HPRewriter Browser Hijacker

What is HPRewriter?

HPRewriter is a bogus application that infiltrates the system during installation of various software. Following successful installation without users' consent, HPRewriter hijacks Internet browsers and stealthily modifies various options. In addition, this rogue app collects information relating to users' Internet browsing activity.

For these reasons, HPRewriter is classed as a browser hijacker and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

HPRewriter mainly targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine browser options to to random websites (at time of research, the list included inbeazahiravlu.ru, chain-reaction-pro.co, ru.nordfx.compromo, traffic-media.co, and ru.aliexpress.com).

HPRewriter then modifies the targets of each browser shortcut to its own address (e.g., "C:\Users\User\AppData\Roaming\HPRewriter\RewriterRunner.exe"). As compared with HPRewriter, other browser hijackers merely append a URL to the target of each shortcut.

This behavior significantly diminishes the Internet browsing experience, since users continually encounter unwanted browser redirects to various bogus sites and are unable to revert these changes (HPRewriter reassigns settings when attempts are made to change them). Another downside is information tracking.

HPRewriter continually records various data types (for example, IP addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.) that might contain private details. The data is shared with third parties who often misuse personal information to generate revenue.

Therefore, the presence of an information-tracking app such as HPRewriter on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to remove this browser hijacker immediately.

The Internet is full of browser-hijacking applications that share similarities with HPRewriter. Examples include eTogether, Trendio, TrendsTab, and many others. All browser hijacker offers various 'useful features', however, these claims are merely attempts to trick users to install.

The real and only purpose of apps such as HPRewriter is to generate revenue for the developers. These apps cause unwanted browser redirects (to increase the traffic of various websites) and collect personally identifiable information (which is later shared with third parties to generate revenue).

How did HPRewriter install on my computer?

HPRewriter is distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called "bundling" - stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs with regular software/applications. Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip most steps.

Therefore, all bundled programs are hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings. By skipping this section, users often inadvertently install bogus software such as HPRewriter.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

This situation can be prevented by taking two simple steps. Firstly, closely analyze each step using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings. Secondly, decline offers to download/install additional applications and cancel those already included. Most bundled software is malicious and, thus, should never be installed.

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Quick menu:

• What is HPRewriter?
• STEP 1. Uninstall potentially unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove HPRewriter from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove HPRewriter from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove HPRewriter from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove HPRewriter from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

HPRewriter 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 (e.g., "HPRewriter"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

HPRewriter removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser hijackers:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Remove HPRewriter-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 such 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 replace the whole text with browser's location (e.g., "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, replace Home page URL with 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 "HPRewriter".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hprewriter shortcut target 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 HPRewriter-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 replace whole text with browser's location (e.g., "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 suspicious/unrecognized URL 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 "HPRewriter" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hprewriter shortcut target 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 HPRewriter-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 replace whole text with browser's location (e.g., "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, replace Home Page with 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: "nitariaflabp.ru"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with hprewriter shortcut target 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 hprewriter shortcut target 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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