How to remove software generating redirects to fidonav.com

What kind of website is fidonav.com?

Developers present fidonav.com as a "top-notch" Internet search engine that supposedly enhances the web browsing experience by generating improved results, and by providing quick access to various popular websites (such as Facebook, eBay, YouTube, etc.).

Judging on appearance alone, fidonav.com may seem legitimate and useful, however, developers promote this site using rogue download/installation set-ups that modify browser options without permission (browser hijackers). Furthermore, fidonav.com delivers intrusive advertisements and tracks users' Internet browsing activity.

How do browser hijackers promote fidonav.com?

Rogue set-ups hijack Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily modifying the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options by assigning them to fidonav.com. Set-ups append targets of browser options with this same URL.

Therefore, users are automatically redirected to fidonav.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar. These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience. In addition, users are unable to revert these changes, since set-ups stealthily install a number of "helper objects" - third party applications and/or browser plug-ins.

Helper objects continue to reassign the aforementioned options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible. Furthermore, fidonav.com and helper objects (also known as potentially unwanted programs or PUPs) often deliver various 'malvertising' ads (pop-ups, coupons, banners, etc.).

The ads are irrelevant to the user and often conceal underlying content, also diminishing the browsing experience. They might also redirect to malicious websites or even run scripts that download and install malware/PUPs. Clicking them can result in high-risk computer infections.

As mentioned above, fidonav.com (and potentially unwanted programs) continually record various user-system information that might contain personal details. Developers commonly sell this data to third parties for dubious marketing purposes and to generate revenue.

Therefore, potentially unwanted programs and fidonav.com pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety. We strongly advise you to uninstall all suspicious applications/browser plug-ins and never visit this site again.

Threat Summary:

Name	fidonav.com 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.
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Fake search engine examples

There are many fake search engines similar to fidonav.com including, for example, yardood.com, websrch.net, searchsecretly.net, and searchererr.website. 

All claim to enhance the web browsing experience by generating improved search results and by providing other 'useful features' (quick access to popular websites, weather forecasts, currency exchange rates, etc.), however, fake search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.

Most are useless for regular users. As well as delivering intrusive ads and collecting various information, these websites are also likely to generate false search results (to promote other dubious websites). As with intrusive ads, false search results can also lead to malicious websites. Therefore, using a fake search engine can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

How did fidonav.com install on my computer?

As mentioned above, fidonav.com is promoted using rogue download/installation set-ups. This deceptive marketing method is called "bundling". Developers are aware that many users rush the download/installation processes and skip steps.

Furthermore, developers do not properly disclose details of browser modifications - this information is often concealed (usually within the "Custom/Advanced" options of the download/installation dialogs). Therefore, skipping this section inadvertently grants set-ups permission to modify browser options, exposes systems to risk of infections, and compromises users' privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent installation of potentially unwanted programs (such as "helper objects"), be very cautious when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet. Be aware that PUPs are also proliferated using the "bundling" method, and via intrusive ads. Therefore, carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialog and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.

Bundling is often used in third party download/installation tools. These should never be used - download your software from official sources only using a direct download URL. Furthermore, intrusive ads may seem legitimate and it is difficult to determine if they originate from the visited websites.

If you have clicked ads that lead to rogue websites (for example, pornography, adult dating, gambling, etc.), immediately check the list of installed applications/browser plug-ins and eliminate any suspicious entries. The key to computer safety is caution.

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Quick menu:

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

fidonav.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 fidonav.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

fidonav.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 fidonav.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 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 eliminate text (hxxp://www.fidonav.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.fidonav.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 "fidonav.com".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the fidonav.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 fidonav.com-related Google Chrome extensions:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser 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.fidonav.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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.fidonav.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click 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 "fidonav", and 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 fidonav.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 fidonav.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.fidonav.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.fidonav.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: "fidonav.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with fidonav.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 fidonav.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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users to visit fidonav.com website?

Redirects to webpages like fidonav.com are generated because cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) profit through them.

Is visiting fidonav.com a threat to my privacy?

Fake search engines (e.g., fidonav.com, etc.) typically collect and sell visitor data. Therefore, visiting these pages is deemed a minor privacy threat.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Widespread distribution methods include: bundled installers, deceptive promotional webpages, freeware and free file-hosting websites, online scams, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, intrusive adverts, and spam browser notifications.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate detected browser-hijacking applications. Keep in mind that manual removal (performed without security tools) might be ineffective, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present. After one is eliminated – the others may simply reinstall it. Furthermore, removal-related settings might be inaccessible when browser-hijacking software is installed. Therefore, it is crucial to remove browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.

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