Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com

Posted by Lisa Blanc on February 3, 2017

What is Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com?

Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com is promoted as a legitimate, safe-to-use search engine. However, our malware researchers have concluded that it is nothing more than a browser hijacker that ought to be removed because it is disseminated through malicious software bundles that install it on your PC without your knowledge or approval. If it were to replace your browser’s homepage, then it would work like a regular search engine. Nevertheless, our researchers say that its search results are set to feature promotional links and advertisements. There is more to say about this hijacker, so if your PC has been affected by it, we invite you to continue reading. test test

What does Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com do?

This new browser hijacker comes with a dedicated browser extension called NYKicksBuzz Demo which is compatible with Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. If you were to install it on your browser, then it would replace your browser’s homepage address with Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com. Then, this hijacker would function as a regular search engine. Our malware researchers say that it redirects the entered search queries to Google.com, so you would actually see Google’s search results. However, the problem is that this hijacker modifies the search results to accommodate additional promotional links. The links can come from unknown advertisers, and we have received information that this hijacker’s developers promote anything and everything as long as they make money.

We also want to point out that this browser hijacker can keep tabs on you and collect information such as your browsing history, IP address, Internet Service Provider domain name, search queries, browser type, operating system type, and so on using browser cookies. The developers use this information to tailor the ads in accordance with your personal interests and browsing preferences. They aim to subject you to more relevant advertisements and generate more advertising revenue as a result. Make no mistake, Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com will not provide you with a reliable search results because its primary objective is to make money for its developers and their advertising partners.

Where does Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com come from?

We are positive that Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com is a malicious search engine because it was created by Imali Media, a company that offers web monetization solutions for its clients. However, this company is shady and it shows because advertising content via search results without informing the user is dishonest. You can learn more about this company by visiting their website at Imali.media. Now let us move on to this hijacker’s distribution tactics.

As previously mentioned, this shady search engine is bundled with a browser extension called NYKicksBuzz Demo. Our cyber security experts have concluded that this browser extension is most likely distributed on unreliable software distributing sites that bundle free software with additional software. They say that the installers that feature NYKicksBuzz Demo can be configured to hide its presence and install it secretly. We regard this kind of distribution tactic dishonest and that is the primary reason we have classified Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com as a browser hijacker and, therefore, we advocate for its removal.

How do I remove Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com?

If your browser became infected with Search.nyknicksbuzzsearch.com, you ought to replace it because its ad-supported search results are rather unreliable and there is no telling whether a promoted link is safe to click. If you do not want to have this malicious search engine on your browser, all you have to do is remove NYKicksBuzz Demo and change the homepage address. For Chrome it should be replaced automatically, but you will have to replace it manually on Firefox.