Uninstall apps that reassign browser settings to protectionapps.live
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is protectionapps.live?
The protectionapps.live is a fake search engine, which appears in settings when the browser has been hijacked by rogue apps. These browser hijackers can change the settings and also gather information relating to users' browsing activities.
Browser hijackers are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs), since people often download and install them inadvertently.
Typically, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. In this case, the installed browser hijacker assigns them to protectionapps.live.
In this way, the apps force users to visit a specific address when they open a browser, new tab, or search by entering search queries into the URL bar. Most fake search engines do not generate unique results and simply display those generated by other (often legitimate) search engines.
Note that protectionapps.live displays results generated by Yahoo (it redirects to search.yahoo.com). Typically, addresses assigned by browser hijackers can only be removed from the setting when the apps are no longer installed.
Browser hijackers often collect browsing data and other information such as IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, and so on. Some browser hijackers are capable of accessing private, sensitive details. The information might be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misused to generate revenue in other ways.
This could lead to problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy or even identity theft. For these reasons, never download or install any PUAs/browser hijackers.
| Name | protectionapps.live browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Supposed Functionality | This fake search engine supposedly generates unique results. |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
| Serving IP Address | 96.45.83.113 |
| 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. |
There are many PUAs that are classified as browser hijackers. Some examples are My Horoscope Tab, Maps N' Direction Hub and Manuals Directory Search.
In most cases, these apps generate revenue for developers by promoting fake search engines and collecting data. Generally, they do not improve the browsing experience, deliver useful features or any other value. In summary, browser hijackers are useless and simply cause problems.
How did protectionapps.live install on my computer?
In some cases, people download, install PUAs through deceptive ads that they click, some of which execute scripts. In most cases, however, the problem occurs when developers distribute PUAs using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" - they distribute the apps by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers'.
Many people download and install these apps without checking settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" - these allow offers to download and install unwanted apps to be be declined.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Software should not be downloaded or installed through third party downloaders, installers, eMule, torrent clients (and other Peer-to-Peer networks), unofficial websites, and so on. The safest way to download files and programs is using official websites and direct links.
Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings and decline offers to download or install unwanted software. Do not click ads that appear on dubious web pages, since these can open untrusted pages or even cause download/installation of unwanted applications.
Remove any suspicious, unknown or unwanted extensions, plug-ins and add-ons installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on a 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.
protectionapps.live redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):
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Quick menu:
- What is protectionapps.live?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove protectionapps.live redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove protectionapps.live browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove protectionapps.live homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove protectionapps.live redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
protectionapps.live 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 protectionapps.live website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
protectionapps.live 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, 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://protectionapps.live 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 "protectionapps.live".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the protectionapps.live 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 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.protectionapps.live) 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 "protectionapps.live", 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 protectionapps.live 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.
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 remove hxxp://protectionapps.live 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 protectionapps.live 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 protectionapps.live 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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