Shielddefense.net Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is shielddefense.net?
Shield Defense is a deceptive application that supposedly protects computers from various malware infections and blocks tracking of Internet browsing activity. Judging on appearance alone, Shield Defense may seem legitimate and useful, however, this app infiltrates systems without permission.
Furthermore, it stealthily modifies web browser settings and (despite the above claims) also monitor users' browsing activity. For these reasons, Shield Defense is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.
Following infiltration, Shield Defense hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily modifying the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options by assigning them to shielddefense.net (a fake Internet search engine).
These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to revert them - Shield Defense reassigns the aforementioned settings when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible.
These actions are performed to promote a fake Internet search engine that is used to generate revenue for the developers. Thus, users continually encounter unwanted redirects to shielddefense.net, significantly diminishing the browsing experience.
Research also shows that PUPs such as Shield Defense often record various user-system information relating to browsing activity. The collected data (IP addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, mouse/keyboard activity, etc.) often contains personal details that PUP developers share with third parties (who misuse private data to generate revenue).
Therefore, the presence of information-tracking applications can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Your are advised to uninstall the Shield Defense browser hijacker immediately.
| Name | Shield Defense browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
The Internet is full of browser-hijacking applications similar to Shield Defense including YourTemplateFinder, My Start Shield, and Photor. These are just some examples from many. By offering various 'useful features', PUPs attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, however, their only purpose is to generate revenue for the developers.
Most cause unwanted redirects and record user-system information. Promoted websites are often fake search engines that contain intrusive online advertisements and generate results irrelevant to the user.
Developers generate revenue using the "Pay Per Click" advertising model and promoting other websites via misleading search results. Intrusive ads and these search results can lead to malicious websites. Therefore, using a fake Internet search engine can lead to high-risk computer infections. In addition, developers sell recorded data to third parties.
How did shielddefense.net install on my computer?
Shield Defense has an official download website, however, this browser hijacker is also promoted using intrusive advertisements and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Once clicked, intrusive advertisements activate a script that downloads and installs malware. Bundling is stealth installation of third party software with regular programs.
Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps. Therefore, bundled apps are hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" settings. By skipping this section, users often expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent this situation, be very cautious when browsing the Internet. Be cautious when downloading and installing software. Carefully analyze each step (especially the "Custom/Advanced" section) and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. Furthermore, ignore clicking any advertisements - this can result in high-risk adware or malware infections.
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner
By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.
Quick menu:
- What is shielddefense.net?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Shield Defense application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove shielddefense.net redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Shield Defense browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove shielddefense.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove shielddefense.net redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Shield Defense browser hijacker 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-suspicious applications (for example, "Shield Defense"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the shielddefense.net website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Shield Defense browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://shielddefense.net and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start 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 and then remove "Shield Defense".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the shield defense 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:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Shield Defense" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.shielddefense.net) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
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 the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "Shield Defense" when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the shield defense 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:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "Shield Defense", and all other recently-installed browser plug-ins.
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://shielddefense.net and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your 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: "shielddefense.net"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with shield defense 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 shield defense 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.
Post a comment:
If you have additional information on shield defense browser hijacker or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
Outstanding!
▼ Show Discussion