How to eliminate the need dark browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is need dark?
While examining the need dark application, we have learned that it hijacks a web browser by changing its settings. The purpose of this app is to promote iwsooos.com - a fake search engine. Our team has discovered the need dark browser hijacker while visiting a deceptive website.
need dark browser hijacker in detail
While analyzing the changes that need dark has made in the settings of a web browser, we have noticed that this app changed the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. It changed them to iwsooos.com. Our team has tested iwsooos.com and found that it shows results generated by websearches.club - another dubious search engine.
We have tried using lots of fake search engines and noticed that they promote shady websites (redirect to untrustworthy pages) and show results generated by other dubious search engines. Therefore, we strongly recommend using only legitimate search engines.
| Name | need dark |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | need dark |
| Supposed Functionality | Dark mode for web browsers |
| Promoted URL | iwsooos.com |
| Detection Names (iwsooos.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. |
More about browser hijackers
Browser hijackers and fake search engines can be designed to collect information about their users. In such cases, using them can cause problems related to online privacy, browsing safety, and other issues. More examples of browser-hijacking apps like need dark are Shiny Tab, Chrome Protect — Smart Search, color darker.
How did need dark install on my computer?
We found this browser hijacker on a deceptive website claiming that installing the need dark app is required to continue browsing the page. This app could be promoted/distributed using other shady websites as well. Also, it could be distributed using downloaders and installers for other programs.
Browsers get hijacked via installers for other programs when users install them without changing "Custom", "Advanced" or similar settings available in their installers. This distribution method is known as bundling.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Always use legitimate/official websites as sources for downloading files and programs. Do not trust third-party downloaders, unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks, and similar sources. Also, do not click on advertisements that shady websites have on them.
Check downloaders and installers for optional downloads and installations. Deselect unwanted applications before downloading and installing programs. If your computer is already infected with need dark, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Iwsooos.com redirects to websearches.club (GIF):
Deceptive websites used to promote need 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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Quick menu:
- What is need dark?
- STEP 1. Uninstall need dark application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove need dark browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove iwsooos.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove iwsooos.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
need 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, "need dark"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the iwsooos.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
need dark 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 "need 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 "need dark", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.iwsooos.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 "iwsooos.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 iwsooos.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 "need 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 "need dark", remove hxxp://iwsooos.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 iwsooos.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 iwsooos.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.
Post a comment:
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit iwsooos.com website?
The revenue generated by iwsooos.com depends on the count of visitors. Thus, its creators are interested in making that count as high as possible.
Is visiting iwsooos.com a threat to my privacy?
It is possible that iwsooos.com and the app used to promote it can gather various information about its visitors/users.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed using downloaders and installers for other programs, deceptive websites, various social engineering tactics, such as browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, etc.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove need dark browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate existing browser-hijacking applications. When multiple browser hijackers are present, all of them have to be removed at once. Otherwise, they may reinstall one another. In such cases, manual removal is a difficult task to achieve. Thus, it is recommended to remove them automatically/with specialized software like Combo Cleaner.
Outstanding!
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