake alerts, or other scam content. Because the feature is relatively new, people do not know how to remove Shipment Trackers notifications and are stuck with them.
All in all, the so-called Shipment Trackers virus is not that dangerous as a trojan, ransomware, or other malware, but it is a security threat nonetheless. Besides, it tracks information about users, including geo-location, IP address, ISP, and much more.
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Avoid browser hijackers and intrusive ads they provide
While most users are aware of online dangers like software cracks or suspicious spam emails, they are less aware of simple tricks that are used by adware, browser hijackers, and other potentially unwanted programs.
These apps are called so due to their shady marketing, distribution, and operation techniques. As mentioned above, the most commonly used tactic is software bundling, and it is typically applied to third-party sites that distribute freeware and shareware.
However, because a variety of methods are used in order to make users install optional components unintentionally, they often miss the entry point. Security experts from lesvirus.fr are warning users about the following tricks that are often used to deliver potentially unwanted programs:
In some cases, users might install the unwanted app intentionally after being tricked about its functionality. Additionally, fake updates for Flash Player are also often used to deliver PUPs, so make sure you never installed these, as they can carry malware as well. If you are still using Flash, go to the official site and download the update from there.
- Before installing the app, check its reviews online on community boards, blogs, etc.;
- Ensure that the app provides Terms of Service and Privacy Policy;
- When prompted, always opt for Automatic/Advanced installation setting instead of Recommended/Quick one;
- Watch out for pre-ticked boxes, fine print text, misleading deals/offers, and misplaced buttons;
- Employ anti-malware software that has PUP detection feature - it could warn you about it prior to installation.
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Shipment Trackers
- In case your machine is acting slow or crashes, you can repair it with the help of
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
search.hshipmenttracker.co
How to remove Shipment Trackers
How to remove Shipment Trackers and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
Shipment Trackers often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete search.hshipmenttracker.co
Searches that pass through
search.hshipmenttracker.comean the browser's default search engine was replaced. Chrome: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then Make default on Google, Bing or another engine you chose, and Delete on search.hshipmenttracker.co.Edge has the same list under Manage search engines (search the Settings page for it), and Firefox under Settings > Search.
Look at On startup and the homepage settings too and remove the hijacker's address there. Nothing in this step differs between Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of Shipment Trackers. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
To get rid of potentially unwanted programs on Windows, follow these steps:
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
Once you are done with Shipment Trackers removal, you should also reset Google Chrome as follows:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Delete from macOS
macOS users should perform the following actions to eliminate PUPs:
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.
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.
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 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 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. 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.
From our report of Apr 2020 · not reviewed since
Get rid of Shipment Trackers comprehensively
There are a few issues with Shipment Trackers removal.
In some cases, users might have a potentially unwanted program installed on the system that should be terminated via the Control Panel/Applications folder, while other times, the hijack could be related to a browser extension.
In case the culprit is an extension, you can remove Shipment Trackers easily by uninstalling it or resetting the web browser. Nonetheless, this action is also recommended to those that had a program installed on the computer. This would also get rid of the annoying Shipment Tracker notifications, in case they were enabled upon entry of search.hshipmenttracker.co.
Questions about Shipment Trackers
Is it safe to keep search.hshipmenttracker.co as my search engine?
It is not recommended. Searches through search.hshipmenttracker.co usually still return results, but the operator sees every query, often stores it with an identifier for your browser and shows extra ads or paid links. Some hijacked results lead to fake downloads or scam pages.
You also did not choose it, which means something changed your settings without asking and may still be installed. Set your own search engine back, remove the extension or program that set search.hshipmenttracker.co, and check the browser's other settings, such as the start page and notification permissions, for further changes made at the same time.
Can search.hshipmenttracker.co see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to search.hshipmenttracker.co first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
Why do my searches go to search.hshipmenttracker.co?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Shipment Trackers did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to search.hshipmenttracker.co.
The page then passes your query to a real search provider, so the results look almost normal, with extra sponsored links on top. Changing the search engine back on its own does not last, because the source resets it. Remove the extension or program first, then the policies if any, then set your own search engine.
Is it safe to keep searching with search.hshipmenttracker.co?
We would not. Every query you type is logged by its operators and shared with their advertising partners, and the sponsored links at the top are chosen for payment, not relevance. Results that look like a download page or a support site may lead to scams.
The page will not damage Windows by itself, but there is no benefit in keeping it: the results come from another search engine anyway. Remove Shipment Trackers and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Shipment Trackers affect?
We saw it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not mean the other browsers on your PC are safe: hijacker installers usually change every browser they find, and browser sync can carry an extension to other computers signed in to the same account.
Check the search engine, home page, new tab, extensions and policies in each browser you have, including ones you rarely open. Chrome and Edge profiles count separately, so switch to each profile and check it as well before you call the job done.
What does search.hshipmenttracker.co know about me?
It knows what you searched for while it was your search engine, when, from which IP address and with which browser, and usually which results you opened. Tracking cookies let it connect those searches into a profile. It does not see your saved passwords or files.
After removing Shipment Trackers, delete the cookies and site data for search.hshipmenttracker.co so the profile cannot be continued, and remove it from the browser's list of saved search engines. Signing out of important sites and back in also replaces session cookies.
Will resetting the browser remove Shipment Trackers?
A reset disables extensions, restores the default search engine, start page and new tab, and clears temporary data and cookies. It keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords. For many hijackers that is enough.
It does not remove a program installed in Windows, policies in the registry, changes to the hosts file or DNS, or edited shortcuts, so Shipment Trackers can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.
The results look like Google or Bing. Is that real?
Partly. Many hijacker search pages pass your query to a real search engine and show its results, so the list looks familiar. What changes is the frame around it:
- extra sponsored links at the top
- the hijacker's own tracking
- sometimes a design that copies a known search engine
You can tell by the address bar. If it shows search.hshipmenttracker.co or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove Shipment Trackers and search directly.
I changed the search engine, but it switched back. Why?
The hijacker is still installed, and it rewrites the setting whenever the browser starts or the extension updates. Changing the setting is the last step, not the first. Find what controls it: the search settings page usually names the extension, and a greyed-out field means a policy.
Remove that source, restart the browser, then pick your search engine and delete the hijacker's entry from the list of saved search engines so it cannot be chosen by accident. Check again after a day, when extensions have had a chance to update.
Will Fortect remove Shipment Trackers?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Shipment Trackers, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Cloudwards: What is Browser Hijacking? Sneakier Than You Think (read October 6, 2026)
- KrebsOnSecurity: Software Cracks: A Great Way to Infect Your PC (read October 6, 2026)
- Lesvirus: Lesvirus (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)