You Shall Not Pass Virus

Also Known As: You Shall Not Pass Hosts File Hijacker

Type: Browser Hijacker

Damage level:

Written by Tomas Meskauskas on January 19, 2022 (updated)

What is You Shall Not Pass?

The "You shall not pass" message appears when attempting to access Google, Facebook, or other popular websites. It is a host hijacker - a security infection, which modifies the operating system Hosts file. This file is used to resolve canonical names of websites to IP addresses.

When this file is modified, users may be redirected to malicious websites whilst still observing valid URLs in address bar. Note that this particular security threat does not appear to be especially malicious - it blocks access to popular websites, however, it does not perform other malicious tasks.

Other Hosts file hijackers prevent users' access to the Internet, then coerce them into completing online surveys before returning Internet access.

You shall not pass virus

Whilst this browser hijacker appears ineffectual, computer users should be aware that Hosts file hijackers, ransomware viruses, and fake antivirus programs are often bundled with baking Trojans and other spyware, which collect information used to access certain sites. This information is then collated and sent to a remote machine.

Moreover, infiltrated computers can encounter further security-related issues. Trojans, for example, are used to download files from a remote computer and perform other malicious tasks. If you see the "You shall not pass" message when attempting to access popular websites, your PC is infiltrated with a Hosts file-modifying Trojan.

Other Hosts file hijackers used to trick PC users into filling deceptive online surveys include "Your website access has been restricted for downloading pirated software" and "You have been blocked from our website!".

The "You shall not pass" Hosts file hijacker is distributed using fake downloads and some Internet users report that their computers are infected with this Trojan when they download Minecraft-related add-ons, account generators, etc. To remove the "You shall not pass" browser hijacker, use the removal guide provided.

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Quick menu:

What is You Shall Not Pass?
STEP 1. Remove You Shall Not Pass using hosts file restoring software.
STEP 2. Uninstall adware applications using Control Panel.
STEP 3. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
STEP 4. Remove rogue plug-ins from Google Chrome.
STEP 5. Remove adware-type extensions from Mozilla Firefox.
STEP 6. Remove malicious extensions from Safari.
STEP 7. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

"You shall not pass" virus removal:

Internet browser redirects to the "You shall not pass" website are caused by a Trojan, which modifies the operating system Hosts file. To remove this Trojan, download recommended malware removal software and run a full system scan.

After eliminating this Trojan, check your operating system Hosts file. Information stored in this file is responsible for resolving canonical names of websites - if the information within this file is changed by a malicious program, you could encounter redirect problems whilst surfing the Internet.

The Hosts file is used to resolve canonical names of websites to IP addresses. When it is changed, the user may be redirected to malicious sites, despite seeing legitimate URLs in address bar.

It is difficult to determine sites are genuine when the Hosts file is modified. To fix this, please download the Microsoft Fix It tool, that restores your Hosts file to the Windows default. Run this tool when downloaded and follow the on-screen instructions. Download link below:

Microsoft Fix It

You should also check some settings manually. Follow these instructions to check if everything is in place.

Check your proxy settings. (Internet Explorer)

Start Internet Explorer. Click Internet Options. Select Connections. Click LAN settings. Ensure that none of the boxes are selected.

Internet Explorer LAN settings

Start Mozilla FireFox. Click Tools, select Options. Click Advanced. Select Network Tab and click Settings. Ensure that "No proxy" is selected.

Internet Explorer Connection Settings

To check if there are no unusual entries added to the Hosts file, follow this information (Google redirect virus removal guide with examples of default Windows Hosts file values).

Adware removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

ketintontrat[.]info adware uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window, look for any potentially unwanted applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted application that causes ketintontrat[.]info redirects, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing ketintontrat[.]info ads from Internet Explorer step 1

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Removing ketintontrat[.]info ads from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the you shall not pass hosts file hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing ketintontrat[.]info ads from Google Chrome step 1

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.

Removing ketintontrat[.]info ads from Google Chrome step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the you shall not pass hosts file 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing ketintontrat[.]info ads from Mozilla Firefox step 1

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Removing ketintontrat[.]info ads from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with you shall not pass hosts file 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.

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

removing browser hijacker from safari step 2 - removing extensions

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 3 - changing homepage

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.

removing browser hijackers from safari step 4 - changing the default Internet search engine

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...

resetting safari step 1

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

resetting safari step 2

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 1

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:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 2

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:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 3

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 you shall not pass hosts file hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

declining installation of browser hijackers while downloading free software sample 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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