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Browser Hijacks

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Article on Spyware in PCAnswers magazine

Article on PC defence by the MicroMart mag

Browser Hijacks

On this page...

	• How to tell if you've been Hijacked
	• Preventing browser hijacks
	• Restoring a hijacked browser

Your browser is the software you use to view web pages. You are using it now to read this article. You will probably be using Microsoft's Internet Explorer or the increasingly popular Firefox or Opera. Typically the hijacker software will enter your computer when you clicked the 'Cancel' button on that innocent looking Pop-up you encountered on the Net. In some cases it will enter by being hidden inside a program that you have either downloaded on the Net or been given on a disc. These embedded programs are referred to as a Trojans.

How to tell if you've been hijacked

Here are a few examples of what can happen to your system when your browser has been hijacked...

• Your browsers Home page or Start page changes without you changing the settings!
• Your browser strangely adopts a new toolbar!
• You are bombarded with new browser windows containing ads and pop-up windows with spyware warnings!
• Antispyware and other security software sites become unavailable to you!
• Your computer becomes very slow and sluggish!

Preventing browser hijacks

PUBLISHED: Mar/2006

UPDATED: Jun/2007

GET QUICK INFO ABOUT

ADWARE

Programs that are installed on your computer with or without your knowledge, intending to deliver adverts to your desktop. See this page for more info. More»

BROWSER HIJACKERS

Malware that covertly installs itself onto your system and changes your web browser settings. You aquire a new StartPage or HomePage that seems impossible to get rid of. See this page for more info.

Cookies are small text files that some web sites place in your computer to remind your browser of specific information. For example, they might store your preferences for content so pages can be personalised for you. Have you ever gone back to an online store and found a couple of items that you chose, still at the check out, well that's achieved by a cookie. The vast amount of cookies are designed to enhance your visit to a site. Some sites use session cookies that are deleted when you exit your browser, while others place persistent cookies, which stay on your hard drive for long periods. All good sites outline their policy on cookies, usually within their privacy statement.

DIALERS

Malware that covertly installs itself onto your system and changes your internet dial-up settings to a Premium Rate number. You may not discover the breach until you query your excessive phone bill. Dialers are NOT a problem if you have a broadband connection.

FIREWALLS

Designed to prevent unauthorised access to or from a computer or a network. Usually software based but can be hardware based within a network router or a Broadband modem. More»

HACKERS

Users that spend time attempting to breach online security systems. Some do it just for the devilment whilst others have pure criminal intent. A Firewall helps to stop Hackers entering your system when you are online.

KEYLOGGERS

Malware that captures all keystrokes made by you and monitors for your bank and card details. It usually has the ability to transmit the captured information to interested parties either via a network connection or email. Your personal data is then used in fraudulent activity. See this page for more info. More»

MALWARE

A generic term becoming popular to describe any form of malicious software. Sometimes referred to as rogue programs, they're the bad side of Spyware. See this page for more info. More»

ONLINE SECURITY

A term that covers all the issues on this list. Whether it's the theft of your personal details, virus riddled emails or invading your privacy. More»

PHISHING

Pronounced 'fishing'. Not Spyware or a Virus but a type of scam. It's when fraudsters attempt to obtain your personal information, usually your bank details by duping you into entering your details into either a dummy web site, replying to a false email or even by a phone call to your home. The sites and emails are very convincing and appear genuine, even to the trained eye but give themselves away by the very nature of what they are requesting you to do. More»

POP-UPs

A new browser window that appears on top of your current window, smaller than normal and containing either information or an advert. You really need to take the time to know how useful and how dangerous they can be. See this page for more info.

RATs

Remote Access Trojans. See Trojans below.

SPYWARE

A generic term for programs that are installed on your computer without your knowledge with the intent of gathering information about you, whether for commercial or criminal reasons. See this page for more info. More»

TROJANS

Also known as Trojan Horses or RATs (Remote Access Trojans) it's a way of delivering Spyware onto your system. The malicious code is hidden within a seemingly harmless program. Trojans are often used to infect you with Keyloggers or Dialers. A favourite with Hackers to allow them to open a backdoor to your system. More»

VIRUSES

A small program designed to make copies of itself over and over again. The effects of a virus can range from harmless messages to the destruction of data and can be exucuted at any given time and date. More»

WORMS

Very similar to viruses in their replication but exploit a users email system to send themselves around the world.

The temptation to download software can be irresistible and users should experiment and learn, just remember these few tips and your risk will be minimised...

• Be cautious about downloading any software!
• Be very cautious about downloading any free software!
• Never close a pop-up window by clicking OK, Yes, No etc. Instead, click the red Close

button, top right corner of the window, or press the Alt + F4 keys. More»
• Don't surf the Net (away from mainstream sites) when logged-on your computer as an Administrator, switch to a Limited User. [?]
• Use the latest version of your preferred browser program.
• Set your browsers security/privacy settings to a level that suits you! Use the highest level if you're new to browsing the Net and reduce it to medium when you feel more confident.
• Install an AntiSpyware tool, AntiVirus tool and if you not using Windows XP SP2 install a Pop-up Blocker and a Firewall.

Restoring a hijacked browser

Download the latest updated data file for your Anti-spyware Tool and then use that tool to scan your computer. The tool should identify the spyware and remove it. Reset your browsers Home Page settings.

A notorious hijacker is CoolWebSearch or CoolWWWSearch and there's a great free tool from Trend Micro that scans your computer online and it's worth doing even if you don't think you've been hijacked. You'll find it here.

More information

You'll find more indepth information about Browser Hijacking on SpywareInfo.