How to remove Dark Home browser hijacker and the redirects it causes
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of software is Dark Home?
Dark Home is an extension that promises to display "dark aesthetic" browser wallpapers and motivational/inspirational quotes. Our researchers found this piece of software while reviewing suspicious websites.
After examining Dark Home, we determined that it is a browser hijacker. This extension makes changes to browser settings in order to promote (through redirects) the search.dark-home-page.com fake search engine.
Dark Home browser hijacker overview
Browser hijackers reassign browsers' homepages, default search engines, and new tab/window URLs to the addresses of endorsed websites. Dark Home changes these settings to search.dark-home-page.com.
Hence, with this extension installed: Web searches performed via the URL bar and new browser tabs/windows opened – result in redirects to the search.dark-home-page.com page.
It is noteworthy that browser-hijacking software often uses persistence-ensuring mechanisms to complicate its removal and prevent browser recovery.
Illegitimate search engines typically cannot provide search results, so they land on genuine Internet search websites. Search.dark-home-page.com redirects to the Bing search engine (bing.com). Keep in mind that this site could lead elsewhere, as factors like user geolocation may impact redirects.
Furthermore, Dark Home might have data-tracking abilities since they are standard for browser hijackers. Information of interest may include: visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, etc. This sensitive information can then be monetized via sale to third-parties.
In summary, the presence of software like Dark Home on devices may result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | Dark Home |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Dark Home |
| Supposed Functionality | Displaying browser wallpapers and motivational/inspirational quotes |
| Promoted URL | search.dark-home-page.com |
| Detection Names (search.dark-home-page.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (search.dark-home-page.com) | 54.187.105.174 |
| 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. |
Browser hijacker examples
Web Ace Tab, Art Tab Club, Web Comic Tab, and Web Tab Live are just some examples of browser hijackers we have analyzed recently. Software categorized as such usually appears legitimate and innocuous. It also tends to offer various "useful" functionalities. However, these features rarely work as promised, and in most cases – they do not work at all.
Note that even if a browser extension or an app operates as indicated by its promotional material – that is not a guarantee of legitimacy or safety.
How did Dark Home install on my computer?
Dark Home has an "official" promotional webpage. In addition to such sites, browser hijackers are commonly endorsed on scam pages. Most visitors access them via redirects generated by websites using rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, misspelled URLs, intrusive ads, or installed adware.
Intrusive advertisements proliferate browser-hijacking software as well. When clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user permission.
"Bundling" – packing regular program installation setups with unwanted/malicious supplements – is also used to distribute browser hijackers.
Downloading from dubious sources (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) has a risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system. The danger is compounded by treating installation processes with negligence, e.g., ignoring terms, skipping steps/sections, using "Easy/Quick" settings, and so on.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
We strongly recommend researching software before downloading or purchasing it. Another recommendation is to download only from official and verified channels. When installing, it is important to read terms, inspect possible options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opt out of all additional apps, extensions, etc.
We also advise being vigilant while browsing since fraudulent and dangerous online content typically appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, while intrusive ads may look harmless – they redirect to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, adult dating, pornography, gambling, etc.).
In case of continuous encounters with advertisements and/or redirects of this kind, inspect the system and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Dark Home, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Appearance of search.dark-home-page.com redirecting to the Bing search engine (GIF):
Permissions asked by Dark Home browser hijacker:
Website promoting Dark Home 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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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 Dark Home?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Dark Home browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove search.dark-home-page.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove search.dark-home-page.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Dark Home 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.
Dark Home browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove Dark Home 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 "Dark Home" 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 "Dark Home", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.dark-home-page.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.dark-home-page.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.dark-home-page.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 "Dark Home", 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 "Dark Home", remove hxxp://search.dark-home-page.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.dark-home-page.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.dark-home-page.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 search.dark-home-page.com website?
Redirects to webpages like search.dark-home-page.com are generated because cyber criminals (e.g., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers, etc.) profit through them.
Is visiting search.dark-home-page.com a threat to my privacy?
To a certain extent, yes. Sites like search.dark-home-page.com usually gather information about their visitors with the intent of selling it to third-parties.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are mainly distributed through bundled installers, online scams, freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive adverts.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Dark Home browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate all browser-hijacking applications present. It is noteworthy that manual removal (performed without security tools) might not be ideal, particularly when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. Removal-related settings might be inaccessible with browser-hijacking software installed. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.
Outstanding!
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