How to stop web browsers from opening losx.xyz

What is losx.xyz?

losx.xyz is one of many fake search engines. Two of the apps used to promote it are called APP (on Chrome) and SDL (on Firefox), however, other apps might also be used. Typically, apps that promote fake search engines are categorized as browser hijackers and potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Typically, they change browser settings, however, these particular apps do not change any settings. Note that PUAs of this type usually collect information relating web browsing activity.

Typically, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab to an address of a fake search engine. In this case, the address is losx.xyz. As mentioned, however, SDL, APP, and other apps that are associated with losx.xyz might not change the settings.

Despite this, users are still redirected to this address when they enter search queries into the URL bar or search through Google, Yahoo, and other search engines. Additionally, before opening losx.xyz, affected browsers force users to visit another dubious address (searchxp.xyz).

Search engines such as losx.xyz often provide false results and/or ads that usually lead to deceptive, potentially malicious and untrustworthy web pages. To stop the browser from opening losx.xyz or other dubious web pages, uninstall APP, SDL, and other apps associated with losx.xyz.

PUAs often gather information such as, for example, users' IP addresses, URLs of visited websites, entered search queries, geolocations, and other browsing-related details. In some cases, they are used to gather personal details.

In any case, the people behind them tend to share the data with third parties (potentially cyber criminals) who misuse recorded information to generate revenue. In this way, they put users at risk of identity theft, problems with browsing safety, privacy, and so on. To avoid issues caused through these apps, uninstall them immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	losx.xyz browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	SDL, APP and others.
Supposed Functionality	Typically, apps of this type supposedly enhance the browsing experience.
Promoted URL	losx.xyz
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine.
Detection Names (losx.xyz)	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (losx.xyz)	74.208.236.123
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the 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), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.
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Online Recipes Viewer, My Obituares App, and Convert My Vid Search are just some examples of other apps that are categorized as PUAs and browser hijackers.

Typically, these apps are advertised as useful, legitimate, etc., however, they are designed only to record data and promote fake search engines, thereby enabling developers to generate revenue. They deliver no real value for regular users and simply cause the problems mentioned above.

How did losx.xyz install on my computer?

PUAs can sometimes be downloaded from their websites, however, most people download and install them unintentionally. Unwanted downloads and installations happen through intrusive ads, which people often intentionally or accidentally click, or when developers distribute them using the "bundling" method.

They use bundling to trick people into downloading and/or installing PUAs with other software. To achieve this, they include PUAs into the download/installation set-ups and hide related information in settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and so on. When these settings remain unchanged, PUAs receive permission to be downloaded and/or installed with regular programs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Do not use third party downloaders or installers, torrent clients, eMule (or other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial pages, or other similar sources to download or install software. Download files and programs only from official websites and via direct download links. Note that download and installation set-ups often include various settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and so on.

Check these and dismiss offers to download or install PUAs before finishing the download or installation process. Avoid clicking intrusive ads, even if they seem legitimate. Typically, they lead to untrustworthy websites or cause unwanted downloads/installations.

To stop the browser from showing ads and opening dubious web pages, uninstall all unwanted, unknown/suspicious apps (extensions, plug-ins, add-ons) from the browser, and programs from the 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.

A deceptive web page associated with the SDL unwanted app, which encourages visitors to update Firefox with a fake updater:

A deceptive page associated with APP unwanted app, which encourages visitors to install another app of this type called "Flash SD App":

SDL asks permission to access data on Mozilla Firefox:

 APP asks permission to access data on Google Chrome:

Appearance of losx.xyz (GIF):

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▼ 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 losx.xyz?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove losx.xyz redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove losx.xyz browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove losx.xyz homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove losx.xyz redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

losx.xyz 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 losx.xyz website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

losx.xyz 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 (like "APP", "SDL"), 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://losx.xyz 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 "APP", "SDL" or other suspicious apps.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the losx.xyz 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 (like "APP") 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 "APP", or other unwanted app, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.losx.xyz) 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 "losx.xyz", 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 losx.xyz 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 "SDL", and other unwanted 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 disable "SDL" (and other unwanted apps) window remove hxxp://losx.xyz 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: "losx"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with losx.xyz 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 losx.xyz 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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