What is Kensaq browser plugin? — Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The Kensaq search hijacker is an example of an average unwanted program; such programs are distributed enormously these days. In this article you will see the complete guidelines of “Kensaq” hijacker removal in several ways: making use of anti-malware tools and manual elimination procedure.
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Kensaq – What is it?

“Kensaq” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some special info, as an example, about sport events, make your browser a lot more secure, enable downloading of any type of web video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nonetheless, the “Kensaq” plugin is quite useless since all such features are already embedded to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However frequently even experienced users are getting caught on such a lure. In specific scenarios, this hijacker is distributed along with free programs.

Kensaq hijacker - Kensaq.com

Kensaq Search Hijacker

Here is a short details for the Kensaq hijacker
NAMEKensaq
SiteKensaq.com
HostingAS54113 Fastly
Germany, Frankfurt am Main
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address151.101.14.114
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorSearchandshopping, Y2search/, Loadstart
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is Kensaq hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Kensaq hijacker is additionally quite harmful for web browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its particular – Kensaq.com, and also modifies your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, sometimes, changing it to default with the mentioned sign).

Besides seeable modifications done by Kensaq hijacker, you may see that several of your search queries are redirecting to the unknown web pages, filled with links and ads – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can consist of links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting increases if you try to open Google search page by force.

However all these activities are more bothersome than truly hazardous. The main danger, specifically for people who have a huge amount of secret information in their web browsers, is embedded in information collecting functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, and other activities are simply gathered by Kensaq hijacker.

How to remove Kensaq search hijacker?

  • Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
  • Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
  • “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 simple to deal with. Most of the times, they have an independent application that can be located in the list of installed apps. As a result of the particular marketing method of Kensaq hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and removed manually. Nonetheless, if you got Kensaq in the package with a free applications, your personal computer can be contaminated with much more dangerous malwaretrojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you make use of anti-malware programs to deal with the Kensaq PUA and all various other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and clearing away various malware, including mentioned hijacker. But significant malware, that might be present on your personal computer in the mentioned instance, can disable the Windows antivirus program by modifying the Group Policies. To keep away from such scenarios, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all unwanted applications on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can observe the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to choose any actions against the viruses, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To choose the action for each detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be shown, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing Kensaq 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. Reseting the Edge browser

  3. 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. The first step to revert Mozilla Firefox

  3. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
  4. The second step of Firefox restoration
    After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
    The last step for Firefox

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.

I need your help to share this guide.

Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
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Wilbur Woodham
How to Remove Kensaq?

Name: Kensaq

Description: Kensaq - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove Kensaq?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Kensaq (Kensaq.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Browser Hijacker

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References

  1. More information about PUAs
  2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender

About the author

Wilbur Woodham

I was a technical writer from early in my career, and consider IT Security one of my foundational skills. I’m sharing my experience here, and I hope you find it useful.

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