How to remove the Link Default unwanted application

What is Link Default?

Link Default hijacks browsers by changing specific settings to find.linkdefault.com, the address of a fake search engine. When installed on Google Chrome, Link Default also adds the "Managed by your organization" feature. Note that most browser hijackers are designed to promote fake search engines and gather details relating to users' browsing activities.

Generally, users download and install apps such as Link Default unintentionally and, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Link Default promotes find.linkdefault.com by assigning this address as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Therefore, users are forced to visit find.linkdefault.com when they enter search queries into the URL bar, and open a browser or new tab.

Note that find.linkdefault.com is a fake search engine because it provides results generated by Google. When used, it simply redirects users to google.com. Typically, changes made by a browser hijacker cannot be undone unless users uninstall the rogue software.

I.e., to be remove find.linkdefault.com from browser settings, users must first uninstall Link Default.

Browser hijackers also collect various data. In most cases, they target browsing data (e.g., geolocations, IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited websites), however, some browser hijackers are capable of accessing sensitive, personal information as well.

The gathered data is misused to generate revenue. For example, it could be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). In such cases, users might have problems relating to online privacy and browsing safety, or even become victims of identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Link Default
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names	DrWeb (Trojan.DownLoad4.14095), Webroot (W32.Malware.Gen), SecureAge APEX (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Browser Extension(s)	Link Default
Supposed Functionality	Improved browsing experience.
Promoted URL	find.linkdefault.com
Serving IP Address (find.linkdefault.com)	104.247.82.190
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.

Link Default is similar to Comet Search, GiGi Browse, Search Online and many other browser hijackers. The main similarity is that they promote fake search engine addresses. As mentioned above, apps of this type are often designed to collect data as well.

Browser hijackers are useless to regular users and simply generate revenue for the developers. Remove all PUAs from the browser and operating system.

How did Link Default install on my computer?

Link Default is distributed through the installer of a pirated version of the Camtasia Studio program. Note that it is illegal to use unofficial software activation ('cracking') tools or pirated versions of licensed software. PUAs are distributed by including them into the download/installation set-ups of (mainly free) programs.

This distribution method is known as "bundling". Typically, offers to download and install included apps can be declined in "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings of set-ups. Many users fail to check and change these settings, thereby agreeing by default with offers to download or install PUAs.

In some cases, unintentional downloads and installations are caused through clicking deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Download software and files from official websites and via direct links. It is not safe to use torrent clients, eMule (or other Peer-to-Peer networks), third party downloaders, unofficial websites or other sources of this kind. Avoid third party installers. Check "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings, and decline offers to download or install unwanted software.

Do not click ads that are displayed on dubious websites, since they can open other untrusted websites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove any unwanted, suspicious applications (extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins) that are installed on the browser.

The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Link Default, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

find.linkdefault.com redirects to google.com (GIF):

Pirated installer for Camtasia Studio used to distribute Link Default:

Managed by your organization feature added by Link Default:

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Quick menu:

• What is Link Default?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Link Default application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Link Default browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove find.linkdefault.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove find.linkdefault.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
• STEP 6. Remove find.linkdefault.com redirect from Internet Explorer.

Link Default 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, "Link Default"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Link Default browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

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 "Link Default" 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 "Link Default", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.find.linkdefault.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 "find.linkdefault.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 find.linkdefault.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 "Link Default", 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 "Link Default", remove hxxp://find.linkdefault.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 find.linkdefault.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 find.linkdefault.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.

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://find.linkdefault.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 "Link Default".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the find.linkdefault.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.

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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