How to remove a browser hijacker distributed alongside VLOPlayer?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of program is VLOPlayer?
VLOPlayer seems like a legitimate media player that looks similar to the VLC player. However, it is distributed with a browser hijacker (named Search By VLO) designed to promote vlosearch.com (a fake search engine). Browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing the browser's settings.
Browser hijacker distributed alongside the VLOPlayer in detail
VLOPlayer gets installed together with a browser-hijacking extension that changes the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to vlosearch.com. vlosearch.com shows results generated by Bing (bing.com), Google (google.com), and possibly other search engines. It depends on the user's geolocation.
An important detail about fake search engines is that they can show misleading results. They can promote questionable websites and show results generated by untrustworthy search engines. Thus, it is strongly recommended not to use vlosearch.com/have browser-hijacking apps installed.
| Name | VLOPlayer |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Detection Names (Installer) | BitDefenderTheta (Gen:NN.ZexaE.34084.kw0@aaIWvdmi), Yandex (Trojan.PWS.Agensla!Z+iXxMsbzZQ), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Detection Names (Application) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Search By VLO |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | vlosearch.com |
| 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. |
Browser hijackers in general
Browser hijackers change settings to promote fake search engines. Also, they can be designed to collect information about their users. Most browser hijackers have the same functionality. More examples of browser hijackers are GoAdblockSearch, TheSearchMaps, and Quicknewtab.
How did VLOPlayer install on my computer?
In this case, a browser hijacker (Search By VLO) is distributed using the installer for VLOPlayer. This distribution method is called bundling. Typically, unwanted apps get installed when users do not change "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings of the installers before installing programs.
In other cases, browser-hijacking apps get installed through fake installers or advertisements that can download or install unwanted apps by running certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Always check downloaders and installers for "Manual", "Custom," "Advanced", or other settings and deselect unwanted apps before downloading or installing software. User official pages and direct links to download programs, files. Do not click on advertisements that appear on questionable sites.
If your computer is already infected with VLOPlayer, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Vlosearch.com redirects to bing.com (GIF):
The installer for VLOPlayer used to distribute a browser hijacker:
Website promoting VLOPlayer:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is VLOPlayer?
- STEP 1. Uninstall VLOPlayer application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove VLOPlayer browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove vlosearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove vlosearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
VLOPlayer 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, "VLOPlayer"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the vlosearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
VLOPlayer 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 "Search by VLO" 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 "Search By VLO", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.vlosearch.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 "vlosearch.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 vlosearch.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 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 "VLOPlayer" (or "Search By VLO"), 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 "VLOPlayer" (or "Search By VLO"), remove hxxp://vlosearch.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 vlosearch.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 vlosearch.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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit vlosearch.com website?
The goal of creators of the vlosearch.com fake search engine is to make it visitable. The higher the count of visitors, the more revenue its creators generate.
Is visiting vlosearch.com a threat to my privacy?
To a certain extent, yes. Websites like vlosearch.com and browser hijackers promoting them can be designed to collect various information about their users.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are often distributed using social engineering tactics (for exampe, browser notifications, intrusive advertisements). Also, a big part of browser-hijacking apps is distributed using downloaders/installers for other programs.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Search By VLO browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate Search By VLO and other browser hijackers. It can remove all of them at once. It is noteworthy that removing multiple browser hijackers at once can be tricky since apps of this type can reinstall one another.
Outstanding!
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