How to remove the Web Protection for Chrome browser hijacker

What is Web Protection for Chrome?

Web Protection for Chrome is a browser hijacker which promotes myprivacykeeper.com (the address of a fake search engine) by changing certain browser settings.

This app is also likely to track and record data relating to users' browsing activities. Note that people often download and install browser hijackers inadvertently and, for this reason, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Generally, browsers hijackers promote fake search engine addresses by modifying browser settings such as the address of the homepage, default search engine and new tab. Web Protection for Chrome assigns these addresses to myprivacykeeper.com so that users are forced to visit this site when they open a browser, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar.

Research shows that, when myprivacykeeper.com is used as a search engine, it displays results generated by Yahoo (it redirects users to search.yahoo.com). Note that myprivacykeeper.com does not generate any unique results and, therefore, is a fake, useless search engine.

To remove myprivacykeeper.com from browser settings, users must first uninstall Web Protection for Chrome, otherwise this app assigns the settings to myprivacykeeper.com after each attempt to remove or change this address is made. This is not the only reason to uninstall Web Protection for Chrome (and other installed browser hijackers).

Commonly, apps of this type collect information relating to users' browsing habits. They usually target details such as IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited/opened websites, and geolocations. In some cases, they target sensitive, personal details as well.

Developers misuse the data to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or in other ways. Therefore, users might experience problems relating to privacy and browsing safety or they might even become victims of identity theft.

Therefore, apps of this type should never be downloaded or installed. If Web Protection for Chrome or other PUAs are already installed on the browser and/or operating system, remove them immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Web Protection for Chrome
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Web Protection for Chrome
Supposed Functionality	Protection from adult content suggestions.
Promoted URL	myprivacykeeper.com
Serving IP Address (myprivacykeeper.com)	96.45.82.26
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. ▼ 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 browser hijackers are Breaking News Now, Maps-N-Directions and Movies Searcher. The main purpose of these apps is to promote addresses of fake search engines by changing browser settings. Even if they are advertised as useful, legitimate apps, they do not improve the browsing experience or include any useful features.

On the contrary, browser hijackers are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and can cause serious problems.

How did Web Protection for Chrome install on my computer?

Typically, potentially unwanted applications are distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of other programs as 'additional offers'. This distribution method is known as "bundling".

Many users fail to decline offers to download or install unwanted apps in "Custom", "Advanced" or other settings, thereby agree by default with offers to download and install additionally-included apps. In some cases, unwanted downloads and installations are caused by clicking deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Check all "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar options of the download/installation set-ups, and decline offers to download or install PUAs before completing the process. Download files and programs only from official websites and via direct links.

Peer-to-Peer networks (eMule, torrent clients), unofficial pages, third party downloaders (and installers), and other channels of this kind can be used to distribute potentially unwanted or even malicious programs/files. Do not click ads that appear on dubious web pages, since they can open other untrusted websites or cause download/installation of unwanted apps.

Remove any suspicious, unknown extensions, add-ons and plug-ins installed on the browser, and programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Web Protection for Chrome, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

myprivacykeeper.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):

Website promoting Web Protection for Chrome browser hijacker:

Notification stating that Web Protection for Chrome can read and change certain browser settings:

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

Web Protection for Chrome 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, "Web Protection for Chrome"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Web Protection for Chrome 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://myprivacykeeper.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 "Web Protection for Chrome".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the myprivacykeeper.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 "Web Protection for Chrome" 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 "Web Protection for Chrome", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.myprivacykeeper.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 "myprivacykeeper.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 myprivacykeeper.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 "Web Protection for Chrome", 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 "Web Protection for Chrome", remove hxxp://myprivacykeeper.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 myprivacykeeper.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 myprivacykeeper.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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