How to remove remain dark browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is remain dark?
We have discovered the remain dark browser extension while examining deceptive websites. After downloading and testing the app, we learned that it hijacks a web browser by changing certain settings to 87nzaa.com (a fake search engine). It is advertised as an app providing a dark mode for web browsers.
remain dark browser hijacker in detail
Our team has found that remain dark sets the default search engine, homepage and new tab to 87nzaa.com. We have tried using 87nzaa.com and learned that it is a fake search engine designed to show results generated by Yahoo (search.yahoo.com), websearches.club, and possibly other search engines. It depends on the geolocation of the user.
The problem with fake search engines is that they can generate misleading results and show results generated by untrustworthy search engines like websearches.club. Browser hijackers promoting fake search engines usually do not allow to change the affected settings while they are present.
| Name | remain dark |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | remain dark |
| Supposed Functionality | Dark mode for web browsers |
| Promoted URL | 87nzaa.com |
| Detection Names (87nzaa.co) | 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 details about browser hijackers
Browser hijackers (and fake search engines) can be used as tools to gather browsing-related and even sensitive information. Users rarely download (and install) browser-hijacking apps on purpose. It is very common for apps of this type to be advertised as tools with useful features. More examples of browser hijackers are Click Togo, Get Dark, BestMusicSearches.
How did remain dark install on my computer?
A big part of browser hijackers is distributed using deceptive websites and advertisements. They also are distributed using downloaders/installers for other programs. Downloaders/installers with browser-hijacking apps in them have "Custom", "Manual", "Advanced", or similar settings.
Browsers get hijacked when programs bundled with browser hijackers are installed without changing the settings mentioned above (without deselecting optional installations).
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Avoid opening files downloaded from questionable sources (such as unofficial pages, P2P networks, free file hosting sites, etc.) and clicking ads (or fake buttons) displayed on shady web pages. Always use official pages and direct links as sources for downloading files and programs.
Finish downloading or installing programs only when optional downloads or installations (unwanted applications) are no longer selected. If your computer is already infected with remain dark, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
87nzaa.com redirects to websearches.club (GIF):
Deceptive website promoting remain 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 remain dark?
- STEP 1. Uninstall remain dark application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove remain dark browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove 87nzaa.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove 87nzaa.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
remain 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, "remain dark"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the 87nzaa.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
remain dark browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove remain dark browser hijacker:
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 "remain 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 "remain dark", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.87nzaa.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 "87nzaa.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 87nzaa.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 "remain 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 "remain dark", remove hxxp://87nzaa.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 87nzaa.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 87nzaa.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 87nzaa.com website?
The more users visit this page, the higher the revenue its creators generate (their income depends directly on the count of page visitors).
Is visiting 87nzaa.com a threat to my privacy?
To a certain extent, yes. 87nzaa.com may be used as a tool to collect information about its visitors. The same applies to browser hijackers.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are often distributed using social engineering tactics, such as browser notifications, intrusive advertisements. Also, browsers get hijacked through installers for other software, fake installers/updaters.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove remain dark browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan the operating system and eliminate all detected browser-hijacking applications. When multiple browser hijackers are present, they have to be removed at once. Otherwise, they will reinstall one another. It is difficult to remove multiple apps of this type manually. Therefore, it is recommended to achieve it using specialized software.
Outstanding!
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