Mega Media Start Browser Hijacker

What is search.globalappz.live?

Mega Media Start is a browser app that supposedly allows users to access movies and popular websites directly from their browsers.

Note, however, that this app is often installed on browsers unintentionally. Therefore, Mega Media Start is categorized as a potentially unwanted app (PUA), a browser hijacker. It promotes a fake search engine (search.globalappz.live) by changing browser settings and recording user-system information.

Most browser hijackers can be installed on browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. When installed, Mega Media Start sets search.globalappz.live as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL. It is impossible to avoid visiting this website unless this browser hijacker is uninstalled.

The site is opened when the user opens a browser, new tab, or enters a search query into the URL bar. Note that search.globalappz.live is a fake search engine and generates no unique results. It redirects users to search.yahoo.com and provides results generated by Yahoo.

Furthermore, most unwanted apps of this type (browser hijackers) and their dubious search engines gather information relating to users' browsing habits. Gathered data usually includes IP addresses, entered search queries, URLs of visited websites, geolocations, and other similar information.

Some of these apps might be designed to collect more personal, sensitive details. PUA developers share the information with other parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue. For these reasons, we recommend that you uninstall PUAs immediately.

Having them installed or using them could lead to problems relating to browsing safety and privacy. Some users might end up having their identities stolen.

Threat Summary:

Name	Mega Media Start
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Mega Media Start.
Promoted URL	search.globalappz.live (fake web search engine)
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine.
Symptoms	Manipulated internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default internet search engine, new tab settings). Users 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 browser tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Mega Media Start is a browser hijacker similar to other apps of this type. The internet is full of these PUAs. Some other examples are Game Jungle, Kittens New Tab, and bestMovies Now. Developers promote them as 'useful' tools that are capable of providing users with various features, however, PUAs cause problems rather than delivering any real value.

How did Mega Media install on my computer?

Browser hijackers and other PUAs are commonly distributed through intrusive advertisements or using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". When clicked, intrusive ads might run scripts designed to download and install unwanted apps. Bundling, on the other hand, is used to trick people into installing unwanted apps with other, regular software.

Software developers do not disclose information about the inclusion of PUAs into "Custom, "Advanced", or other sections of the setups. Leaving these settings unchanged usually leads to download and installation of unwanted applications.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Take precautions during download and installation of various applications. Check "Custom", "Advanced", and all other settings. Opt-out of any additional unwanted apps and only then finish the setup. Furthermore, do not use third party software downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks such as eMule, torrent clients, dubious pages, or other similar sources to download software.

The safest option is to download from official websites and using direct download links. Bear in mind that intrusive ads cannot be trusted, especially if displayed on dubious websites relating to gambling, adult dating, and other similar pages. These ads usually lead to deceptive or potentially malicious websites.

If you experience redirects to these websites, or intrusive ads appear regularly, check installed apps on the browser and programs on the operating system.

Uninstall any unwanted, unknown extensions, plug-ins, add-ons, or other programs immediately. If your computer is already infected with Mega Media, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Mega Media browser hijacker:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is search.globalappz.live?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Mega Media application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.globalappz.live redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Mega Media browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.globalappz.live homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.globalappz.live redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Mega Media 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, "Mega Media"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.globalappz.live website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Mega Media 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.globalappz.live 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.globalappz.live".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.globalappz.live redirect, 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 "Mega Media" 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 "Mega Media Start", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.globalappz.live) 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.globalappz.live", 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.globalappz.live redirect, 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 "Mega Media", 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, disabkle "Mega Media Start", remove hxxp://search.globalappz.live 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.globalappz.live"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search.globalappz.live redirect 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.globalappz.live redirect, 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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