How to remove the Best Wallpapers browser hijacker

What kind of software is Best Wallpapers?

While investigating dubious webpages, our researchers discovered the Best Wallpapers browser extension. It is endorsed as a tool that displays browser wallpapers.

After installing this extension on our test machine, we learned it is a browser hijacker. Best Wallpapers modifies browser settings to promote (via redirects) the search.wallpaperhomepage.com illegitimate search engine.

Best Wallpapers browser hijacker overview

Best Wallpapers assigns search.wallpaperhomepage.com as browsers' default search engine, homepage, and new browser tab/window URLs. Hence, with this browser hijacker installed: search queries entered into the URL bar and new browser tabs/windows opened – would result in redirects to the search.wallpaperhomepage.com website.

Fake search engines are rarely able to generate search results, so they tend to redirect to legitimate Internet search websites (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.). In the seldom instances where a fraudulent search engine can provide search results – they are inaccurate and include irrelevant, sponsored, deceptive, and potentially malicious content.

It is worth mentioning that browser-hijacking software may be able to deny access to removal-related settings and/or undo user-made changes. By employing such persistence-ensuring techniques, this software complicates its removal.

Best Wallpapers spies on users' browsing activity. Targeted data may include: visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, Internet cookies, log-in credentials (usernames/passwords), personally identifiable details, finance-related information, and so forth. The collected data can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

To summarize, the presence of software like Best Wallpapers on devices may result in system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Best Wallpapers
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Best Wallpapers
Supposed Functionality	Browser wallpapers
Promoted URL	search.wallpaperhomepage.com
Detection Names (search.wallpaperhomepage.com)	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (search.wallpaperhomepage.com)	104.21.83.128
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).
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Browser hijacker examples

My Notes Extension, Ultimate Basketball Fan Extension, and JoyTab - Your News Tab are just some examples of browser hijackers that we have analyzed recently.

Browser-hijacking software appears legitimate and offers a wide variety of handy functionalities. However, the features are usually fake (nonoperational) and serve the purpose of bait to trick users into download/installation.

It must be stressed that even if a piece of software works as indicated by its promotional material – that is not a guarantee of either legitimacy or safety.

How did Best Wallpapers install on my computer?

We acquired Best Wallpapers from its "official" promotional webpage. In addition to such pages, browser hijackers are commonly endorsed on scam websites. Most visitors to these pages enter them via redirects generated by sites that use rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, misspelled URLs, intrusive ads, or installed adware.

The bundling marketing tactic – packing ordinary program installers with unwanted/malicious additions – is also used to proliferate browser hijackers. Downloading from untrustworthy channels (e.g., freeware and third-party sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushing through installation processes (e.g., using "Easy/Express" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system.

Intrusive advertisements spread browser hijackers as well. When clicked on, some of the adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user permission.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We recommend researching software and downloading it only from official/verified sources. Installation must be treated with caution, e.g., by reading terms, exploring possible options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all additional apps, extensions, tools, etc.

Another recommendation is to be careful while browsing since fraudulent and malicious online content typically appears harmless. For example, intrusive advertisements may look ordinary/innocuous yet redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.).

If you keep experiencing such ads/redirects, check the device and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Best Wallpapers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Permissions asked by Best Wallpapers browser hijacker:

Website promoting Best Wallpapers browser hijacker:

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Best Wallpapers?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Best Wallpapers browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove search.wallpaperhomepage.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove search.wallpaperhomepage.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Best Wallpapers 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, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Best Wallpapers 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 "Best Wallpapers" 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 "Best Wallpapers", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.wallpaperhomepage.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.wallpaperhomepage.com", 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 search.wallpaperhomepage.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 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 "Best Wallpapers", 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 "Best Wallpapers", remove hxxp://search.wallpaperhomepage.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 "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 search.wallpaperhomepage.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.wallpaperhomepage.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.

Post a comment:
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users to visit search.wallpaperhomepage.com website?

Cyber criminals (e.g., developers of browser hijackers and fake search engines, etc.) generate revenue through redirects to websites like search.wallpaperhomepage.com.

Is visiting search.wallpaperhomepage.com a threat to my privacy?

To a certain extent, yes. Sites of this kind usually collect (and sell) information about their visitors.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are primarily proliferated via bundled installers, dubious download channels (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.), online scams, spam browser notifications, and intrusive advertisements.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Best Wallpapers browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate detected browser-hijacking apps. It must be mentioned that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be an ideal solution, particularly when multiple browser hijackers are present. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may simply reinstall it. Additionally, removal-related settings might be unmodifiable with browser-hijacking software installed. Therefore, browser hijackers must be removed thoroughly and all at once.

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