Search.hmylocalclassifieds.co Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.hmylocalclassifieds.co?
search.hmylocalclassifieds.co is classified as a fake search engine. It is virtually identical to many others of this type such as defendsearch.com, resultsinquire.com, and trackpackage.world. The site is presented as useful, legitimate, and may seem similar to other popular search engines developed by companies such as Yahoo or Google.
In fact, rogue developers promote it using downloaders/installers that modify browser settings and often install potentially unwanted apps (PUAs). When used, search.hmylocalclassifieds.co gathers data associated with users' browsing habits.
Rogue downloaders/installers usually have an impact on browsers such as Google Chrome, Safari, and Mozilla. In this particular case, they affect browsers by modifying settings. They assign search.hmylocalclassifieds.co as the new default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL.
Having browser settings changed this way forces users to visit this website when they open the web browser, new tab, or search via the URL bar (they enter a search query into it). Furthermore, these changes cannot be undone and settings cannot be reverted to their previous states.
Rogue downloaders/installers install "helper objects" (apps installed on browsers as extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins) that prevent users from changing any of the newly-appointed settings. The only way to avoid visiting search.hmylocalclassifieds.co is to uninstall "helper objects".
Furthermore, these browser apps and the search.hmylocalclassifieds.co fake search engine record data such as search queries, URLs of visited websites, geo-locations, IP addresses, and other similar information. Personal details might also be recorded. The gathered information is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.
Therefore, using fake search engines and having potentially unwanted apps (PUAs) installed can lead to privacy/browsing safety issues or even problems relating to identity theft.
Name | search.hmylocalclassifieds.co 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 countless fake search engines on the internet, most of which are very similar. Developers present them as legitimate, useful, and so on, however, they are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and simply cause problems for regular users.
How did search.hmylocalclassifieds.co install on my computer?
The search.hmylocalclassifieds.co fake search engine is promoted using rogue downloaders and installers. Therefore, many people are tricked into allowing these set-ups to make changes to browser settings (they give permissions to make changes). To install potentially unwanted apps, developers use a method called "bundling".
This method is used to trick people into installing unwanted apps together with chosen software. All information regarding the bundling of these apps is usually hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" settings and other similar parts of the software download or installation set-ups. None of this is allowed, however, without users granting permission (either intentionally or inadvertently).
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To avoid installation of unwanted apps, choose software download sources responsibly. Download using official and trustworthy websites (or other sources of this kind). Avoid using third party software downloaders, installers, unofficial websites, Peer-to-Peer networks, and other such tools.
Inspect each download/installation setup by checking all available options and settings such as "Advanced", "Custom" and so on. Deselect offers to download/install additionally-included (unwanted) apps during all download or installation processes. Avoid clicking ads that are displayed on dubious (unofficial) websites.
These often redirect to dubious web pages (such as gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc). If you encounter ads of this type or redirects caused by them, it is possible that unwanted apps are installed on your browser or operating system. Check for unknown/unwanted extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons installed on your browser and remove them immediately.
Also check programs installed on your computer. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.
IMPORTANT NOTE! This deceptive site asks to enable web browser notifications.
Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:
Google Chrome (PC):
- Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen
- Select "Settings", scroll down to the bottom and click "Advanced"
- Scroll down to the "Privacy and security" section, select "Content settings" and then "Notifications"
- Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)
Google Chrome (Android):
- Click on the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and click "Settings"
- Scroll down, click on "Site settings" and then "Notifications"
- In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and click on them one-by-one
- Select "Notifications" in the "Permissions" section and click "Block"
Mozilla Firefox:
- Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen
- Select "Options" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen
- Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications"
- In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs, click the drop-down menu and select "Block"
Internet Explorer:
- Click the Gear button on the right upper corner of the IE window
- Select "Internet options"
- Select the "Privacy" tab and click "Settings" under "Pop-up Blocker" section
- Select suspicious URLs under and remove them one by one by clicking the "Remove" button
Microsoft Edge:
- Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window
- Scroll down, find and click "Settings"
- Scroll down again and click "View advanced settings"
- Click "Manage" under "Notifications"
- Click the switch under each suspicious website
Safari:
- Click "Safari" button on the bottom of the screen and select "Preferences..."
- Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane
- Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option for each
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.hmylocalclassifieds.co?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.hmylocalclassifieds.co redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove search.hmylocalclassifieds.co browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.hmylocalclassifieds.co homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.hmylocalclassifieds.co redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
search.hmylocalclassifieds.co 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 suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.hmylocalclassifieds.co website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
search.hmylocalclassifieds.co redirect 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.hmylocalclassifieds.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.hmylocalclassifieds.co".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.hmylocalclassifieds.co 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 all 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 browser hijacker's URL (hxxp://www.search.hmylocalclassifieds.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.hmylocalclassifieds.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 search.hmylocalclassifieds.co 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 all 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, find and remove hxxp://search.hmylocalclassifieds.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.hmylocalclassifieds.co"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.hmylocalclassifieds.co 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 search.hmylocalclassifieds.co 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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