Search.hmytvcenter.co Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.hmytvcenter.co?
search.hmytvcenter.co is a search engine that, according to its developers, provides users with free access to various popular TV sites directly from the browser. In fact, this is a fake search engine that is promoted by the My TV Center browser-hijacking app.
In most cases, users install My TV Center inadvertently and it is thus categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA). Furthermore, search.hmytvcenter.co and My TV Center record information relating to users' browsing activity.
The My TV Center browser hijacker (and its associated search.hmytvcenter.co fake search engine) target popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. Once installed, this browser hijacker affects browsers by changing the settings. This PUA assigns the new tab URL, search engine, and homepage options to search.hmytvcenter.co.
Therefore users of hijacked browsers are forced to visit search.hmytvcenter.co when a browser or new tab is opened. In most cases, attempts to revert these modifications are unsuccessful, since My TV Center prevents users from undoing them (this is the situation with most of these rogue apps).
As mentioned in our introduction, browser hijackers such as My TV Center and their associated fake search engines also gather data that includes IP addresses, keystrokes, geo-locations, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites, and so on. Some of the information might include personal or sensitive details that developers share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).
These people misuse private data to generate revenue. Therefore, having data tracking apps installed is risky, and thus we recommend that you uninstall My TV Center immediately and avoid visiting the search.hmytvcenter.co website.
Name | My TV Center 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. |
Developers of PUAs describe fake search engines as 'useful', however, these are only attempts to give the impression of legitimacy and to trick users to install them. Browser hijackers and their associated search engines are designed only to generate revenue for developers by collecting data and causing unwanted redirects.
Few provide the functionality promised without any adverse effects. Some other examples of similar fake search engines are feed.streaming-time.com, alphashoppers.co, and free.pdf-maker.com.
How did My TV Center install on my computer?
In most cases, rogue apps such as My TV Center are distributed using "bundling". This is a deceptive marketing method used to trick users into installing potentially unwanted applications with regular software. Developers achieve this by hiding PUAs in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the installation processes.
In this way, developers avoid disclosing information about the inclusion of PUAs in the installation setups, and thus many users go on to install unwanted software inadvertently.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Download software from official and trustworthy sources, and using direct links only. Do not use third party downloaders/installers, torrents, or other similar channels. Do not skip installation steps without first checking "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings.
Deselect any offers to install unwanted/unknown applications, and only then finish the installation. Bear in mind that not all intrusive ads are legitimate. Some redirect users to untrustworthy websites such as adult dating, gambling, pornography, and so on. Generally, these advertisements are delivered by adware.
If you continually encounter redirects to untrustworthy websites, check your browser for any unwanted/suspicious applications (extensions, plug-ins, add-ons) and remove them immediately. Additionally, check the list of installed programs on your computer and remove any unwanted software.
If your computer is already infected with My TV Center, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting My TV Center browser hijacker:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.hmytvcenter.co?
- STEP 1. Uninstall My TV Center application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.hmytvcenter.co redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove My TV Center browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.hmytvcenter.co homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.hmytvcenter.co redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
My TV Center 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, "My TV Center"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.hmytvcenter.co website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
My TV Center 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://search.hmytvcenter.co 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 my tv center 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 "My TV Center" 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, look for a "My TV Center" browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.hmytvcenter.co) 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 "search.hmytvcenter.co", 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 my tv center 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 "My TV Center", 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://search.hmytvcenter.co 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: "search.hmytvcenter.co"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with my tv center 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 my tv center 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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