How to remove software causing redirects to homepage-web.com
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is homepage-web.com?
Developed and released by Bontion, Inc, homepage-web.com is presented as a legitimate website that can be used as a homepage or default search engine. It is distributed using a deceptive free software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of third-party apps together with the chosen software.
Once Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browsers are infiltrated, the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage settings are assigned to homepage-web.com.
Additionally, applications called 'helper objects' are installed, which prevent users from reverting these changes. This browser hijacker is often bundled with free software, and therefore, systems are usually infected when users download programs from freeware download websites.
Most popular freeware download websites employ small programs called 'download clients' to monetize their traffic and free services. Download clients offer installation of additional programs together with the chosen freeware.
According to the developers, these promoted applications are 'legitimate and virus-free', however, accepting installation risks computer infection with adware or malware. Most rogue applications distributed using the bundling method track Internet browsing activity and record various user-information, which may include personally identifiable details.
Furthermore, these applications generate advertisements and redirect users to various dubious websites.
Therefore, the presence of adware on your system may cause further computer infections and privacy issues. You are advised not to use homepage-web.com as your default search engine, since the displayed search results may lead to adware or malware infections.
There are many browser-hijacking applications with similar or identical behavior including, for instance, safehomepage.com, globososo.com, i-search.us.com, and dregol.com. These application appear legitimate, however, they are similar to homepage-web.com and provide no value for the user.
Promoted applications such as these are developed to generate revenue by displaying ads, redirecting users to various dubious websites, and sharing collected data with third-parties.
Installation of browser hijackers, or other similar bogus apps, can be avoided by inspecting each step of the free software download procedure and never accepting offers to install third-party programs.
Furthermore, you should install downloaded programs using the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' options, rather than 'Quick', 'Regular', or 'Typical' - this will reveal any hidden applications listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.
If your browsers continually redirect you to the homepage-web.com website without your consent, the following removal guide will help you to eliminate this problem from your system.
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Quick menu:
- What is homepage-web.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall homepage-web.com application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove homepage-web.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove homepage-web.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove homepage-web.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove homepage-web.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Homepage-web.com 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 (for example: "WPM18.8.0.212", "Wsys Control 10.2.1.2634", and "homepage-web uninstall"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the homepage-web.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Homepage-web.com browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Remove homepage-web.com related Internet Explorer extensions:
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".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://homepage-web.com 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 "homepage-web".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the homepage-web.com browser 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.
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:
Remove homepage-web.com related Google Chrome plug-ins:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries 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://homepage-web.com 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 "homepage-web.com" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the homepage-web.com 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:
Remove homepage-web.com related Mozilla Firefox extensions:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
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://homepage-web.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 "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "homepage-web.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with homepage-web.com 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 homepage-web.com 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 to visit homepage-web.com website?
Through redirects to sites like homepage-web.com - cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) generate revenue.
Is visiting homepage-web.com a threat to my privacy?
Most likely, yes. Websites like homepage-web.com typically collect visitors' information.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are most commonly distributed through misleading promotional webpages, program bundling, dubious download sources (e.g., unofficial and freeware websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.), spam browser notifications, online scams, fake updates, and intrusive advertisements.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove browser hijackers?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your device and eliminate installed browser-hijacking applications. It must be mentioned that manual removal (unaided by security programs) might not be ideal. In cases when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system, after one is removed - the others may simply re-install it. Furthermore, removal-related settings might be unmodifiable with this software present. Therefore, browser hijackers must be eliminated thoroughly and all at once.
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