Ecosia browser hijacker removal instructions

Seeing the redirection to Ecosia means that you are infected with browser hijacker malware. Such a malware modifies your web browser in order to gain profits on content promotion.

Browser hijacker that redirects your queries to Ecosia website definitely has a promotion contract. Even though it looks more distracting than threatening, it can mess up your computer as good as regular malware. In particular, it can throw you to phishing sites, that resemble well-known pages and aim at collecting your credentials. In this post, I will explain how did this hijacker appeared and how to remove Ecosia from your system.

Ecosia Hijacker Explained

Nonetheless, the “Ecosia” plugin is fairly pointless due to the fact that all such features are already integrated to your web browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users. However often even skilled users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific scenarios, this hijacker is spread along with free software.

Here is a short summary for the Ecosia hijacker

How harmful is Ecosia hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, Ecosia hijacker is also quite hazardous for web browser usage. It changes your search engine to its particular – Ecosia.org, and also transforms your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the mentioned symptom).

Besides seeable transformations done by Ecosia hijacker, you may observe that many of your search questions are redirecting to the unfamiliar sites, filled with links and ads – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can have links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting increases if you try to start Google search page forcibly.

But all these actions are more frustrating than really dangerous. The major danger, specifically for individuals who have a lot of secret information in their web browsers, is embedded in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as other activities are easily gathered by Ecosia hijacker.

How to remove Ecosia search hijacker?

• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are typically rather easy to remove. Most of the times, they have a separate application that can be spotted in the list of installed applications. Due to the certain marketing way of Ecosia hijacker, it can be easily tracked and removed by hand.

Nevertheless, if you got Ecosia in the package with a free program, your system might be infected with far more serious malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you utilize anti-malware programs to delete the Ecosia PUA and all various other malware.

Deleteing Ecosia hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

To reset Edge, do the following steps :

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :



2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :



2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :


After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

If you use Google Chrome

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :



2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :



3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

Opera can be reset in the next way

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :



2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.