How to stop redirects to 123.sogou.com

What is 123.sogou.com?

123.sogou.com claims to be a legitimate Internet search website allowing users to immediately navigate to other popular sites. Although this site may seem legitimate, be aware that 123.sogou.com is distributed with a browser-hijacking application that falsely claims to improve the Internet browsing experience.

This app infiltrates systems without users' consent, tracks Internet browsing activity, and may also display intrusive advertisements.

More about browser-hijacking apps promoting 123.sogou.com

After system infiltration, the Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL browser settings are assigned to 123.sogou.com. Furthermore, application/browser extensions are installed to prevent users from reverting these changes.

All this is performed without users' permission. Unwanted browser redirects (when users open new tabs or attempt to search the Internet via the URL bar) significantly diminish the browsing experience.

In addition, browser hijackers continually monitor users' Internet browsing activity recording IP addresses, visited websites, search queries, pages viewed, and other similar browsing-related data. Although this behavior may seem insignificant, this type of information might contain personally identifiable details that are shared with third party companies.

This browser hijacker poses a direct threat to your online privacy via data sharing. You should not use 123.sogou.com to search the Internet. Uninstall this browser hijacker immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	123.sogou.com browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Supposed Functionality	123.sogou.com is supposed to operate as a legitimate search engine
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Detection Names	N/A (VirusTotal)
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. ▼ 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.

Examples of sites similar to 123.sogou.com

123.sogou.com shares many similarities with other browser hijackers such as mysearchtoolbar.com, searchatomic.com, mytelevisionxp.com, and especially hao123.com. All of these apps claim to enhance the Internet browsing experience. Using fake promises of useful features, browser-hijacking applications attempt to trick users to install.

Neither 123.sogou.com, nor any other applications of this type, provide the functionality promised.

The purpose of browser hijackers is to generate revenue for the developers by causing unwanted browser redirects (to increase the traffic of certain websites), collecting personally identifiable data (which is later sold to third parties), and occasionally delivering intrusive online ads (via the 'Pay Per Click' [PPC] advertising model).

How did 123.sogou.com install on my computer?

Developers promote this dubious website using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of additional programs with regular (often free) software/apps. This method is popular and effective, since many users do not pay enough attention during download and installation of software.

They skip most/all steps unaware that developers intentionally conceal rogue apps within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. This reckless behavior often leads to inadvertent installation of PUPs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Only by paying close attention during the download and installation processes can you prevent this situation.

Choose the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' download/installation settings, since most bundled applications are hidden within this section (by selecting Custom/Advanced, you will be able to opt-out). Never trust third party apps - the additionally-included software is likely to be rogue.

Deceptive free software installer used in 123.sogou.com browser hijacker distribution:

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Quick menu:

• What is 123.sogou.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall 123.sogou.com application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove 123.sogou.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove 123.sogou.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove 123.sogou.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove 123.sogou.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

123.sogou.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, "sogou"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the 123.sogou.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

123.sogou.com 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 any recently-installed suspicious 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://123.sogou.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 "123.sogou.com".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the 123.sogou.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:

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://123.sogou.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 "123.sogou.com" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the 123.sogou.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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove all recently-installed 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://123.sogou.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: "123.sogou.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with 123.sogou.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 123.sogou.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 visit 123.sogou.com website?

The purpose of forcing users to visit the 123.sogou.com website is to generate traffic for the site, which can increase its advertising revenue and improve its search engine ranking.

Is visiting 123.sogou.com a threat to my privacy?

Visiting 123.sogou.com may pose privacy risks due to potential tracking of your browsing behavior and collection of data for targeted advertising. There's also a possibility of encountering malicious content or redirects to harmful websites.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers often sneak in when users install free or suspicious software without changing the default settings in installers. Moreover, they can be unwittingly added via misleading ads, pop-ups, unofficial app stores, third-party downloaders, and peer-to-peer (P2P) networks.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?

Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and remove any existing browser-hijacking applications/extensions. Manual removal is not always effective, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present, necessitating their simultaneous removal.

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