Browser Hijacking
Identifying and Preventing Browser Hijacking Attacks
Browser hijacking is a malicious tactic where attackers take control of your web browser. It often involves redirecting your searches, changing your homepage, or bombarding you with pop-ups and ads. This type of attack can be used to steal personal information or spread malware, and it typically results from malicious extensions, software downloads, or phishing schemes.
Things to Be Careful About:
- Unwanted Changes: Look out for sudden changes to your browser’s homepage or search engine.
- Excessive Pop-Ups: An unusual number of ads or pop-ups could indicate hijacking.
- Slow Browser Performance: Hijacked browsers may experience sluggish behavior due to unauthorised scripts running in the background.
- Unknown Extensions: Check your browser’s extensions for unfamiliar or suspicious add-ons.
- Redirected Searches: If your searches consistently lead to untrusted or irrelevant websites, you may have been hijacked.
Actions You Can Take:
- Uninstall Suspicious Extensions: Review and remove browser extensions that you don’t recognize or trust.
- Reset Your Browser: Restore your browser settings to default to remove unwanted changes.
- Use Security Software: Run a reputable antivirus or anti-malware program to detect and remove hijackers.
- Be Cautious When Downloading: Only download software from official or trusted websites to avoid bundled malware.
- Enable Ad Blockers: Use trusted ad-blocking extensions to reduce exposure to malicious ads.
Browser hijacking exploits vulnerabilities in browsers and user habits. By staying vigilant and using proactive security measures, you can protect your browsing experience and personal information from hijackers.