How to remove Pure Dark browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is Pure Dark?
Pure Dark is an application that hijacks a web browser by changing some of its settings to ggfpa.com - an address redirecting visitors to questionable websites. In some cases, Pure Dark hijacks a browser without changing any settings.
Pure Dark browser hijacker in detail
Pure Dark can change the homepage, new tab page, and default search engine to ggfpa.com or open this address only when users enter search queries into the URL bar. Ggfpa.com can redirect to websearches.club (show results generated by a shady search engine) through insrts3.com and possibly other dubious addresses.
It is recommended not to trust search results generated by fake search engines. They can show misleading results, redirect to more dubious pages, and show results generated by other untrustworthy search engines. A removal guide for browser hijackers and fake search engines is provided below.
| Name | Pure Dark |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Pure Dark (or pure dark) |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | ggfpa.com |
| Detection Names (ggfpa.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| 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
The purpose of browser hijackers is to promote fake search engines. Most users end up having a browser hijacked unintentionally. It is important to mention that fake search engines and browser hijackers can be used as tools to collect various (including personal) information.
Examples of other apps of this type are ProTabs Default Search, Keep Fast Search, MyADBlocksSearch.
How did Pure Dark install on my computer?
Lots of browser hijackers are distributed through downloaders and installers for other programs. Users end up having a browser hijacked after installing programs without deselecting optional installations (which can be done by changing "Advanced", "Custom", "Manual", or other settings).
In other cases, users cause unwanted installations through fake installers downloaded from deceptive pages or by clicking advertisements designed to execute specific scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Check downloaders and installers for "Manual", "Custom," "Advanced", or other settings (or ticked checkboxes) and deselect unwanted apps before downloading or installing programs. Use official pages and direct links as sources for downloading programs, files. Do not click on advertisements that appear on shady websites.
If your computer is already infected with Pure Dark, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Ggfpa.com redirects to websearches.club via insrts3.com (GIF):
Website promoting Pure Dark browser hijacker:
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:
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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 Pure Dark?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Pure Dark application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Pure Dark browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove ggfpa.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove ggfpa.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Pure Dark 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, "Pure Dark"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the ggfpa.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Pure Dark browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove Pure Dark browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:
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 "pure dark" 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 "pure dark", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.ggfpa.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 "ggfpa.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 pure dark 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 "Pure Dark" (or "pure dark"), 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 "Pure Dark" (or "pure dark"), remove hxxp://ggfpa.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 pure dark 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 pure dark 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 ggfpa.com website?
This page is used to promote questionable websites. The creators of ggfpa.com (and pages promoted through it) earn more money when their page is visited by more users. The revenue that its creators generate depends on the count of website visits.
Is visiting ggfpa.com a threat to my privacy?
Websites like ggfpa.com and browser hijackers can be designed to collect information about their users.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed using social engineering tactics like browser notifications, intrusive advertisements. Also, they are distributed through downloaders and installers for other programs (by bundling them with other programs).
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Pure Dark browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate Pure Dark and other browser-hijacking applications. When multiple browser hijackers are present, they have to be removed at once. Otherwise, they may reinstall one another. Since it can be difficult to manually remove multiple browser hijackers, it is recommended to use specialized software.
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