Hanstrack.com Browser Hijacker

What is hanstrackr[.]com?

hanstrackr[.]com is a rogue website promoted via various rogue plug-ins. In fact, criminals also promote this site by hijacking legitimate plug-ins and injecting them with malicious code.

Therefore, developers continually encounter redirects to hanstrackr[.]com whenever a malicious/compromised plug-in is installed and enabled. Furthermore, this site delivers dubious content and uses the visitor's computer to mine cryptocurrency.

Websites such as hanstrackr[.]com are likely to feed users with dubious content. They often encourage users to download unwanted/malicious applications and browser extensions, or simply run scripts designed to inject such apps/add-ons without users' consent.

The presence of these apps can lead to additional computer infections and privacy issues (rogue apps/add-ons can collect personal data, which is later shared with third parties). In addition, hanstrackr[.]com is programmed to employ the visitor's computer to mine cryptocurrency. This process can take up to 100% of system resources.

Therefore, computer performance significantly diminishes - the system might stop responding and crash. Additionally, fully-loaded hardware generates excessive heat.

Therefore, within certain circumstances (e.g., bad cooling systems, high room temperatures, etc.), the components might overheat and be permanently damaged. In summary, this site can cause various issues and should be avoided. As mentioned, hanstrackr[.]com is promoted via malicious/compromised browser extensions.

Therefore, if you encounter redirects to this site frequently, you probably have this add-on installed on your system. The list of add-ons redirecting to hanstrackr[.]com includes (but is not limited to) Flash Video Downloader (which also promotes another dubious extension - Unseen for Facebook) and hijacked Ad-Blocker Pro.

Some anti-virus/anti-spyware suites (e.g., Avast) detect hanstrackr[.]com as a malicious website. Therefore, if you notice your anti-virus/anti-spyware suite displaying warnings, you should remove all suspicious browser extensions. If all installed plug-ins seem legitimate, you should disable them one by one until you determine which one is causing redirects.

After removing them, scan the system with a reputable anti-virus/anti-spyware suite and check for any remnants. There is also a high probability that rogue browser plug-ins will assign hanstrackr[.]com as the homepage and new tab URL. Therefore, check these settings as well.

Threat Summary:

Name	hanstrack.com redirect
Threat Type	Push notifications ads, Unwanted ads, Pop-up ads
Observed Domains	static.hanstrackr[.]com, t.hanstrackr[.]com
Symptoms	Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed.
Distribution Methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, potentially unwanted applications (adware)
Damage	Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections.
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.

The internet is full of rogue extensions that promote dubious websites. Some promote a specific URL (typically, a fake search engine), whilst others promote dozens of different websites (which usually deliver dubious content, display browser notifications, etc.). In any case, these extensions significantly diminish the browsing experience.

Furthermore, data tracking and redirects to potentially malicious websites can lead to serious privacy issues (including identity theft) and more computer infections.

How did adware install on my computer?

As mentioned above, hanstrackr[.]com is promoted using rogue/hijacked browser plug-ins. These add-ons are usually promoted via dubious websites (and intrusive advertisements which lead to such sites) and a deceptive marketing method called "bundling".

Deceptive sites falsely present rogue extensions as legitimate tools that will provide various "useful features" (e.g., weather forecasts, ad-blocking, enhanced web search results, access to coupons in various e-shops, etc.). Following infiltration, however, these add-ons deliver no real value for regular users.

"Bundling" is stealth installation of third party applications/browser plug-ins together with regular software. "Bundled" apps/add-ons are usually hidden behind "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes.

Furthermore, many users are careless when web browsing and software installation - they often click advertisements and install apps/add-ons without ensuring that they are legitimate. In addition, they often rush download/installation processes and skip steps. In doing so, they expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be very cautious when browsing the Internet and downloading/installing software. Carefully analyze each step of the download/installation processes. Opt-out of additionally-included programs/browser plug-ins and decline offers to download/install them.

We recommend that you download software from official sources only, using direct download links. Third party downloaders/installers are often monetized using the "bundling" method, and thus these tools should never be used. Intrusive advertisements usually seem legitimate.

Once clicked, however, they often redirect to dubious websites (gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.). They are usually delivered by adware-type apps/add-ons. Therefore, if you experience ads/redirects, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins.

The key to computer safety is caution. If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.

Flash Video Downloader extension in Google Store:

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 hanstrackr[.]com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall adware applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove rogue plug-ins from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove adware-type extensions from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove malicious extensions from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Adware 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 potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes hanstrackr[.]com redirects, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

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 browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hanstrack.com 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Flash Video Downloader", "Unseen for Facebook") and remove them.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hanstrack.com 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 "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with hanstrack.com 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 hanstrack.com 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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