How to Remove Browser Hijackers from Any Browser

June 10, 2025 By Nick Anderson No Comments 7 minutes

Browser hijackers are the worst. They’re like that person who shows up uninvited, trashes your place, and leaves you cleaning up the mess. One day you’re browsing, and the next, your homepage is some random site, your searches end up in sketchy corners of the internet, or ads are popping up like they own the place. Whether you’re on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or some other browser, these things can make your life difficult and even put your personal info at risk. Let’s walk you through how to remove browser hijackers from any browser so you can get back to normal. 

Note: To eliminate browser hijackers, delete cache, restore default settings, and remove questionable extensions. Run an antivirus scan. Protect your connection with FastestVPN to block future threats. Keep browsers updated and steer clear of shady downloads for safety.

What Is a Browser Hijacker?

A browser hijacker is a piece of malware that takes over your browser settings without asking. It usually sneaks in through a dodgy download, a shady extension, or a link you clicked without thinking. Once it’s in, it might swap your search engine, redirect you to weird sites, or bombard you with ads. Some of these hackers even track what you’re doing or try to swipe your passwords. Knowing what you’re dealing with is the first step to take before any action. 

Signs You’re Dealing with a Hijacker

Before you start swinging, make sure you’ve got a hijacker on your hands. Here’s what to look for:

• Your homepage or search engine changes to something you didn’t pick. 
• You keep getting sent to random and shady websites. 
• Ads are everywhere, even on sites that don’t usually have them. 
• New toolbars or extensions show up out of nowhere. 
• Your browser’s slow as molasses, crashing, or acting weird. 

If this sounds like your problem, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and remove browser hijackers from any browser. 

Step 1: Ditch Suspicious Programs

Hijackers often hide in programs you didn’t mean to install. You downloaded something that seemed legitimate, but now your browser’s a mess. Start by checking your computer for anything that looks wrong. 

If You’re on Windows:

• Fire up Control Panel and go to Programs > Uninstall a Program.
• Scroll through the list for anything that looks off or shows up recently that you don’t remember installing. 
• Click the program and hit Uninstall. Follow the steps to get rid of it. 
• Restart your computer to make sure it’s gone for good. 

If You’re on a Mac:

• Open Finder and go to the Applications folder. 
• Look for apps you don’t know or that popped up when the trouble started. 
• Drag them to the Trash or right-click and pick Move to Trash. 
• Empty the Trash and reboot your Mac. 

Getting rid of these programs is like cutting off the hijacker’s lifeline, but you’ve got more to do. 

Step 2: Clear Out Shady Extensions

Extensions are a favorite trick for hijackers. Time to check your browser and remove anything that looks suspicious.

Google Chrome: 

1. Click the three dots up top on the right.
2. Go to More Tools > Extensions.
3. Look for anything you didn’t add or that seems fishy.
4. Hit Remove on the ones that don’t belong.
5. Clean up leftover junk by going to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Click the three lines in the top-right corner and pick Add-ons and Themes.
2. Check the Extensions tab for anything that looks wrong.
3. Click Remove next to anything you don’t trust.
4. Wipe the cache in Preferences > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data.

Safari:

1. Go to Preferences > Extensions.
2. Spot any extensions you don’t recognize and select them.
3. Click Uninstall.
4. Clear history and cache by going to History > Clear History.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Click the three dots and choose Extensions.
2. Find anything that looks off and click Remove.
3. Clear data in Settings > Privacy, Search, and Services > Clear Browsing Data.

After you’ve chucked the bad extensions, reset your browser to wipe out any leftover changes. Use FastestVPN when doing all of this because it keeps my connection safe. 

Step 3: Hit the Reset Button

Resetting your browser is like giving it a fresh start, undoing all the things the hijacker did. Here’s how to do it for each browser:

Google Chrome:

• Click the three dots and head to Settings.
• Scroll down and click Advanced to open more options.
• Find Reset and Clean Up, then click Restore settings to their original defaults. 
• Hit Reset Settings to confirm. 

Mozilla Firefox:

• Click the three lines and pick Help. 
• Choose Troubleshooting Information.
• Click Refresh Firefox and say yes to confirm. 

Safari:

1. Go to Preferences > Privacy.
2. Click Manage Website Data and delete everything.
3. Fix your homepage in Preferences > General.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Click the three dots and go to Settings.
2. Find Reset Settings and click Restore settings to their default values.
3. Confirm the reset.

Resetting is a key part of how to remove browser hijackers from any browser because it gets rid of any settings that might let the hijacker stick around. 

Step 4: Hunt Down Malware

Even after you’ve cleaned up programs and extensions, some malware might still be hanging out. A good antivirus or anti-malware tool can find it and take it out. 

• Grab a strong program like Malwarebytes, Bitdefender, or Norton. 
• Make sure it’s updated to catch the latest threats. 
• Run a full system scan and follow the steps to delete or quarantine anything it finds. 
• Restart your computer when you’re done. 

Using FastestVPN while you’re downloading or updating your antivirus keeps you safe from sketchy websites that might try to hit you again. 

Step 5: Keep Your Browser Updated

Old software is like leaving your door unlocked with a sign that says ‘‘Come on in.’’ Make sure your system and browser are up to date. 

• Windows: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and install any updates.
• macOS: Check System Preferences > Software Update for anything new.
• Browsers: Most update on their own, but you can check in their settings or help menus.

Keeping things current shuts down the holes hijackers use to get in.

Step 6: Keep Hijackers Out

Now that you’ve cleaned up, don’t let this happen again. Here’s how you can keep my browser safe:

• Download Smart: Only grab software from websites you trust. Free downloads can often be trouble, so avoid them. 
• Be Picky with Extensions: Only add extensions from official stores like the Chrome Web Store or Mozilla Add-ons, and check what people say about them.
• Don’t Click Random Links: Stay away from links in weird emails, pop-ups, or shady websites. 
• Use a VPN: FastestVPN keeps your connection secure, making it harder for phishing sites or bad downloads to screw you over.
• Block Ads: A good ad blocker stops ads that might carry hijackers.
• Clear Junk Regularly: Every so often, wipe your browser’s cache and cookies to get rid of trackers.

These habits keep your browser clean and your info safe.

Step 7: Check Your Network

Some hijackers mess with your network settings, like DNS, to send you to bad places. Make sure everything’s legit.

On Windows:

1. Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click your connection, then hit Properties.
3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
4. Make sure Obtain DNS server address automatically is checked, unless you’re using something like Google’s DNS (8.8.8.8).

On macOS:

1. Open System Preferences > Network.
2. Pick your connection and click Advanced.
3. In the DNS tab, delete any weird addresses.
4. Hit OK and Apply.

Using FastestVPN hides your IP and keeps your traffic safe, making it tougher for hijackers to mess with your network.

FAQs

Wrapping It Up

Browser hijackers are a massive pain, but you can kick them out with these steps. From getting rid of shady programs to scanning for malware and locking things down, you’ve got what you need to remove browser hijackers from any browser. Stay on top of things, keep your software updated, and think about using FastestVPN to add some extra protection.