How to remove Soccer Skills browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is Soccer Skills?
Based on our examination, we have determined that the Soccer Skills browser extension operates as a browser hijacker. Our findings indicate that Soccer Skills alters certain browser settings to promote hsrc-withus.com. Our analysis has uncovered that hsrc-withus.com is a fake search engine designed to appear legitimate.
Soccer Skills browser hijacker overview
The main objective of Soccer Skills is to manipulate and gain control over specific settings in a web browser. Soccer Skills redirects users' search queries and modifies their homepage, default search engine, and new tab page to point to hsrc-withus.com, which redirects users to bing.com. It is important to note that bing.com is a reliable search engine.
Fake search engines like hsrc-withus.com often have ulterior motives, such as manipulating search results and potentially gathering user information without consent. This compromises both privacy and the trustworthiness of search outcomes. Consequently, it is strongly recommended to refrain from using hsrc-withus.com and take the necessary steps to remove Soccer Skills from hijacked web browsers.
In addition to the aforementioned reasons, it is crucial to remove the Soccer Skills application due to concerns about its potential data collection practices. The presence of Soccer Skills raises suspicions that it may be designed to gather various forms of data from users. This can include personal information, browsing habits, online activities, and other data.
Name | Soccer Skills |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Browser Extension(s) | Soccer Skills |
Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
Promoted URL | hsrc-withus.com |
Detection Names (hsrc-withus.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address (hsrc-withus.com) | 18.160.143.34 |
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. |
Summary
It is important for users to exercise caution when coming across Soccer Skills or similar browser extensions due to the potential privacy implications they carry and the importance of maintaining control over browsing data.
By removing browser hijackers and fake search engines, users can proactively protect their privacy and minimize the potential negative impact of these intrusive tools on their online experience. More examples of apps designed to promote shady search engines are Neat Tab, Protab, and Flexi Search New Tab.
How did Soccer Skills install on my computer?
Users can unknowingly install browser hijackers by selecting "Express" or "Recommended" installation options that bundle additional software without providing clear disclosure. Deceptive advertisements and misleading pop-ups are also common methods used to trick users into installing or adding browser hijackers, as well as other unwanted applications.
Furthermore, visiting compromised websites, downloading files from untrustworthy sources, and interacting with suspicious links, download (or other) buttons, or email attachments can lead to the unintended installation of undesirable applications.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
It is highly recommended to download software exclusively from reputable sources such as official websites and verified app stores and avoid downloading from suspicious sources (e.g., P2P networks, third-party downloaders, and unofficial websites). Exercising caution when encountering suspicious ads or pop-ups is also required for maintaining a secure online environment.
When installing software, it is advisable to carefully examine the installation options and select the "Custom" or "Advanced" mode instead of the default options. It is also recommended to be cautious when encountering notification requests from questionable websites.
If your computer is already infected with Soccer Skills, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Hsrc-withus.com redirects to bing.com (GIF):
Permissions asked by Soccer Skills browser hijacker:
Website promoting Soccer Skills 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 Soccer Skills?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Soccer Skills application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Soccer Skills browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove hsrc-withus.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove hsrc-withus.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Soccer Skills 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 hsrc-withus.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Soccer Skills browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove Soccer Skills 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 "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate "Soccer Skills" 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 "Soccer Skills", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.hsrc-withus.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 "hsrc-withus.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 hsrc-withus.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 "Soccer Skills", 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 "Soccer Skills", remove hxxp://hsrc-withus.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 hsrc-withus.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 hsrc-withus.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 hsrc-withus.com website?
The purpose of forcing users to visit the hsrc-withus.com is to promote the website itself, generate traffic or ad impressions, or potentially engage in malicious activities.
Is visiting hsrc-withus.com a threat to my privacy?
Yes, visiting hsrc-withus.com can pose a threat to your privacy. When you visit the website, it may collect and track your browsing activities, IP address, geolocation, and other personally identifiable information without your consent.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
A browser hijacker can infiltrate your computer through various means, such as being bundled with freeware or shareware programs that you download and install. It can also enter through malicious links and deceptive advertisements.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Soccer Skills browser hijacker?
Manual removal may not always be effective, especially if multiple browser hijackers are present and they have the ability to reinstall each other. In such cases, all browser hijackers have to be removed at once. Combo Cleaner can scan and remove existing browser-hijacking applications from your computer.
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