Removing the point dark browser-hijacking extension
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is "point dark"?
Point dark is the name of a rogue browser extension endorsed as a tool enabling dark mode for simple-design websites. Our researchers have determined that it is a browser hijacker. Additionally, we have observed it promoting the ytood.com fake search engine. Furthermore, point dark has data tracking abilities.
Point dark browser hijacker overview
After point dark was installed onto our test system: when new browser tabs/windows were opened, and search queries were typed into the URL bar - it caused redirects to ytood.com.
Usually, fake search engines redirect to legitimate ones since they cannot provide search results. Ytood.com is not an exception, although it redirects to the websearches.club illegitimate search engine (possibly elsewhere, as the redirect can depend on certain factors like user geolocation). While websearches.club can generate search results, they are inaccurate and may promote untrustworthy and malicious content.
Browser hijackers can also restrict access to browser settings and/or undo any changes users try to make to their browsers.
What is more, point dark collects sensitive information. Browser-hijacking software typically targets URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, personally identifiable details, etc. The collected data is then shared with and/or sold to third-parties.
In summary, the presence of browser hijackers like point dark on systems can lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | point dark |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | point dark |
| Supposed Functionality | Dark mode enablement for simple websites |
| Promoted URL | ytood.com |
| Detection Names (ytood.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 hijacker examples
We have analyzed thousands of browser hijackers; SearchGamesOnline, Speed Dial, and Search-Power are but a few examples. This software typically looks harmless and offers "useful" functionalities. However, these features rarely work as advertised, and in most cases - they do not work at all.
How did point dark install on my computer?
Our researchers acquired point dark from a dubious download webpage, which was discovered while inspecting sites that use rogue advertising networks. However, misleading promotional pages can also be accessed via mistyped URLs or redirects caused by spam browser notifications, intrusive adverts, or installed adware.
Additionally, once clicked on, some intrusive advertisements can stealthily download/install software (browser hijackers included).
Program bundling - packing ordinary products with unwanted/malicious supplements - is also used to distribute browser hijackers. Download from untrustworthy sources (e.g., unofficial and freeware sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the device.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
We recommend researching software and downloading from official/verified channels. When downloading/installing, we advise reading terms, studying possible options, and using the "Custom/Advanced" to opt-out of all additions.
When browsing, it is crucial to exercise caution since fraudulent and malicious content usually looks legitimate. For example, intrusive advertisements appear harmless, yet they redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).
If you encounter such ads and/or redirects, inspect the device and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with point dark, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting the point dark browser hijacker:
Appearance of ytood.com redirecting to the websearches.club fake 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:
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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 point dark?
- STEP 1. Uninstall point dark application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove point dark browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove ytood.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove ytood.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Point 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, "point dark"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the ytood.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
point 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 "point 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 "point dark", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.ytood.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 "ytood.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 ytood.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 "point 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 "point dark", remove hxxp://ytood.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 ytood.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 ytood.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 to visit ytood.com website?
Cyber criminals (i.e., browser hijacker and fake search engine developers) generate revenue through such redirects.
Is visiting ytood.com a threat to my privacy?
To a certain extent, yes. Websites like ytood.com typically gather data about their visitors.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are primarily spread through deceptive promotional websites, unofficial and freeware download sites, online scams, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, fake updates, and so forth.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove point dark browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate existing browser-hijacking apps. It is noteworthy that manual removal (unaided by security software) might not be ideal when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. In some instances, when one browser hijacker is removed - the others simply re-install it. Additionally, some removal-related settings may be unmodifiable with this software present. Therefore, it is crucial to remove browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.
Outstanding!
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