How to recognise and remove browser hijackers and unwanted pop-ups from your web browser

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to recognise and remove browser hijackers and unwanted pop-ups from your web browser. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Browser hijackers and adware are a common nuisance that can change your homepage, redirect your searches, inject unwanted pop-ups, and slow down your browsing. They often arrive bundled with free software or through misleading download buttons on websites. This guide will help you recognise the warning signs and walk you through removing unwanted extensions and resetting your browser settings in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari.

Signs your browser may be hijacked

• Your homepage or default search engine has changed without your permission
• You see excessive pop-ups, banners or ads that weren't there before
• New toolbars or extensions appear that you don't recall installing
• Web searches redirect to unfamiliar or suspicious websites
• Your browser opens new tabs or windows on its own
• The browser is noticeably slower or uses more memory than usual

Before you begin

• Back up any important browser bookmarks or saved passwords if needed
• Make sure you have administrator access to your computer
• Close all open browser windows before starting the cleanup
• If possible, run a full scan with your existing antivirus software first

Remove browser hijackers from Google Chrome

Remove suspicious extensions

1. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner
2. Select Extensions then Manage Extensions
3. Review the list and look for anything you don't recognise or no longer need
4. Click Remove on any suspicious extension
5. Confirm by clicking Remove again in the pop-up dialog

Reset Chrome settings

1. Click the three-dot menu and select Settings
2. Navigate to Reset settings in the left-hand menu
3. Click Restore settings to their original defaults
4. Select Reset settings to confirm

Remove browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge

Remove suspicious extensions

1. Open Edge and click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner
2. Select Extensions
3. Choose any extension you don't recognise or trust
4. Click Remove then confirm with Remove again

Reset Edge settings

1. Click the three-dot menu and select Settings
2. Go to Reset settings in the left-hand menu
3. Click Restore settings to their default values
4. Select Reset to confirm

Remove browser hijackers from Mozilla Firefox

Remove suspicious extensions

1. Open Firefox and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-right
2. Select Add-ons and themes
3. Click Extensions in the left-hand menu
4. Review the list and click Remove next to anything suspicious
5. Confirm the removal when prompted

Reset Firefox settings

1. Click the menu button and select Help
2. Choose More troubleshooting information
3. Click Refresh Firefox…
4. Select Refresh Firefox again to confirm

Remove browser hijackers from Apple Safari (macOS)

Remove suspicious extensions

1. Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen
2. Select Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions)
3. Click the Extensions tab
4. Select any extension you don't recognise or no longer need
5. Click Uninstall, then confirm if prompted

Reset Safari settings

1. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar
2. Select Clear History…
3. Choose All History from the time range dropdown
4. Click Clear History
5. Go back to Safari then Settings
6. Click the Search tab and choose your preferred search engine
7. Click the General tab and set your preferred homepage

Check for unwanted programs on your computer

Browser hijackers often install companion programs that reinstall the unwanted behaviour. Removing these is just as important as cleaning the browser itself.

Windows

1. Open Settings then go to Apps → Installed apps
2. Sort by Install date to spot anything recent you don't recognise
3. Click the three-dot menu next to the suspicious app and select Uninstall
4. Follow the prompts to complete the removal

macOS

1. Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar
2. Look for any applications you don't recognise or didn't intentionally install
3. Drag the suspicious application to the Trash
4. Right-click the Trash icon in the Dock and select Empty Trash

Run a malware scan

For stubborn infections, a dedicated malware removal tool can catch what standard antivirus software misses.

• Malwarebytes (free version available) — effective at detecting and removing adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs
• Windows Defender Offline Scan — built into Windows 10 and 11, performs a deep scan before Windows loads
• Microsoft Safety Scanner — a free portable scanner from Microsoft that can be downloaded and run on demand

1. Download Malwarebytes from the official website at malwarebytes.com
2. Install and run a Full Scan rather than a quick scan
3. Allow the scan to quarantine any detected threats
4. Restart your computer when prompted
5. Review the scan results and remove any remaining items

Prevent future infections

• Pay close attention when installing free software — choose the custom or advanced installation option and deselect any additional offers or bundled programs
• Keep your browser and operating system up to date with the latest security patches
• Only install extensions from official browser stores and check reviews and permissions before adding them
• Use an ad blocker such as uBlock Origin to reduce exposure to malicious advertisements
• Run a periodic scan with Malwarebytes or your antivirus software to catch issues early

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