Removing the "City Weather Forecast Hub" browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of software is City Weather Forecast Hub?
Our researchers found the City Weather Forecast Hub browser hijacker while inspecting dubious sites. This extension makes changes to browser settings in order to generate redirects. This behavior classifies City Weather Forecast Hub as a browser hijacker.
City Weather Forecast Hub browser hijacker overview
Browser-hijacking software can reassign browsers' homepages, default search engines, and new tabs/windows to the addresses of endorsed websites. Hence, users are made to visit the promoted page when they open a new browser tab/window or search the Web via the URL bar.
In most cases, browser hijackers push fake search engines. These sites cannot generate search results, so they lead to legitimate Internet search engines. However, City Weather Forecast Hub redirects straight to the Bing search engine (bing.com) without any intermediaries.
It is pertinent to mention that this extension could force users to visit other webpages, as that may be influenced by factors like user geolocation.
Furthermore, software within this classification often utilizes persistence-ensuring techniques to complicate its removal and stop users from restoring their browsers.
What is more, browser hijackers usually have data-tracking abilities, and this might apply to City Weather Forecast Hub. Information of interest can include: URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so on. This sensitive information can then be shared with and/or sold to third-parties.
To summarize, software like City Weather Forecast Hub may cause system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
Name | City Weather Forecast Hub |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
Browser Extension(s) | City Weather Forecast Hub |
Promoted URL | bing.com |
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
A Quote A Day, PremierLeague Stats, and Currency Converter Tab are merely a few examples of browser hijackers we have written about recently. They tend to appear legitimate and innocuous. Users can be enticed to download/install this software by promises of various "handy" functions. However, these functionalities seldom work as promised, and in most cases – they are utterly nonoperational.
It must be mentioned that even if a browser extension or app works as advertised – that does not guarantee its legitimacy or safety.
How did City Weather Forecast Hub install on my computer?
We acquired City Weather Forecast Hub from its "official" promotional page. Browser hijackers are also endorsed by online scams. These deceptive sites can be accessed via redirects caused by intrusive ads, webpages utilizing rogue advertising networks, mistyped URLs, spam browser notifications, or installed adware.
Some intrusive adverts can execute scripts to perform sneaky downloads/installations upon being clicked. These advertisements are used to proliferate browser-hijacking software as well.
"Bundling" – packing ordinary program installation setups with unwanted/malicious supplements – is also used to distribute browser hijackers.
Downloading from freeware and third-party websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other untrustworthy sources – increases the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the device. This threat is further compounded by treating installation processes with negligence (e.g., ignoring terns, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
We recommend researching software and downloading only from official/verified channels. When installing, it is crucial to read terms, study possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of all additions (e.g., apps, tools, extensions, etc.).
Fake and malicious online content usually appears legitimate and harmless – therefore, we advise caution when browsing. For example, intrusive adverts may look innocuous – yet redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., gambling, scam-promoting, adult dating, pornography, etc.).
If you keep encountering such advertisements and/or redirects, inspect the system and immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with City Weather Forecast Hub, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Appearance of City Weather Forecast Hub redirecting to the Bing search engine (GIF):
Permissions asked by City Weather Forecast Hub browser hijacker:
Website promoting City Weather Forecast Hub 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 City Weather Forecast Hub?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove City Weather Forecast Hub browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove bing.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove rogue redirects from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
City Weather Forecast Hub 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.
City Weather Forecast Hub 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 "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate "City Weather Forecast Hub" 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 "City Weather Forecast Hub", look for the promoted URL (hxxp://www.bing.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 "bing.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 city weather forecast hub 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 "City Weather Forecast Hub", 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 "City Weather Forecast Hub", remove hxxp://bing.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 city weather forecast hub 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 city weather forecast hub 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 bing.com website?
Cyber criminals (e.g., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers, etc.) profit through rogue redirects. When the promoted website is legitimate, the motivation could be to obtain illegitimate commissions by abusing the site's affiliate programs.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are primarily spread via deceptive promotional webpages, bundled installers, freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, online scams, spam browser notifications, and intrusive adverts.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove City Weather Forecast Hub browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate installed browser-hijacking applications. It is noteworthy that manual removal (performed without the aid of security programs) might be ineffective, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may simply reinstall it. Additionally, browser-hijacking software might be capable of restricting access to removal-related settings. Therefore, it is paramount to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.
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