How to remove redirects to sportsblast.xyz and the software causing them?

What is sportsblast.xyz?

Sportsblast.xyz is a fraudulent search engine. Web searchers of this kind are usually promoted by PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications) categorized as browser hijackers. Both fake search engines and the software that causes redirects to them - are considered to be a threat to privacy due to tracking user data.

How do browser hijackers promote sportsblast.xyz?

Browser hijackers operate by reassigning browsers' homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URLs - to illegitimate web searcher addresses.

These modifications seriously affect the browsing experience. To elaborate, with a browser hijacker promoting sportsblast.xyz installed: new browser tabs/windows opened and search queries typed into the URL bar - redirect to sportsblast.xyz.

Fake search engines typically cannot generate search results, so they redirect to genuine ones. Sportsblast.xyz redirects to the Bing search engine (possibly others). What is more, browser hijackers also use persistence-ensuring techniques. Therefore, restoring a hijacked browser is impossible without eliminating the software affecting it.

Most browser hijackers have data tracking abilities. Targeted information includes: URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, IP addresses, personally identifiable details, etc. The collected data is monetized by being shared with and/or sold to third-parties.

To summarize, the presence of data-tracking software on devices can result in serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	sportsblast.xyz browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
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.

Fake search engines and browser hijackers in general

Speedsearch.xyz, peatea.xyz, nearbyme.io and websearches.club are examples of fraudulent search engines, and HistCleaner, ClickSportSearches, JustVideoSearch - of browser hijackers. Both tend to appear legitimate and offer "handy" features, which are seldom operational.

This applies to practically all PUAs. Furthermore, unwanted apps usually have harmful abilities, e.g., hijacking browsers, causing redirects, running intrusive ad campaigns (adware), and collecting private information.

How did sportsblast.xyz promoting software install on my computer?

PUAs are distributed using the "bundling" marketing tactic - packing regular programs with various additions. Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., used "Easy/Express" settings, etc.) increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.

Intrusive advertisements proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the adverts can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user consent. Some PUAs have "official" promotional/download sites.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to research software and only download from official/trustworthy channels. Dubious sources, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites. Peer-to-Peer (P2P) sharing networks, etc. - commonly offer bundled/dangerous content.

When downloading/installing, it is advised to read terms, study possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt-out from all additions. Intrusive advertisements appear legitimate, yet they redirect to questionable sites (e.g., adult-daring, gambling, pornography, etc.).

In case of encounters with ads and/or redirects of this kind, the system must be checked and all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - immediately removed from it. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.

Appearance of sportsblast.xyz redirecting to the Bing search engine (GIF):

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

sportsblast.xyz 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 (which cause browser redirects to the sportsblast.xyz website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

sportsblast.xyz redirect 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 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.sportsblast.xyz) 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 "sportsblast.xyz" 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 sportsblast.xyz 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 plugins 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://sportsblast.xyz 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 sportsblast.xyz 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 sportsblast.xyz 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users to visit sportsblast.xyz website?

Browser hijacker developers generate revenue by redirecting users to (or through) fake search engines like sportsblast.xyz.

Is visiting sportsblast.xyz a threat to my privacy?

To a certain extent, yes. Sportsblast.xyz and sites akin to it - usually collect data about their visitors.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are proliferated using social engineering and questionable distribution techniques, e.g., software bundling, misleading "official" download pages, unofficial and freeware websites, deceptive browser notifications/ intrusive ads, fake updates, and so forth.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove sportsblast.xyz2 browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate detected browser-hijacking applications. It is noteworthy that manual removal may not be a perfect solution when multiple browser hijackers have been installed. Since when one is removed - the others may re-install it. Additionally, this software can restrict/deny access to removal-related settings. Therefore, browser hijackers have to be eliminated immediately and all at once.

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