How to remove Data Shield for Chrome browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is Data Shield for Chrome?
Data Shield for Chrome is a browser hijacker designed to promote search.wiseghostapp.com - a fake search engine. It hijacks a web browser by changing its settings. Our malware researchers have found Data Shield for Chrome on a deceptive website promoted via other sites that use questionable advertising networks.
Data Shield for Chrome in detail
After testing the app, we found that Data Shield for Chrome hijacks a web browser by changing the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to search.wiseghostapp.com. During the analysis, we learned that search.wiseghostapp.com is a fake search engine that shows results generated by Bing (it redirects to bing.com).
Fake search engines cannot be trusted. They can generate misleading results/promote untrustworthy pages, and show results generated by shady search engines. Usually, browser hijackers do not allow to change the affected settings (remove fake search engines) while they are present.
| Name | Data Shield for Chrome |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Data Shield for Chrome |
| Supposed Functionality | Web protection |
| Promoted URL | search.wiseghostapp.com |
| Detection Names (search.wiseghostapp.com) | alphaMountain.ai (Suspicious), Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (search.wiseghostapp.com) | 104.26.5.126 |
| 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
Additionally, browser hijackers and fake search engines can be used to gather browsing data and other information (possibly sensitive data such as passwords, credit card details). A big part of browser-hijacking apps is distributed/promoted using deceptive methods. More examples of similar apps are Plus Darker, Forest Start Tabs, Snowy Tab.
How did Data Shield for Chrome install on my computer?
Data Shield is distributed using a shady website (a screenshot of that page is provided below). Also, apps of this type are distributed using deceptive advertisements and downloaders/installers for other programs (by bundling them with other software).
When software is bundled with a browser hijacker (or other unwanted apps), it has "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings in its installer. A browser gets hijacked after installing software without changing those settings (deselecting unwanted apps).
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Download applications from official pages and legitimate platforms. Avoid using P2P networks, third-party downloaders, questionable/unofficial websites as sources for downloading programs or files. Do not click on shady advertisements (on ads appearing on dubious pages).
Do not download or install programs until unwanted apps included in their downloaders or installers are deselected. If your computer is already infected with Data Shield for Chrome, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Search.wiseghostapp.com redirects to bing.com (GIF):
Shady website promoting Data Shield for Chrome 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 Data Shield for Chrome?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Data Shield for Chrome application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Data Shield for Chrome browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove search.wiseghostapp.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove search.wiseghostapp.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Data Shield for Chrome 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, "Data Shield for Chrome"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the search.wiseghostapp.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Data Shield for Chrome 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 "Data Shield for Chrome" 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 "Data Shield for Chrome", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.wiseghostapp.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 "search.wiseghostapp.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 search.wiseghostapp.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 "Data Shield for Chrome", 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 "Data Shield for Chrome", remove hxxp://search.wiseghostapp.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 search.wiseghostapp.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 search.wiseghostapp.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 search.wiseghostapp.com website?
The creators of search.wiseghostapp.com generate more revenue when more users visit their site. Their goal is to increase the count of website visitors.
Is visiting search.wiseghostapp.com a threat to my privacy?
To a certain extent, yes. Fake search engines (and browser hijackers) can be used to gather various information about their users (from browsing data to sensitive information).
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed using social engineering tactics, such as browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, and similar methods. Also, they often are bundled with other software.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Data Shield for Chrome browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove Data Shield for Chrome and other browser hijackers. It will eliminate all of them at once (which can be difficult to achieve manually since apps of this type can reinstall one another).
Outstanding!
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