Removal instructions for the UKASEE browser hijacker

What kind of software is UKASEE?

Our researchers discovered the UKASEE browser extension while analyzing a rogue installation setup. After testing this piece of software, we determined that it is a browser hijacker. UKASEE changes browser settings to endorse (via redirects) the findflarex.com fake search engine.

UKASEE browser hijacker overview

UKASEE assigns findflarex.com as the browser's default search engine, homepage, and new tab/window URL. Due to these modifications, whenever a new browser tab/window is opened or a search query is entered into the URL bar – it results in a redirect to the findflarex.com site.

It is pertinent to mention that browser hijackers often use persistence-ensuring techniques to prevent browser recovery; UKASEE utilizes the "Managed by your organization" Chrome feature to this end.

In most cases, fake search engines cannot generate search results and redirect to legitimate Internet search websites (e.g., Yahoo, Bing, Google, etc.).

At the time of research, findflarex.com landed on boyu.com.tr – another fraudulent search engine. Boyu.com.tr is capable of providing search results, but they are inaccurate and may include sponsored, untrustworthy, deceptive, and possibly malicious content. It is worth mentioning that UKASEE could force users to visit other webpages or findflarex.com could redirect elsewhere.

Furthermore, browser-hijacking software usually possesses data-tracking abilities, and this might apply to UKASEE. Targeted information may include: URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, etc. The collected information can be shared with or sold to third-parties.

In summary, the presence of software like UKASEE on devices may result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	UKASEE
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Detection Names (installer)	Combo Cleaner (Trojan.Generic.36506039), Emsisoft (Trojan.Generic.36506039 (B)), GData (Trojan.Generic.36506039), Microsoft (BrowserModifier:Win32/Shafmia), VIPRE (Trojan.Generic.36506039), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Browser Extension(s)	UKASEE
Promoted URL	findflarex.com
Detection Names (findflarex.com)	Bfore.Ai PreCrime (Suspicious), Gridinsoft (Spam), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (findflarex.com)	104.21.35.227
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

Kinsearch, KSEARCHY, and JDISearch are just a couple examples of browser hijackers promoting the findflarex.com search engine. Software within this classification appears ordinary and harmless.

Users may be lured into downloading/installing it by promises of various "handy" functions. However, these functionalities seldom work as advertised, and in most cases – they do not work at all. Keep in mind that operational features alone do not prove a software's legitimacy or safety.

How did UKASEE install on my computer?

Browser hijackers are distributed using the bundling marketing tactic, which involves packing regular program installers with unwanted/malicious supplements.

These setups can be downloaded from freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other suspect sources. The risk of allowing bundled content into the device is further increased by treating installations with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, skipping sections, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).

Additionally, browser-hijacking software is promoted on legitimate-looking download webpages and scam sites. They are most commonly accessed via redirects caused by websites using rogue advertising networks, intrusive adverts, spam browser notifications, mistyped URLs, and installed adware.

Intrusive advertisements spread browser hijackers as well. Some of the adverts can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform downloads/installations without user permission.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We recommend researching software and downloading it only from official/trustworthy channels. Installation processes must be treated with care, e.g., by reading terms, exploring available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of additional apps, tools, extensions, etc.

Fraudulent and dangerous online content usually appears legitimate and harmless – therefore, we advise vigilance while browsing. For example, intrusive adverts may look ordinary/innocuous – yet redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., scam-promoting, pornography, gambling, etc.).

Should you keep encountering advertisements/redirects of this kind, check the system and immediately remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with UKASEE, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Appearance of findflarex.com redirecting to boyu.com.tr fake search engine (GIF):

Permissions asked by UKASEE browser hijacker:

UKASEE browser extension's detailed information:

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

UKASEE 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.

UKASEE browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove UKASEE 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 "UKASEE" 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 "UKASEE", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.findflarex.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 "findflarex.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 ukasee 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 "UKASEE", 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 "UKASEE", remove hxxp://findflarex.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 ukasee 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 ukasee 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 findflarex.com website?

Redirects to webpages like findflarex.com are generated because cyber criminals (e.g., developers of browser hijackers and fake search engines, etc.) profit through them.

Is visiting findflarex.com a threat to my privacy?

To a certain extent, yes. Sites like findflarex.com usually collect (and sell) visitor data.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are primarily spread via bundled installers, deceptive promotional webpages, freeware and free file-hosting websites, online scams, P2P sharing networks, intrusive advertisements, and spam browser notifications.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove UKASEE browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate all browser-hijacking apps that are present. It must be mentioned that manual removal (performed without the aid of security tools) might be ineffective. In cases where multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system, after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. This software may also be capable of denying access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes. Therefore, browser hijackers must be eliminated thoroughly and all at once.

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