BingProtect Browser Hijacker

What is BingProtect?

Developed by BBI, the BingProtect browser hijacker employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to install on Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) without users' consent. Bundling allows developers to distribute their software together with other programs.

After successful infiltration, BingProtect assigns the browser homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL settings to bing.com/?PC=IN02. Additionally, BingProtect installs together with several applications called 'helper objects', which prevent users from reverting these changes.

This browser hijacker is distributed via deceptive software installers designed to trick users into installation of additional programs together with other software.

Although bing.com is a legitimate search engine, the BingProtect browser hijacker is developed to generate revenue by redirecting users to bing.com without their consent.

Today, most popular freeware download websites use small download programs (such as 'download managers', 'download clients', 'installers', etc.) to monetize their free services and traffic by offering installation of additional programs together with the chosen software.

The developers claim that these advertised applications are '100% legitimate and virus-free', however, reckless download and installation of freeware risks computer infection with adware or malware, including BingProtect. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall this extension from your Internet browsers.

BingProtect is similar to other applications that employ bundling as an installation method. Search Protect, Yahoo toolbar, guard-search, and my-online-search are just some examples among many others. None of these applications (including BingProtect) provide any significant value for the user - their purpose is to generate revenue by redirecting users to various websites.

To avoid installation of BingProtect, closely observe each step of the free software download process and never accept installation of other programs offered. Furthermore, during installation of downloaded software, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.

If you are redirected to the bing.com/?PC=IN02 website without your consent, follow the instructions below to eliminate BingProtect from your system.

Deceptive installer used in BingProtect browser hijacker distribution:

BingProtect browser hijacker modifying browser settings:

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Quick menu:

• What is BingProtect?
• STEP 1. Uninstall BingProtect application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove BingProtect redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove BingProtect browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove BingProtect homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove BingProtect redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

BingProtect 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 “BingProtect”, select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the BingProtect website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

BingProtect browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "BingProtect", "BingProtectEngine", select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.bing.com/?PC=IN02 and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Bing Protect".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the bing.com/?pc=in02 redirect, 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.

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.

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

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

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

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "BingProtect", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://www.bing.com/?PC=IN02 and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

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" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Bing" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the bing.com/?pc=in02 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "BingProtect".

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://www.bing.com/?PC=IN02 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 "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "bing"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with bing.com/?pc=in02 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 bing.com/?pc=in02 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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