How to remove moon darker browser extension and the redirects it causes
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is the moon darker browser extension?
During a routine inspection of dubious download webpages, our researchers found the moon darker browser extension. It is endorsed as a dark mode tool. After analyzing this piece of software, we determined that it is a browser hijacker promoting the getsins.com fake search engine.
Moon darker browser hijacker overview
Browser hijackers aim to cause redirects to the search engines they promote by making modifications to browser settings. Hence, with moon darker installed: new browser tabs/windows opened and search queries typed into the URL bar - result in a redirect to the getsins.com website.
Illegitimate search engines usually cannot generate search results, so they redirect to genuine ones. During our analysis, getsins.com redirected to websearches.club, which is a fake search engine. Although websearches.club can provide search results, they are inaccurate and may endorse dubious/malicious content.
However, where getsins.com lands may vary (e.g., Yahoo, Bing, Google, etc.) - since redirects can depend on certain factors like user geolocation.
Furthermore, most browser hijackers can deny access to the browser's settings or undo user-made changes. Therefore, restoring a hijacked browser is impossible without removing the software affecting it.
What is more, moon darker has data tracking functionalities. Browser-hijacking software typically targets: visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, personally identifiable details, usernames/passwords, financial/banking information, etc. The collected data is monetized through sale to third-parties.
To summarize, the presence of software like moon darker on browsers/systems can result in serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | moon darker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | moon darker |
| Supposed Functionality | Dark mode enablement |
| Promoted URL | getsins.com |
| Detection Names (getsins.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (getsins.com) | 172.67.206.170 |
| 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
QuickCouponSearch, Quick-Search Default Search, and Monochrome Tab are just a few examples of the browser hijackers we have analyzed. They usually appear legitimate and offer "handy" functionalities. However, the promised features are seldom operational.
Therefore, not only is browser-hijacking software worthless, but it also endangers device integrity and user safety.
How did moon darker install on my computer?
We acquired moon darker from its "official" download page. Users rarely access such sites intentionally. Most enter them via redirects caused by websites that use rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, intrusive adverts, mistyped URLs, or installed adware.
Browser hijackers can also be distributed using the bundling technique- packing regular program installers with unwanted/malicious supplements. Download from dubious channels (e.g., unofficial and freeware sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations - increase the risk of allowing bundled content into the system.
Intrusive advertisements are used to distribute browser-hijacking software as well. When clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user consent.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
We strongly advise researching software and downloading it from official/verified sources. Furthermore, installation processes must be treated with care, e.g., reading terms, studying possible options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting-out of all additions.
Another recommendation is being vigilant when browsing - since fraudulent and malicious content tends to look legitimate. For example, intrusive ads appear harmless yet redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.).
In case of encounters with advertisements and/or redirects of this kind, inspect your device and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with moon darker, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting the moon darker 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 moon darker?
- STEP 1. Uninstall moon darker application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove moon darker 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.
moon darker 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, "moon darker"), 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.
moon darker browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove moon darker 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 "moon darker" 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 "moon darker", 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 "moon darker", 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 "moon darker", 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?
Cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) generate revenue through redirects to sites like getsins.com.
Is visiting getsins.com a threat to my privacy?
To a certain extent, yes. Websites of this kind usually collect (and sell) information about their visitors.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are primarily proliferated through deceptive "promotional" webpages, software bundling, freeware and third-party download websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, online scams, fake updates, spam browser notifications, and intrusive advertisements.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove moon darker browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate installed browser-hijacking apps. It is noteworthy that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be ideal. In cases when multiple browser hijackers are present, if one browser hijacker is removed - the others might re-install it. Additionally, removal-related settings may be inaccessible with this software present. Hence, browser hijackers must be eliminated thoroughly and all at once.
Outstanding!
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