Gatmog.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is gatmog.com?
Created by the developers of dubalub.com, 5finder.com, and many others, gatmog.com is a fake Internet search engine that supposedly generates improved results and, therefore, enhances users' Internet browsing experience. The appearance of this site barely differs from Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other legitimate search engines.
Therefore, many users believe that gatmog.com is also legitimate. In fact, criminals promote this site by employing a browser-hijacking application called GSearch. Furthermore, gatmog.com and GSearch continually record various user-system information that can contain private details.
GSearch hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to gatmog.com. In addition, GSearch continues to reassign browser settings when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, users are unable to return browsers to their previous states and are forced to visit gatmog.com when they open a new browser tab or simply search via the URL bar. These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience. In addition, gatmog.com and GSearch gather information that is likely to contain personal details.
Furthermore, the collected data is typically sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing personal details. This information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to gatmog.com, immediately eliminate the GSearch browser hijacker. Never return to this site.
Name | GSearch 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. |
gatmog.com is a regular fake search engine and, thus, shares many similarities with everydaytab.com, chromesearch.club, 4newtab.com, and dozens of other fake search engines. As with gatmog.com, these sites also offer improved results and, in some cases, other 'useful features' (such as weather forecasts, shortcuts to popular websites, and so on).
All promises to enhance web browsing experience are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. gatmog.com and other similar sites are designed only to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than enabling the features promised, fake search engines cause unwanted redirects and gather personal details.
In addition, they generate misleading search results and/or intrusive ads. These can lead to malicious websites. Furthermore, the ads might execute scripts that download and install malware/potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). Therefore, using fake search engines risks computer infection.
How did gatmog.com install on my computer?
Research shows that GSearch typically infiltrates systems without users' consent. These applications are distributed using a deceptive deceptive marketing method called "bundling" together with the aforementioned intrusive ads. "Bundling" is stealth installation of third party applications with regular software.
Criminals do not adequately disclose these installations - they hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes. Therefore, rushing these processes, skipping steps, and clicking ads, exposes systems to risk of various infections.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior. To prevent this situation, be very cautious when browsing the Internet and, especially when downloading/installing software. Criminals invest time and resources into intrusive ad design.
Therefore, most look legitimate, however, they redirect to adult dating, gambling, survey, and other reliable sites. In most cases, these ads are delivered by adware-type PUPs. If you encounter them, immediately eliminate all dubious programs/browser plug-ins.
Furthermore, carefully analyze each window of the download/installation processes and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. We also strongly recommend that you avoid using third party downloaders/installers, since they are monetized using the "bundling" method (criminals promote rogue software).
Website promoting GSearch browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is gatmog.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall GSearch application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove gatmog.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove GSearch browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove gatmog.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove gatmog.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
GSearch 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, "GSearch"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the gatmog.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
GSearch 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://gatmog.com 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 "gatmog".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the gsearch 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 "GSearch" 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.gatmog.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 "GSearch", 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 gsearch 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 "GSearch", 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://gatmog.com 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: "gatmog.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with gsearch 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 gsearch 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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