Remove apps designed to change browser settings to s3redirect.com

What is s3redirect.com?

s3redirect.com is the address of a fake search engine. Typically, these addresses appear in browser settings after installation of a browser hijacker. Research shows that one of the browser hijackers that promotes s3redirect.com is called Kano APP, however, it is possible that this address is promoted through other similar apps.

Generally, people install browser hijackers inadvertently and, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

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, a PUA (Kano APP) assigns them to s3redirect.co. The main purpose of this is to force people to visit s3redirect.co when open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar (using it to search).

Research shows that s3redirect.co displays results generated by Yahoo (redirects to search.yahoo.com via smashapps.net) and by s3arch.page, which is opened via searchmes.xyz. It might also display results generated by other search engines and open their URLs through other dubious addresses.

In summary, this fake search engine displays results generated by both legitimate and dubious search engines. Note that search engines such as s3arch.page can display misleading results (include links to dubious addresses in their search results).

To remove s3redirect.co from browser settings, or change it to another address, users must first uninstall the browser hijacker that originally modified the settings (for example, Kano APP), since browser hijackers prevent users from modifying their settings as long as they are installed on the system.

Furthermore, these apps often collect browsing data such as IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of opened/visited pages, entered search queries, and other browsing details. They might also gather private, sensitive information. The data could be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misused to generate revenue in other ways.

People with browsers hijacked by these apps might thus become victims of identity theft, experience problems relating to privacy, browsing safety, and other issues. Never trust these PUAs and uninstall all browser hijacker immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	s3redirect.com browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Kano APP (and other PUAs)
Supposed Functionality	Browser hijackers supposedly improve the browsing experience.
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine.
Serving IP Address (s3redirect.com)	104.27.149.159
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.

Some more examples of dubious search engines similar to s3redirect.co include pdfsrch.com, mybrowser-search.com and pdfmagicsearch.com.

Neither search engines of this kind nor the apps that promote them can be trusted. Note that browser hijackers are often advertised as useful and legitimate applications, however, they are designed only to collect browsing-related data and force users to visit/use fake search engines.

How did s3redirect.com install on my computer?

Commonly, users download and install PUAs together with other programs. This happens when PUAs are included into the set-ups as 'additional offers' and users fail to decline them. Typically, offers to download and/or install included apps are listed in "Custom", "Advanced", Manual" or other settings of the set-ups.

Unwanted, unintentional downloads and installations can also be caused by clicking deceptive ads that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Files and programs should be downloaded only from official web pages and via direct links. Commonly, third party downloaders and installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), unofficial pages, free file hosting pages, etc., are monetized by distributing potentially unwanted, malicious applications.

Therefore, never use them to download or install software. Check all settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" and decline any offers to download or install unwanted software before completing the process.

Do not click intrusive advertisements that appear on untrusted, dubious websites, since they can open untrusted, malicious pages or cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove any suspicious, unwanted extensions, add-ons and plug-ins that are already installed on the browser.

The same applies to software of this kind 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.

s3redirect.com redirects to s3arch.page via searchmes.xyz (GIF):

Dubious website promoting Kano APP:

Notification stating that can Kano APP read and change certain browser settings:

Screenshot of yet another extension (Kalox APP) promoting s3redirect.com website:

Screenshot of another browser extension (Serp App) used to promote s3redirect.com:

Website promoting Serp App:

Screenshot of yet another Google Chrome extension (Coco APP) used to promote s3redirect.com:

Website promoting Coco APP extension:

Screenshot of yet another Google Chrome extension (Vil APP) used to promote s3redirect.com:

Website promoting Vil APP extension:

Screenshot of yet another Google Chrome extension (Niux APP) used to promote s3redirect.com:

Screenshot of yet another Google Chrome extension (Suls AP) used to promote s3redirect.com:

Website promoting Suls AP Chrome Extension:

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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 s3redirect.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove s3redirect.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove s3redirect.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove s3redirect.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove s3redirect.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

s3redirect.com 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 "Kano APP"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the s3redirect.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

s3redirect.com 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 "Kano 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://s3redirect.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 "s3redirect.com".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the s3redirect.com 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 "Kano APP" or 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 "Kano APP" (or other PUA), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.s3redirect.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 "s3redirect.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 s3redirect.com 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 "Kano APP" or 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 "Kano APP" (or other PUA), remove hxxp://s3redirect.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 s3redirect.com 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 s3redirect.com 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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