How to remove the mini dark browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is mini dark?
We have discovered the mini dark browser extension while examining deceptive websites. After downloading and installing this app, we learned that it operates as a browser hijacker. It changes the settings of a web browser to promote a fake search engine (getsins.com). Thus, the mini dark is not a trustworthy browser extension.
mini dark in detail
mini dark promotes the getsins.com address (a fake search engine) by making it the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. It hijacks a web browser by forcing users to browse the web using a fake search engine that shows results generated by websearches.club - another untrustworthy search engine.
It is important to know that fake search engines can generate misleading results. They can promote shady websites (for example, various scams and download pages for questionable apps). Thus, it is advisable not to use fake search engines and have apps like mini dark installed on web browsers.
| Name | mini dark |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | mini dark |
| Supposed Functionality | Dark mode for websites |
| Promoted URL | getsins.com |
| Detection Names (getsins.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (getsins.com) | 104.21.82.211 |
| 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 about browser hijackers
Both fake search engines and browser hijackers can be designed to gather browsing-related data. In some cases, they can access sensitive information. Gathered data may be misused for marketing or other purposes. More examples of browser-hijacking apps are Defense-Search, Baro Search, Search-Guard.
How did mini dark install on my computer?
The mini dark browser hijacker is promoted using deceptive websites claiming that it is required to install this app to continue browsing those pages. It hijacks a web browser by following the provided instructions. In other cases, browsers get hijacked via deceptive ads, fake installers, or installers for other software.
When other software is bundled with a browser hijacker, it has "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings in its installer. Leaving those settings unchanged during the installation processes results in having a browser hijacked by an unwanted app like the mini dark browser hijacker.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
Always use trustworthy (official) pages and platforms as sources for downloading files and applications. Do not trust apps and files downloaded from other sources (like third-party downloaders, unofficial pages, Peer-to-Peer networks).
Also, do not click on advertisements and notifications displayed by questionable web pages. Check downloaders and installers for optional downloads and installations and deselect unwanted apps before downloading or installing software. If your computer is already infected with mini dark, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Getsins.com redirects to websearches.club (GIF):
Deceptive websites promoting mini 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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Quick menu:
- What is mini dark?
- STEP 1. Uninstall mini dark application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove mini 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.
mini 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, "mini 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.
mini 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 "mini 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 "mini 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 "mini 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 "mini 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 visit getsins.com website?
The amount of revenue that the creators of getsins.com generate directly depends on the count of its visitors. Thus, they promote this page to make it more visitable.
Is visiting getsins.com a threat to my privacy?
It could be if this site would be used to gather information about its visitors. It is pretty common for fake search engines to be operating as information collectors.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Usually, browser hijackers are promoted using browser notifications, shady ads, and other social engineering tactics. Also, they can be found included in downloaders and installers for other programs as extra offers.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove mini dark browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate browser hijackers. Manual removal is not always the best solution since there are cases when multiple browser hijackers are present, and they can reinstall one another. In such cases, all browser hijackers have to be removed at once, and it can be difficult to achieve it manually.
Outstanding!
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