Removing send dark browser-hijacking extension and the redirects it causes
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is the send dark hijacker?
Send dark is the name of a browser extension advertised as a tool capable of creating a dark mode for simple design websites. After analyzing this piece of software, our researchers determined that it is a browser hijacker. Send dark modifies browsers in order to promote the getsins.com illegitimate search engine.
Send dark browser hijacker overview
During analysis, we learned that send dark causes a redirect to getsins.com when a new browser tab or window is opened, and when a search query is typed into the URL bar. This is achieved through specific alterations made to browser settings. It is noteworthy that most browser hijackers use persistence-ensuring techniques to prevent users from accessing the browser's settings or making any changes to them.
Fake search engines usually cannot generate search results, so they redirect to legitimate ones. Getsins.com is not an exception; we have observed it redirecting to Bing (bing.com) and websearches.club. However, it might lead elsewhere - as that can depend on various factors (e.g., user geolocation, etc.).
Websearches.club is likewise an illegitimate search engine, though it can provide search results - they are inaccurate and may promote unreliable/malicious content.
What is more, send dark can spy on users' browsing activity and collect private data. Browser-hijacking software typically targets: URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, personally identifiable details, usernames/passwords, etc. The gathered data is then shared with and/or sold to third-parties.
In summary, the presence of browser hijackers like send dark on browsers/systems - can lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | send dark |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | send dark |
| Supposed Functionality | Dark mode enablement for simple websites |
| Promoted URL | getsins.com |
| Detection Names (getsins.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; Film Links Now | Default Search, PickMySearch, and ConvertersCoolSearch are just a few examples. Browser-hijacking software appears legitimate and offers "handy" functionalities. However, these functions rarely work as promised, and in most cases - they do not work at all.
How did send dark install on my computer?
Our researchers discovered send dark while inspecting sites using rogue advertising networks, which resulted in a redirect to a deceptive download page of this browser extension.
In addition to rogue webpages, users can access browser-hijacking software pushing pages via mistyped URLs or redirects caused by intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, or installed adware.
"Bundling" - packing regular programs with unwanted/malicious supplements - is also used to proliferate browser hijackers. Download from untrustworthy channels (e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations - increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.
Additionally, once clicked, some intrusive ads can execute scripts to stealthily download/install browser hijackers (or other dubious software).
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
We strongly recommend researching software and only downloading from official/verified sources. Additionally, we advise reading terms, studying available options, using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opting-out of all additions.
It is just as important to exercise caution when browsing, since illegitimate and malicious content usually appears harmless. For example, intrusive adverts look legitimate yet redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., pornography, gambling, adult-dating, etc.).
If such ads and/or redirects are encountered, the system must be checked and all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - immediately removed. If your computer is already infected with send dark, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting the send dark browser hijacker:
Appearance of getsins.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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Quick menu:
- What is send dark?
- STEP 1. Uninstall send dark application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove send dark browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove getsins.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove getsins.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Send 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, "send dark"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the getsins.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Send dark browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove send 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 "send 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 "send dark", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.getsins.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 "getsins.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 getsins.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 "send 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 "send dark", remove hxxp://getsins.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 getsins.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 getsins.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 getsins.com website?
These redirects generate revenue for the developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers.
Is visiting getsins.com a threat to my privacy?
Most likely, yes. Websites like getsins.com usually collect information about their visitors with the intent of selling it to third-parties.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are mainly distributed through deceptive promotional/download webpages, freeware and third-party download sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, fake updates, online scams, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, and so on.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove the send dark browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate installed browser-hijacking apps. However, manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be ideal when multiple browser hijackers are present. In some cases, when one browser hijacker is eliminated - the others simply re-install it. Additionally, removal-related settings may be unmodifiable with this software installed. Therefore, it is crucial to remove browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.
Outstanding!
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