Underline browser hijacker (virus) - Free Guide
Underline browser hijacker Removal Guide
What is Underline browser hijacker?
Underline browser hijacker changes browser settings to display various promotional content
Underline browser hijacker is yet another potentially unwanted program that shows altered search results.
If your searches are being redirected to bbbn.xyz, it means that you have an Underline browser hijacker installed on the device. This piece of software is quite annoying and can cause various unpleasant changes in the browser, including changing the homepage and new tab address without permission, inserting sponsored links in the search results, displaying various suspicious ads, etc. The best solution would be to remove this program from the device.
All changes made by the browser hijacker may significantly affect your web browsing experience. Pop-up ads, banners, and other advertisements put a heavy load on the browser, which can cause it to run slower or even stop working. These never-ending ads can also be quite dangerous, as insecure web pages are often advertised this way.
For example, if you click on a pop-up ad, you may end up on a porn site, a web page offering fake software or a place where cybercriminals will try to trick you into paying money or giving personal information to them.
In addition, the browser hijacker[1] tends to collect information about the user. It tries to track information related to web browsing. Browser hijacker collects data such as your IP address,[2] search results, websites you visit, etc. This information may be used by potentially unwanted program developers for their own purposes or passed on to others. So, if you want to remove this piece of software from the computer, you will find clear instructions below.
Name | Underline browser hijacker |
Type | Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program |
Distribution | Software bundles, deceptive ads, third-party websites |
Operation | Tracks user data related to web browsing; Inserts sponsored links at the top of search results; Changes homepage and new tab address without permission |
Elimination | You can easily get rid of suspicious extensions manually, although scanning the device with anti-malware might be quicker |
System fix | If security software indicates malware on your system, don't forget to fix virus damage – we recommend using FortectIntego for the job |
Of course, you may be wondering how the browser hijacker got into the system. Such potentially unwanted programs[3] usually enter the device without the user noticing it. This is because the browser hijacker uses a deceptive tactic – the software bundling method.
Every time you download a program, game crack, or something similar and try to install software quickly from untrusted sources, you run the risk of installing a potentially unwanted program too. You should be more careful to avoid this. We recommend that you never download software or other files from suspicious or insecure web pages. Also, you should use a reliable antivirus program such as Malwarebytes. This way, you will avoid not only potentially unwanted programs, but also much more serious cyber threats.
If you still need to download something, then use the Advanced installation method. When installing a new program, simply uncheck any additional unwanted tools.
Underline browser hijacker removal steps
Of course, if the browser hijacker is already on the system, then it is necessary to remove it to use the browser normally again. If you don’t know how to do this, then just follow the instructions below. Here's how to remove 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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Once you have successfully removed the malicious extensions from the browser, you should take a few more steps to get rid of this cyber threat completely. 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.
After that, you should fix the homepage because the browser hijacker has changed your homepage to an insecure one. If you try to continue using bbbn.xyz as a homepage, you run the risk of downloading potentially unwanted programs again, visiting various suspicious websites, and so on.
Changing the homepage is not difficult. It will only take a few moments but this way you will avoid potential problems in the future. Here's what you need to do to change the homepage in the Google Chrome browser:
- Click the 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.
In some cases, the above steps alone are not enough. This is because after removing the browser hijacker, there may still be a variety of unwanted components that can cause problems to your browser or system. If you notice that the browser is running slower than it should, various errors or ads are still occurring, or maybe even your computer itself is working strangely, you should try resetting browser settings.
Because potentially unwanted programs can disrupt the browser and even the system itself, it is recommended not only to fix the browser but also to check the system. We recommend using FortectIntego – a powerful tool the will fix system files, various errors and eliminate all other problems caused by the virus. By relying on this program, you will be able to enjoy a properly functioning device again.
Of course, if you just want to reset the browser, you can do it yourself. To reset Google Chrome manually, please follow these steps:
- 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.
Underline browser hijacker violates not only Google Chrome, but also other browsers: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc. Below are the steps you should take to remove this annoying potentially unwanted program from other browsers. We hope that our tips will help you clean the computer successfully and that you will be able to enjoy a fully functional device again without any interruptions.
Getting rid of Underline browser hijacker. Follow these steps
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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- 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.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
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.
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.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- 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):
- 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.
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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
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, as well as Cached Web Content and press 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 unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
How to prevent from getting browser hijacker
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact – you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the data restoration process.
- ^ Browser hijacking. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ What Is an IP Address?. Investopedia. Financial terms dictionary.
- ^ Chris Hoffman. PUPs Explained: What is a “Potentially Unwanted Program”?. How to Geek.