Stop redirects to the qikc.xyz web address

What is qikc.xyz?

qikc.xyz is the address of a fake search engine that is opened through another dubious address (searchgg.xyz). Like most fake search engines, qikc.xyz is promoted through a browser hijacker. Two known apps that promote this address are called APP and CERX, which are related to another potentially unwanted application (PUA) called QIP.

These apps are classified as PUAs, since people do not generally download or install them intentionally. Once installed, however, browser hijackers change browser settings and record browsing data.

In most cases, browser hijackers change settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL. In this case, these settings (addresses) are changed to qikc.xyz.

Therefore, users of browsers hijacked by APP or other PUAs (such as CERX) that promote qikc.xyz are forced to visit this address when they open a browser, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar. The only way to avoid this is to uninstall the browser hijacker, otherwise it will reassign settings after each attempt is made to change them.

Furthermore, most browser hijackers gather information such as entered search queries, URLs of visited websites, IP addresses, geolocations and other details relating to users' browsing habits. Some personal, sensitive details might also be gathered.

Developers share the collected data with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). Typically, these third parties misuse the details to generate revenue. Research shows that these particular browser hijackers (APP and CERX) do not in fact change the aforementioned settings, but they monitor when users search, and then redirect them to qikc.xyz.

In any case, this app should be uninstalled immediately. Having apps of this type installed can be the reason behind problems relating to browsing safety, privacy or even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	qikc.xyz browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	APP, CERX and other PUAs
Supposed Functionality	Apps that promote fake search engines claim to enhance the browsing experience.
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine.
Detection Names	Websense ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
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.
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.

Generally, browser hijackers are advertised as legitimate, useful applications. Unfortunately, most are useless and operate simply help developers to generate revenue. Furthermore, people who use these apps or have them installed risk experiencing a number of problems. Examples of other PUAs of this kind include Fast Flight Tracker, Great File Converter and All Day Forecast.

How did qikc.xyz install on my computer?

People usually download and install PUAs inadvertently when they click deceptive ads, which should not be trusted, or they download and/or install various software. In many cases, download/installation set-ups include offers to download or install additional apps.

In most cases, these offers can be found in settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and so on. This PUA distribution method is called "bundling" and is used to trick people into downloading and/or installing unwanted apps through the set-ups of other software.

People who leave the aforementioned settings unchanged grant PUAs permission to be downloaded and installed with other (usually free) software.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Software should be downloaded from official websites and through direct download links, especially if it is free. Other channels such as third party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (eMule, torrent clients), unofficial web pages, etc., should not be used to download or install software.

If a download or installation setup contains settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", check them carefully. Dismiss offers to download or install unwanted apps. Do not click intrusive ads, especially if they are displayed on dubious websites. In most cases, they lead to potentially malicious pages or cause unwanted downloads/installations.

To prevent your browser from causing unwanted redirects and displaying ads, ensure that there are no unwanted extensions, add-ons or plug-ins installed. Software of this kind should never be installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.

Hijacked browser opens qikc.xyz address (GIF):

Download website of a fake Firefox updater that installs a PUA designed to promote qikc.xyz:

Unwanted app (CERX) related to qikc.xyz asking permission to access data, tabs and browsing activity:

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

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

qikc.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" or "CERX"), 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://qikc.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" or other PUAs (like "CERX").

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the qikc.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 (such as "APP", "CERX") 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" and/or "CERX", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.qikc.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 "qikc.xyz" 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 qikc.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 all recently installed browser plug-ins (such as "APP", "CERX").

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 "APP" (and/or "CERX"), remove hxxp://qikc.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: "qikc.xyz"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with qikc.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 qikc.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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