How to remove cratebox.net from your browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What is cratebox.net?
Our team has tested cratebox.net and found that it is a dubious address designed to redirect users to various search engines. Sites like cratebox.net are commonly known as fake search engines. They are supposed to provide search results but do not deliver any. Also, sites like cratebox.net tend to be promoted via browser-hijacking apps.
How do browser hijackers promote cratebox.net?
We found that cratebox.net can redirect users to search.yahoo.com, find-browseronline.com, and possibly other search engines. Search.yahoo.com is a legitimate search engine. However, find-browseronline.com is a dubious search engine that may show inaccurate and misleading results to promote potentially malicious pages and apps.
Thus, from cratebox.net, users might land on phishing websites, sites hosting fraudulent giveaways, lotteries, surveys, technical support scams, etc. They may be tricked into disclosing sensitive information (like credit card details and passwords), transferring money to scammers, downloading shady software, or taking other actions.
Moreover, the installers promoting cratebox.net contain various unwanted apps, such as InternetGuardian. Thus, users who experience redirects from cratebox.net will likely have dubious apps and (or) extensions installed on their computers and (or) added to their browsers. Some of these apps may be malicious and pose security and privacy risks.
It is also possible that cratebox.net gathers browsing-related data, such as search queries, geolocation data, browsing history, and more. The gathered data may be sold to third parties or misused for marketing or other purposes. Overall, it is highly advisable to remove cratebox.net from the settings of affected browsers to avoid associated risks.
| Name | cratebox.net browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Supposed Functionality | Cratebox.net probably is promoted as a reliable search engine |
| 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), dubious websites, and similar channels. |
| 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. |
More about browser hijackers
As mentioned in the introduction, sites like cratebox.net tend to be associated with browser hijackers. These browser extensions change the settings of web browsers to force users to visit the specified addresses. They can also be created to gather various data. If a browser hijacker is present, it should be eliminated as soon as possible.
Some examples of browser hijackers are FIIND, SeekFast, and FindClix.
How did cratebox.net promoting software install on my computer?
Apps promoting dubious addresses like cratebox.net are typically included in free or untrustworthy software installers. Users often do not notice these additional apps and agree to install/add them during installations. In most cases, unwanted apps included in installers are mentioned alongside checkboxes or within settings like "Advanced" and "Custom".
Shady applications may also sneak onto devices or browsers via misleading ads, notifications on untrustworthy websites, third-party app stores, peer-to-peer networks, fake alerts (or other pop-ups on suspicious sites), third-party downloaders, and similar avenues.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Always download software from official websites or trusted app stores. Check reviews and ratings before downloading any software to ensure its legitimacy. When installing programs (especially free ones), deselect any unwanted offers included in their installers. Avoid accepting notifications from suspicious websites and refrain from interacting with ads, pop-ups, and buttons on such sites.
Regularly scan your computer using reputable security software to detect and remove unwanted apps and other threats. Keep your operating system, web browsers, and all software up to date. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
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 cratebox.net?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove cratebox.net browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove cratebox.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove cratebox.net redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Cratebox.net redirect 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 cratebox.net website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
cratebox.net redirect 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 all 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 the malicious extension (if present), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.cratebox.net) 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 "cratebox.net", 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 cratebox.net browser hijacker, 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 plugins 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 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 malicious extension (if present), remove hxxp://cratebox.net 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 cratebox.net browser hijacker 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 cratebox.net browser hijacker, 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 cratebox.com website?
Forcing users to visit the cratebox.com website is intended to increase traffic, potentially boosting revenue through increased page views and interactions or other means.
Is visiting cratebox.com a threat to my privacy?
To a certain extent, yes. Cratebox.com can redirect to unreliable search engines designed to promote dubious websites. Also, cratebox.com may gather user data. Thus, visiting cratebox.com may pose privacy and security risks.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
A browser hijacker likely infiltrated your computer via misleading advertisements or through compromised websites. P2P networks, third-party app stores, software bundles, and similar channels may also be used to trick you into downloading a browser hijacker.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?
Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove unwanted apps, including browser hijackers. It is advisable to remove such apps using specialized tools like Combo Cleaner. Manual removal may be ineffective, especially when dealing with multiple browser hijackers. These apps may be capable of reinstalling one another, and it may be difficult to remove all of them at once manually.
Outstanding!
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