FootbalScores24 Browser Hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is blpsearch.com?
FootbalScores24 is a sports-themed application that, according to its developers, allows users to receive the latest football results directly from their browsers. A convenient, fast web search is also promised. This may seem to be a useful and legitimate application, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker.
If installed, PUAs regularly collect information relating to users' browsing activity. Furthermore, FootbalScores24 modifies browser settings and promotes a fake search engine called blpsearch.com.
Browser hijackers can often be installed on popular browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. When installed, FootbalScores24 assigns blpsearch.com as the homepage address, default search engine, and new tab URL.
Therefore, if this PUA is installed, users are forced to visit blpsearch.com when a new browser window or tab is opened, or a search query is entered into the URL bar. This fake search engine simply displays results generated by Yahoo. Therefore, it redirects users to search.yahoo.com rather than displaying any unique results.
Additionally, none of the browser modifications can be reverted unless FootbalScores24 is uninstalled. Any changes made to settings will be immediately reassigned to blpsearch.com. These browser hijackers and associated fake search engines usually record user-system information such as IP addresses, search queries, URLs of visited websites, geo-locations, and so on.
Personal, sensitive details may also be recorded. People who develop these apps continuously share the data with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.
When installed, these information tracking apps cause problems relating to privacy, browsing safety, or even more serious problems such as identity theft. If FootbalScores24 is installed on your browser, remove it immediately.
Name | FootbalScores24 potentially unwanted application |
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. |
The internet is full of other browser hijackers and potentially unwanted applications including, for example, BestMovies Search Plus, nJoyMovies Search Plus, and mixSportTV Search Plus.
Developers present them as useful and legitimate, however, this is simply to trick people into installing them. Once installed, They provide no real value value and perform actions that allow their developers to generate revenue. Furthermore, apps of this type often cause unwanted redirects, collect data, and so on.
How did FootbalScores24 install on my computer?
Some websites can be used to download FootbalScores24, however, most people install/download unwanted apps of this type unintentionally through intrusive advertisements or when software developers use the "bundling" method. Bundling is used to trick people into downloading/installing unwanted applications together with software that they download or install intentionally.
They hide PUAs in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of software installation/download set-ups. Note, however, that these attempts are only successful when people perform installations or downloads without making any changes to the default settings (i.e. they fail to dismiss offers to download or install unwanted apps).
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Software should be downloaded from official websites and using direct links. Third party downloaders/installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (eMule, torrent clients), unofficial websites and other sources of this kind are not the best ways to download software. These channels are often monetized by promoting unwanted apps. Installations should be handled carefully.
Check download/installation settings such as "Custom", "Advanced" and so on and decline offers to install/download unwanted software. Do not click intrusive ads (especially if displayed on dubious websites). Many lead to dubious websites such as gambling, pornography, adult dating, and so on.
If these redirects happen even without clicking ads (or intrusive ads appear frequently), this might be due to installed PUAs. In this case, check the list of installed browser apps (extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins) and remove all unwanted, suspicious entries.
The same applies to programs installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with FootbalScores24, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting FootbalScores24 browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is blpsearch.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall FootbalScores24 application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove blpsearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove FootbalScores24 browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove blpsearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove blpsearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
FootbalScores24 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, "FootbalScores24"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the blpsearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
FootbalScores24 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://blpsearch.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 "blpsearch.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the footbalscores24 potentially unwanted application, 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 "FootbalScores24" (or "FootbalScores24 - Live football scores 24/7") 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 "FootbalScores24" (or "FootbalScores24 - Live football scores 24/7") browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.blpsearch.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 "blpsearch.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 footbalscores24 potentially unwanted application, 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 "FootbalScores24" (or "FootbalScores24 - Live football scores 24/7"), 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, disable "FootbalScores24" (or "FootbalScores24 - Live football scores 24/7"), remove hxxp://blpsearch.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: "blpsearch.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with footbalscores24 potentially unwanted application 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 footbalscores24 potentially unwanted application, 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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