How to stop browsers from opening xscx.xyz

What is xscx.xyz?

xscx.xyz is a fake search engine, which is promoted through a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker called Smash App+ (or SApp+). It might also be promoted through other browser hijackers. Generally, apps of this type promote fake search engines by changing certain browser settings.

Furthermore, most gather information relating to users' browsing habits. Browser hijackers are classified as PUAs, since people usually download and install them inadvertently.

Typically, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by assigning them as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Therefore, users are forced to visit the address of a fake search engine when they open a browser, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar.

Research shows that Smash App+ (or SApp+) does not actually modify the aforementioned settings, however, it forces users to visit xscx.xyz when they enter search queries. This browser hijacker opens xscx.xyz through searchmes.xyz, another dubious site.

Typically, the only way stop the browser from opening the address of a fake search engine (remove its address from the aforementioned settings) is to uninstall the hijacker. In this case, Smash App+ (or SApp+) must be uninstalled.

This should be performed immediately, since xscx.xyz might provide misleading search results that could lead to untrusted or even malicious web pages.

Furthermore, most browser hijackers (together with fake search engines) collect browsing data such as IP addresses, geolocations, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, and other details relating to users' browsing activities. In some cases, apps of this type collect personal, sensitive information.

Developers misuse the data to generate revenue - for example, they sell it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). A browser hijacker is a type of software that can cause problems relating to browsing safety and privacy. It is possible that come users might become victims of identity theft as well. Therefore, these apps should never be downloaded or installed.

Threat Summary:

Name	xscx.xyz browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Smash App+ (SApp+)
Supposed Functionality	This app supposed to imporove browsing experience.
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Serving IP Address	104.24.115.176
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.

Piolo.xyz, guj5.xyz and yeus.xyz are some examples of other fake search engines. Typically, they are promoted through browser hijackers. Apps of this type are usually advertised as useful, legitimate apps that supposedly deliver various features, however, most do not operate as promised.

Generally, browser hijackers are designed only to promote fake search engines and gather browsing data. Therefore, they are useless and can cause many problems.

How did xscx.xyz install on my computer?

Typically, people download and install browser hijackers (and other PUAs) by clicking deceptive ads that execute certain scripts, or when developers distribute them using the "bundling" method. They use this method to trick people into downloading and/or installing PUAs together with other, regular software.

They include PUAs into the set-ups of other programs and hide related information in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings. In most cases, people allow potentially unwanted apps to be downloaded and installed when they leave these settings unchecked and unchanged.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Programs and files should be downloaded from official websites and via direct download links. Other sources such as Peer-to-Peer networks (eMule, torrent clients and so on), unofficial pages, various third party downloaders (and installers), etc. should not be used.

If a download or installation setup contains settings such as "Advanced", "Manual, "Custom", check them carefully and decline offers to download or install unwanted software. Do not click intrusive ads that are displayed on dubious web pages - they can open untrusted web pages or execute scripts that cause download/installation of unwanted applications.

If the browser opens dubious pages or displays various ads, check for any unwanted apps installed on it. Remove all unwanted, suspicious or unknown extensions, add-ons and plug-ins immediately. Also remove software of this kind that is 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.

A deceptive website encourages users to update Mozilla Firefox through a fake installer, which actually installs Smash App+ (or SApp+):

Another deceptive website that encourages users to update Mozilla Firefox through a fake installer, which actually installs Smash App+ (or SApp+):

Smash App+ asks permission to read and change data on Chrome:

SApp+ asks permission to access and store data on Firefox:

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

xscx.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 "Smash App+" or "SApp+"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

xscx.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 "Smash App+" or "SApp+"), 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://xscx.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 "Smash App+" or "SApp+".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the xscx.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 "Smash App+" or "SApp+") 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 "Smash App+" or "SApp+", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.xscx.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 "xscx.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 xscx.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 (like "Smash App+" or "SApp+").

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 "Smash App+" or "SApp+", remove hxxp://xscx.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 xscx.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 xscx.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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