Hotwebfree.com Redirect

What is hotwebfree.com?

Hotwebfree.com is another fake Internet search engine similar to bitable.com, goodasfound.com, and a number of other dubious sites.

On initial inspection, hotwebfree.com may seem a legitimate website, however, developers promote it using deceptive software 'installers' that stealthily modify web browser settings. In addition, hotwebfree.com continually records various information regarding users' web browsing activity.

Dubious installer set-ups hijack the Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers. After assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to hotwebfree.com, set-ups extend the target of each browser shortcut with the same URL.

For this reason, users continually encounter unwanted browser redirects to hotwebfree.com, significantly diminishing the web browsing experience. In addition, installed 'helper objects' (third party apps/browser plug-ins) automatically reassign these settings when attempts are made to change them.

Thus, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states. Be aware that hotwebfree.com continually records IP addresses, search queries, website URLs visited, pages viewed, and other similar data.

This information may seem insignificant, however, it can include personally identifiable details, which developers of hotwebfree.com share with cooperating third parties (who often misuse private data to generate revenue). Thus, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

If you continually encounter unwanted browser redirects to hotwebfree.com, immediately uninstall all recently-installed PUPs and never visit this website again.

Research shows that fake Internet search engines have similar characteristics. All falsely claim to enhance the web browsing experience, however, none provide any real value - they simply generates revenue for developers.

Websites such as hotwebfree.com cause unwanted browser redirects, track personally identifiable information, and occasionally deliver intrusive content-concealing advertisements.

How did hotwebfree.com install on my computer?

As mentioned previously, hotwebfree.com is promoted using deceptive software 'installers'. Developers hide all details of browser modifications within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings of the download/installation processes.

User often skip this section, inadvertently granting set-ups permission to modify browser settings. This exposes systems to risk of various infections and put users' privacy at risk.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

There are two main steps you should take to prevent PUPs from system infiltration. Firstly, never rush when downloading and installing software - potentially unwanted programs are often distributed as bundles and, therefore, it is important to analyze each step of these procedures. Secondly, decline all offers to download/install additional applications and opt-out of those already included.

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Quick menu:

• What is hotwebfree.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall potentially unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove hotwebfree.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove hotwebfree.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove hotwebfree.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove hotwebfree.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Hotwebfree.com redirect removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes browser redirects to the hotwebfree.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Hotwebfree.com homepage and default Internet search engine removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser hijackers:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Remove hotwebfree.com-related Internet Explorer add-ons:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate text (hxxp://www.hotwebfree.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.hotwebfree.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default, then remove "hotwebfree".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hotwebfree.com browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove hotwebfree.com-related Google Chrome extensions:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:

This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.hotwebfree.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://www.hotwebfree.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "hotwebfree" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hotwebfree.com browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove hotwebfree.com-related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://www.hotwebfree.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.hotwebfree.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "hotwebfree"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with hotwebfree.com browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hotwebfree.com browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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