Themovie-hub.net Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is themovie-hub.net?
Movie Quest is a rogue application that falsely claims to allow users to receive information about various movies. Judging on appearance alone, Movie Quest may appear legitimate, however, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.
Movie Quest often infiltrates systems without users’ permission. In addition, it stealthily modifies web browser options and continually records system data.
Following infiltration, Movie Quest hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, stealthily assigning various settings to themovie-hub.net (a fake search engine). Henceforth, users are automatically redirected to themovie-hub.net when they open a new browser tab and/or search via the URL bar.
Note that after entering a query, themovie-hub.net redirects users to search.yahoo.com - a legitimate Internet search engine. Therefore, users are forced to use the Yahoo search engine. Note also that, previously, Movie Quest promoted another fake search engine - themovie-portal.com. Although the modifications may seem insignificant, users are unable to revert them.
Movie Quest reassigns browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible. This PUP is used to deceptively build themovie-hub.net website traffic. Another downside is information tracking.
Research shows that Movie Quest continually collects various sensitive data (mostly relating to users' Internet browsing experience) that often includes various personal details.
Bear in mind that PUP developers sell collected data to third parties. Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, we strongly advise you to uninstall themovie-hub.net PUP immediately.
Name | Movie Quest 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. |
Movie Quest is virtually identical to GamerzLand, Your Map View, City Page Today, and dozens of other browser-hijacking applications. Note that all offer useful, yet different, features. In fact, all have identical behavior. Browser hijackers are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than giving any real value for regular users, PUPs pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety. In addition, some fake search engines feed users with intrusive advertisements (banners, coupons, etc.) and/or false search results. In most cases, these ads/results lead to malicious websites.
Furthermore, the ads may execute scripts that stealthily download/install malware (or other PUPs). Therefore, using a fake search engine might result in high-risk computer infections.
How did themovie-hub.net install on my computer?
Although, Movie Quest has an official download website, many users install it inadvertently, without their consent. Browser-hijacking apps such as Movie Quest are often distributed using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", and intrusive ads. "Bundling" is stealth installation of third party applications together with regular software/apps.
Developers do not disclose these installations properly. They hide "bundled" PUPs within various sections (most likely the "Custom/Advanced" settings) of the download or installation processes. Skipping download/installation processes and clicking various advertisements often leads to inadvertent installation of rogue programs, such as Movie Quest.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
There are two main reasons for computer infections: 1) poor knowledge, and; 2) careless behavior. The key to safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when downloading/installing software, and when browsing the Internet. Carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialogues and opt-out of all additionally-included programs.
Furthermore, avoid using any third party download/installation tools, since they are monetized using the "bundling" method (they promote rogue programs).
Remember that intrusive ads typically look legitimate, however, they are distinguishable for their redirects - most lead to coupon, gambling, adult dating, and other dubious websites. As well as via fake search engines, these ads are delivered by various adware-type PUPs. Therefore, if you encounter them, uninstall all dubious applications and browser extensions.
Website promoting Movie Quest browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is themovie-hub.net?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Movie Quest application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove themovie-hub.net redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Movie Quest browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove themovie-hub.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove themovie-hub.net redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Movie Quest 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, "Movie Quest"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the themovie-hub.net website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Movie Quest 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://themovie-hub.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 "the movie hub" or "movie quest".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the movie quest 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 "Movie Quest" or "TheMovie-Hub.net" 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.themovie-hub.net) 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 "themovie-hub.net", 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 movie quest 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 "Movie Quest" or "TheMovie-Hub.net", as well as 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://themovie-hub.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: "themovie"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with movie quest 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 movie quest 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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