How to remove the Precious Bible browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Precious Bible browser hijacker?
Precious Bible is a browser hijacker endorsed as a tool capable of providing daily bible verses and easy access to related content. In fact, this rogue software modifies browsers to promote preciousbible.com (a fake search engine). Additionally, Precious Bible has data-tracking capabilities, which are employed to monitor users' browsing habits.
Due to the dubious methods used to proliferate Precious Bible, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).
With a browser hijacker installed, each search query typed into the URL bar and each new browser tab/window opened redirects to the address of the promoted bogus search engine. Browser hijackers cause these redirects by reassigning the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs to the addresses of fake search engines.
Precious Bible also makes these modifications to promote preciousbible.com and the aforementioned actions redirect users to this bogus search engine. These web search engines are usually unable to generate unique results, and so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) legitimate search engines.
Note that preciousbible.com is no exception to this - it simply redirects to Yahoo (search.yahoo.com). As well as diminishing the browsing experience, browser hijackers can also prevent users from recovering their browsers. They can limit/deny access to browser settings and reset any permitted changes made.
As mentioned, Precious Bible can also track data. It can record browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). The gathered data is typically shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) seeking to misuse it for profit.
Therefore, the presence of data-tracking software on browsers/systems can lead to financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. To ensure device integrity and user safety, you are advised to remove all suspect applications and browser extensions plug-ins immediately.
Name | Precious Bible |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
Browser Extension(s) | Precious Bible |
Supposed Functionality | Daily bible verses and easy access tool to related content. |
Promoted URL | preciousbible.com |
Serving IP Address (preciousbible.com) | 104.27.178.13 |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
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. |
Weather Online Now, Free Driver Maps, and My Search Finder are some examples of other browser hijackers. They may seem normal and useful, often tempting users into download/installation with various functionalities, however, the features promised are usually nonoperational. This is common to all PUAs.
These unwanted apps have just one purpose: to generate revenue for the developers. Regular users receive no real value and can experience serious issues. PUAs modify browsers, force-open untrusted/malicious sites, run intrusive ad campaigns and collect vulnerable information.
How did Precious Bible install on my computer?
Some PUAs (including Precious Bible) have "official" promotional web pages from which they can be downloaded. These applications are also proliferated via the download/installation set-ups of other programs. "Bundling" is the term used to define this deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions.
Rushing downloads/installations (e.g. skimming or ignoring terms, skipping steps, using pre-set options, etc.) increases the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system. Once clicked, intrusive advertisements can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' consent.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are strongly advised to research all software before download/installation or purchase. Perform downloads only from official and verified sources. Untrusted channels such as unofficial and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, Gnutella, eMule, etc.) and other third party downloaders can offer dubious or bundled content.
When downloading/installing, read the terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, functions and other additions. It is important to exercise caution when browsing. Intrusive ads may seem legitimate, however, they can redirect to dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, adult-dating, pornography, etc.).
If you encounter ads/redirects of this kind, check the system and eliminate all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins without delay. If your computer is already infected with Precious Bible, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Precious Bible browser hijacker asking for various permissions:
Website promoting Precious Bible browser hijacker:
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Precious Bible?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Precious Bible application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove preciousbible.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Precious Bible browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove preciousbible.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove preciousbible.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Precious Bible browser hijacker 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 (for example, "Precious Bible"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the preciousbible.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Precious Bible browser hijacker 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, 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://preciousbible.com 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 "Precious Bible".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the preciousbible.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 "Precious Bible" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, 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 "Precious Bible", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.preciousbible.com) 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 "preciousbible.com", 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 preciousbible.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 on "Extensions" and remove "Precious Bible", as well as all other recently installed 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 "Precious Bible", remove hxxp://preciousbible.com 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 preciousbible.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 preciousbible.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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