What is 24socialnews.net?
We want to inform you that 24socialnews.net is what it claims to be. While it offers users news articles and a search engine, our researchers have concluded that it is a browser hijacker. If this search engine has replaced your homepage address, then your browser has been infected. This search engine is malicious as it is distributed via deceptive means. Its search results are also suspect because they can feature shady and potentially dangerous links and ads. Needless to say, you have to remove and replace this hijacker is a legitimate homepage address. If you want to find out more about this hijacker, we invite you to read this whole description.
What does 24socialnews.net do?
Cyber security experts have concluded that 24socialnews.net was designed to be distributed via software bundles and inject it into your browser during installation. Its objective is to replace the homepage address of your browser whether you use Microsoft Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. Its creators want you to use this hijacker as a regular search engine and, indeed, you can do that. However, the problem is that this hijacker redirects all entered search terms to a modified Google search engine. This hijacker might alter the search results to include ads and promoted links that otherwise would not be included. 24socialnews.net’s creators make money off the promoted content as the ads generate revenue per click.
Experts say that, like most hijackers, 24socialnews.net must have been configured to collect some information about each user to personalize the ad campaign in order to make more money. The collected information is collected automatically and could include your search history, entered search terms, IP address, Internet Service Provider (ISP) domain name, approximate location, browser type, operating system type and version. This information is collected legally using browser cookies, web beacons, and other information collection technologies. However, we do not recommend that you allow questionable entities to keep tabs on your browsing habits.
Where does 24socialnews.net come from?
Researchers say that this browser hijacker was created by Russian or Ukrainian developers as it was tailored for the Russian-speaking audience but redirect users to a Ukrainian version of Google when it presents search results.
As far as the distribution methods are concerned, we have found that 24socialnews.net is most likely distributed using bundled software installers. These installers should be featured on freeware websites that are popular in Russia and/or Ukraine. There is no concrete information on how it is injected into a browser as it can be injected into a browser directly by an installer or the bundle can install a browser extension which, in turn, is set to change the homepage address automatically.
How do I remove 24socialnews.net?
Without a doubt, 24socialnews.net is a browser hijacker because it can replace your browser’s homepage address without your knowledge or consent in order to make you use it and view ads and links in its search results. As a search engine, it offers nothing of value, and its search results can be unreliable. Therefore, we recommend that you remove 24socialnews.net as soon as the opportunity arises. See the guide below for more information.
Uninstall malicious software from Control Panel (IE only)
Windows XP
- Click the Start menu button and select Control Panel.
- Click Add or Remove Programs.
- Find the program.
- Right-click it and click Remove.
Windows Vista and Windows 7
- Click the Start menu button.
- Open Control Panel.
- Go to Uninstall a program.
- Find the application.
- Right-click it and click the Uninstall button.
Windows 8/8.1/10
- Press Windows+R keys.
- Type Control Panel in the Run Command Prompt and click OK.
- Click Uninstall a program.
- Find the software.
- Right-click on it and click Uninstall.
Remove the browser extension and reset browser to default settings
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Hold down Alt+T.
- Select Internet Options, and then click the Advanced tab.
- Click Reset and check the checkbox.
- Click Reset.
Mozilla Firefox
- Hold down Ctrl+Shift+A.
- Click Extensions and remove the extension.
- Press Alt+H.
- Select Troubleshooting information and click Refresh Firefox.
- Click Refresh Firefox again.
- Click Finish.
Google Chrome
- Hold down Alt+F.
- Go to More tools.
- Click Extensions and remove the add-on.
- Press Alt+F keys and open Settings.
- Click Advanced.
- Select Reset and click the Reset button.
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