Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Browser hijacker

 
Computer Desktop Encyclopedia: page hijacking
Home > Library > Technology > Computer Encyclopedia

(1) Refers to numerous ways in which a user is covertly redirected to a different Web site. For example, "home page" hijacking refers to changing the default address of the home page in the user's browser. When the browser is launched, it goes to that Web page.

"Browser hijacking" also refers to changing the home page as well as adding shortcuts to the Favorites menu or lowering security settings. These changes can be made using JavaScript or an ActiveX module.

Another form of page hijacking is copying a popular Web page from its original site to a third-party site so that it becomes indexed by search engines. After the links have been established, the content of the page is changed to reflect its real purpose, or it may redirect the user to a different site. See URL hijacking.

(2) Stealing the source code of an attractive page from one site and using it on another with slight modifications.

Download Computer Desktop Encyclopedia to your iPhone/iTouch

Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: Browser hijacker
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia

A browser hijacker is a form of malware or spyware that replaces the existing internet browser home page, error page, or search page with its own. These are generally used to force hits to a particular website.

Contents

Morwill Search

Morwill Search is a browser hijacker. It first redirects homepages to its website and begins to collect information on the computer.

CoolWebSearch

CoolWebSearch (CWS) was one of the first browser hijackers. It redirected the existing home page to the rogue CWS search engine, with its results as sponsored links. With most antivirus and antispyware programs unable to properly remove this particular hijacker, a man named Merijn Bellekom developed a special tool called CWShredder specifically to remove this hijacker. CoolWebSearch has since become a well known general name for any browser hijacker.

Profit

Many people believe that browser hijackers were designed for simple annoyance. Most hijackers redirect a page to force hits to their websites which contain ads. This then drives up the advertising cost for that website, thus profiting the site's webmaster.

Removal

Most new hijackers will not allow a user to change back to their home page through Internet Properties. Modern hijackers' settings will most likely return upon reboot, however, well-updated antispyware software will likely remove the hijacker. Some spyware scanners have a browser page restore function to set your page back to normal or alert you when your browser page has been changed.

Rogue security software

Some rogue security software will also hijack the start page generally displaying a message such as "WARNING! Your computer is infected with spyware!" to lead to an anti-spyware vendor's page. The start page will return to normal settings once you've bought their software. Programs such as WinFixer are known to hijack the user's start page and redirect it to the website.

Benign features confused with browser hijackers

Earthlink

Main article: Earthlink#Controversy

In 2006, Earthlink started redirecting mistyped domain names over to a search page. This was done by interpreting the error code NXDOMAIN at the server level. The announcement led to much negative feedback, and Earthlink offered services without this feature.

See also

External links


This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. THIS COPYRIGHTED DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.
All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
© 1981-2009 Computer Language Company Inc.  All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Browser hijacker".  Read more