What is Kickay?
Kickay is a browser extension that was used to spread the search engine kickay.com. The browser extension is known to have been promoted in the Chrome Web Store as a tool that is based on a new technology, which, unfortunately, is not specified. Such generic descriptions of browser apps are very common in software sharing websites to scare users into installing unreliable programs. Our team recommends that you pay extra attention to questionable software that are presented as useful tools without any specific details or reviews.
Malware researchers have recently categorized Kickay as a browser hijacker because of how it is distributed and installed. Both the browser and the search engine Kickay should be removed from the computer. The latest analysis of Kickay has shown that the search engine is inactive, and the very browser extention is no longer avaible in the Chrome Web Store. Nevertheless, you should be aware of such programs so that you do not have to suffer the consequences caused.
How is Kickay spread?
The so-called browser hijacked Kickay is known to be spread by certained malicious websites. More specifically, the user is asked to set the home page to Kickay.com after an attempt to close a website. Instead of closure, the user is flooded with several javascript alerts forcing the user to install the extension. By adding the Kickay extension, the user agrees with the following terms:
It can:
Read and change all your data on the websites you visit
Change your search settings to: kickay.com
Such permissions are very often used by browser extensions, and you should bear in mind that by allowing an application to access some unspecified information you risk losing your privacy. Very often browser extension are programmed to collect user-relevant information which could be later used for various purposes, mainly marketing. So, if you do not want to become a subject of analysis, do not install unknown applications, or remove Kickay as in the present case.
How does Kickay work?
The search engine Kickay.com is not active at the moment, so you cannot check its terms of use, or privacy policy, if any exists. Virtually all search engine are powered by third parties to display certain advertisements, but not all search engines set regulations to what type of content should be provided to the end user. Very often search engines that are spread as Kickay are programmed to display pop-ups and web banners that promote malicious services or products. If you find that a search engine does not have any privacy policy, that should alert you to stay away from such a search provider.
Even though we cannot specify what the terms of use of Kickay are, we know that this search engine does not provide unique search results. Instead of displaying unique research results, Kickay.com retreives Yahoo! search results which are redirected through http://vouseat.webcam in the first place. Such a practice is typical of browser hijackers, and we recommend that you avoid using such search engines.
As mentioned above, search engine collect information about users. User-related information includes search terms, links preferred, time spent on websites, browsers' characteristics, and other information that could be used to create targeted advertisements.
The Internet is full of ill-purposed search engines, or rather browser hijackers, and we encourage you to act immediately once you notice that your browser settings are changed.
How to remove Kickay?
Below you will find our step-by-step instructions that will help you remove the unwanted browser extension. However, after removing the extension, the computer remains unprotected, which means that it can get infected with new malware at any time. Every Internet-connected device that runs without a security application is easy prey for various infections, and you should beware of Trojan horses, spyware programs, ransomware, and other dangerous threats. After removing Kickay, we suggest that you implement a powerful anti-malware program, so that you can browse the Internet safely.
Remove Kickay
- Open the Chrome browser.
- Open a drop-down menu by clicking on the three dots icon.
- Select More tools and click Extensions.
- Remove Kickay.
100% FREE spyware scan and
tested removal of Kickay*
0 Comments.