How to remove CERX and other PUAs?

What is bhj1.xyz?

Bhj1.xyz is a fake search engine. Like most search engines of this kind, it is being promoted through a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker called CERX. CERX is a PUA which is related to QIP, another app of this type. It is possible that CERX is not the only app that promote bhj1.xyz.

Either way, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing certain browser's settings. Also, most of them are designed to gather browsing data. It is worth mentioning that more often than not people download and/or install PUAs unknowingly, unintentionally.

Typically, browser hijackers hijack browsers by changing settings such address of a homepage, default search engine and new tab. In this CERX (and possibly some other apps too) change those settings to bhj1.xyz. It means this app is designed to make sure that bhj1.xyz would be visited when a user opens a browser, new tab or enters search queries into URL bar.

Typically, the only way to remove a certain address from the aforementioned settings or change it to some other one is to uninstall a browser hijacker. In mot cases fake search engines do not generate unique results or they provide inaccurate search results and/or those results lead to untrustworthy, potentially malicious websites.

Furthermore, most browser hijackers not only change settings in browsers, but also gather various data. Usually they target details such as user's IP address, geolocation, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, and other browsing data. However, in some cases browser hijackers are designed to collect sensitive, confidential information too.

Either way, they are designed to gather data so that their developers could misuse it to generate revenue. It is possible that they may sell it to third parties (potentially cyber criminals) as well. To sum up, having a browser hijacker installed on a browser and/or operating system might lead to problems related to browsing safety, privacy, or even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	bhj1.xyz browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	CERX, but could be other PUAs as well.
Supposed Functionality	Typically, browser hijackers supposed to imporove browsing experience.
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	104.31.72.107
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.

More examples of fake search engines are mkob.xyz, qikc.xyz and ieodk.xyz. Typically, they are promoted through one or another browser hijacker (there is a great number of app of this type).

People who download and/or install them intentionally usually do that only because developers advertise them as useful, legitimate apps. Unfortunately, most browser hijackers do not deliver any value, they do not operate as they were advertised and often cause various problems.

How did bhj1.xyz install on my computer?

More often than not people download and install various unwanted apps unwillingly, unintentionally: through deceptive ads that they have clicked or together with some regular, usually free software. To trick people into downloading and/or installing unwanted apps developers often use a distribution method called "bundling".

When developers use it, they include PUAs in download and/or installation setups of other programs and put information about it in their "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings. Quite often people download and install programs without checking any of those settings/options and that how they end up having various PUAs download and/or installed too.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent such installations always download software (especially if it is free) from official and trustworthy/reliable sources. Avoid using third party software downloaders or installers and torrents. Always check what are the "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings and deselect unwanted offers and features.

Once you are done with it, you can finish the installation. Be careful when browsing the web, especially when it comes to clicking intrusive ads. These ads often look legitimate because their developers (potentially cyber criminals) invest money in their design.

However, once clicked, they tend to redirect users to various untrustworthy websites, such as gambling, adult dating, pornography and so on. If you happen to click on any of these ads, close it and check what are the installed extensions, add-ons or plug-ins on your web browser and programs on your computer.

If there will be some dubious/unwanted entries - uninstall them as soon as possible. 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 causes redirect to bhj1.xyz in GIF:

Some deceptive website encourages to update Mozilla Firefox through a fake installer that installs CERX:

CERX asks for a permission to access various data:

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 bhj1.xyz?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove bhj1.xyz redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove bhj1.xyz browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove bhj1.xyz homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove bhj1.xyz redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

bhj1.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 (like "CERX" and/or "Tiros APP"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the bhj1.xyz website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

bhj1.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 "CERX" and/or "Tiros APP"), 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://bhj1.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 "CERX", or other PUA (like "Tiros APP")

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the bhj1.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 "CERX" (and/or "Tiros APP"), or other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (like "Tiros 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 "CERX" (and/or "Tiros APP") look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.bhj1.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 "bhj1.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 bhj1.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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "CERX" (and/or "Tiros APP") and other recently installed 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 window disable "CERX" (or other PUA like "Tiros APP"), remove hxxp://bhj1.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with bhj1.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 bhj1.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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