WowMovix.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is wowmovix.com?
WowMovix is a deceptive application that supposedly allows users to watch various movies, trailers, and other online media free of charge.
Initially, this functionality may seem legitimate and useful, however, this app is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) and a browser hijacker. There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) promotion of a fake search engine [wowmovix.com]; 2) tracking of browsing activity, and; 3) infiltration without users' consent.
This browser hijacker promotes the wowmovix.com (also known as "movix.searchalgo.com") fake search engine. To achieve this, WowMovix hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox and stealthily assigns the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine options to wowmovix.com.
These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to revert them. Developers reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, as long as WowMovix is installed, it is impossible to return browsers to their previous states and users are forced to visit wowmovix.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar.
This significantly diminishes the browsing experience. Another important issue is information tracking. WowMovix and wowmovix.com record information relating to browsing activity. Furthermore, recorded information typically includes personal details that developers share with third parties.
These people misuse private information to generate revenue. Therefore, we strongly advise you to uninstall the WowMovix browser hijacker and never return to wowmovix.com
Name | WowMovix 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. |
There are hundreds of browser-hijacking applications similar to WowMovix including Search Administrator, Smart Music Search, and Get Directions Quick - these are just some examples from many.
By offering a wide range of "useful features", these potentially unwanted applications attempt to give the impression of legitimacy and are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than enabling functions promised, browser hijackers cause unwanted redirects (thereby promoting deceptive websites, most of which are fake search engines) and record personal information.
Furthermore, fake search engines often feed users with false results and intrusive advertisements that lead to dubious websites. Therefore, using fake search engines can lead to various system infections.
How did WowMovix install on my computer?
WowMovix is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, as mentioned above, it is likely to infiltrate systems without permission, since developers proliferate this PUA via intrusive advertisements and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Intrusive advertisements redirect users to malicious websites and execute scripts that download/install malware.
"Bundling", on the other hand, is deceptive installation of third party apps with regular (usually free) software. Developers hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes - they do not adequately disclose this information.
Furthermore, many users click advertisements and rush/skip download/installation steps - behavior that often leads to inadvertent installation of PUAs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
The main reasons for computer infections are poor knowledge and careless behavior - the key to safety is caution. Therefore, pay close attention when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software. Carefully analyze each step of the download/installation procedures and opt-out of additionally-included applications.
You are advised to download software from official sources only (using direct download links), rather than using third party downloaders/installers, since these tools often "bundle" rogue apps. Bear in mind that intrusive ads typically seem legitimate, but most lead to dubious websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, and so on).
In most cases, they are displayed by adware-type PUAs. Therefore, if you encounter suspicious redirects, uninstall all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with WowMovix, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting WowMovix browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is wowmovix.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall WowMovix application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove wowmovix.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove WowMovix browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove wowmovix.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove wowmovix.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
WowMovix 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, "WowMovix"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the wowmovix.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
WowMovix 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://wowmovix.com (or "movix.searchalgo.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 "Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the wowmovix 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 "WowMovix Start" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "WowMovix Start", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.wowmovix.com or movix.searchalgo.com) 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 "wowmovix.com" (or "movix.searchalgo.com"), 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 wowmovix 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 on "Extensions" and remove "WowMovix", 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://wowmovix.com (or "movix.searchalgo.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: "wowmovix.com" (or "movix.searchalgo.com")
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with wowmovix 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 wowmovix 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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