How to remove Sports Madness browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is Sports Madness?
Upon testing the Sports Madness browser extension, we learned it is a browser hijacker promoting sportmadness.info, a fake search engine. Sports Madness hijacks web browsers by changing their settings. Usually, users download and add browser-hijacking apps inadvertently.
Sports Madness browser hijacker overview
Sports Madness is a browser hijacker that can compromise online security and privacy. This app targets Chrome and possibly other web browsers. Once added, it modifies your browser settings (default search engine, homepage, and new tab page) to redirect your search queries to sportmadness.info, a fake search engine that shows Bing results.
Sports Madness may also display unwanted pop-up ads, banners, and coupons and track your browsing activity and search history. This can compromise your privacy, as the data collected by Sports Madness can be used for targeted advertising, identity theft, and other malicious purposes.
Manual removal can be difficult and time-consuming, and it may not remove all the traces of the browser hijacker. Therefore, it is recommended to use a reliable anti-malware tool (such as Combo Cleaner) to scan your system and remove Sports Madness automatically.
| Name | Sports Madness |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Sports Madness |
| Supposed Functionality | Customized new tab |
| Promoted URL | sportmadness.info |
| Detection Names (sportmadness.info) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (sportmadness.info) | 172.67.164.30 |
| 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
Browser hijackers are unwanted apps that can modify your web browser's settings without your consent. They are designed to redirect your browser to unwanted websites or search engines, often filled with ads or malicious content. Some browser hijackers can also collect your personal information, such as browsing history and search queries, to sell to third-party advertisers.
It is important to remove browser hijackers as soon as possible to protect your privacy and prevent further damage to your computer. Examples of different browser hijackers are RichExts, Cosmica, and Life Hacks.
How did Sports Madness install on my computer?
Users can add or install browser hijackers unknowingly or unintentionally through several methods. One common way is by downloading and installing free software from the Internet that comes bundled with browser hijackers. In such cases, hijackers are included in the terms and conditions that users agree to during installations
Another way users can install browser hijackers is by clicking on misleading advertisements or links that redirect them to websites designed to add the hijacker onto their browser without their knowledge. In some cases, users can also accidentally install a hijacker by clicking on pop-ups or fake system notifications that appear to offer software updates or security fixes.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Only download software from reputable sources such as official pages and legitimate stores, and avoid third-party download sites and similar sources. Do not click on links or ads or download files from unknown or suspicious sources. Keep your browser and operating system up to date.
Always check download and installation options and deselect unwanted apps before downloading and installing programs. If your computer is already infected with Sports Madness, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Sportmadness.info redirects to bing.com (GIF):
Permissions asked by Sports Madness browser hijacker:
Website promoting Sports Madness 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 Sports Madness?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Sports Madness application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Sports Madness browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove sportmadness.info homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove sportmadness.info redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Sports Madness 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the sportmadness.info website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Sports Madness 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 "Sports Madness" and other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Sports Madness", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.sportmadness.info) 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 "sportmadness.info", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".
- If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the sportmadness.info 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 extensions from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate "Sports Madness", as well as all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable "Sports Madness", remove hxxp://sportmadness.info 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 "Accept the Risk and Continue".
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 sportmadness.info 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 sportmadness.info 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 sportmadness.info website?
Browser hijackers employ the strategy of compelling users to access the sportmadness.info webpage to drive traffic. More traffic means higher revenue for the creators of sportmadness.info.
Is visiting sportmadness.info a threat to my privacy?
Accessing websites such as sportmadness.info could jeopardize your privacy since these sites typically gather different types of data about their visitors.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers can be distributed through software bundles, disguised as legitimate browser extensions or add-ons, and obtained through malicious ads, pop-ups, and phishing emails.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Sports Madness browser hijacker?
By utilizing Combo Cleaner, you can scan and eliminate browser hijackers from your computer. In situations where there are multiple hijackers that can reinstall each other, manual removal may not be satisfactory, hence requiring simultaneous removal of all the hijackers.
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