What is Search.myprivacy.zone?
Search.myprivacy.zone is a suspicious search provider that can be represented via the New Tab of your Google Chrome browser once you install an unreliable extension. If you enter the name of the provider into search and go to the “About” section, you will be shown an installer that is originally found at chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/my-privacy-zone/lfghbofobgfbemfjiialbdfccgjiilck. Surprisingly, a different version (possibly, unofficial) is represented via chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/my-privacy-search/mdighcjpdamikbcempmajdeaibagmccm. The “official” installer represents an add-on called “My Privacy Zone,” and the “unofficial” installer represents “My Privacy Search.” Regardless of which one of these two you install, your New Tab will be corrupted by the same hijacker. Anti-Spyware-101.com researchers strongly advise removing Search.myprivacy.zone because it is not as innocent as it might appear to be at first. If you cannot wait to get rid of this hijacker, check out the guide below, but we recommend reading this report first because it discusses how dangerous the seemingly-harmless search tool can truly be.
How does Search.myprivacy.zone work?
Our research team classifies Search.myprivacy.zone as a browser hijacker because it modifies the New Tab page. Although it does that with your permission, that does not make the hijacker reliable or harmless. It can spy on users, redirect them to a third-party search engine, and expose them to sponsored content. Overall, it appears that the seemingly beneficial search tool is masking undesirable and unreliable activity, and this is why it is recognized as a browser hijacker. Moreover, the creator of this hijacker is unknown. Though it is stated that MyPrivacy Search Ltd. is the developer, the Privacy Policy and the Term of Use documents (they are linked at the bottom of Search.myprivacy.zone) represent the policies of MonetizeAd Ltd., which, of course, is an entirely different company. It appears that this is an advertising company that generates profit by monetizing content. Our researchers have found that the hijacker advertises third-party ads, and so it is most likely that MonetizeAd Ltd. is the real developer. That being said, do you want to trust a program that poses an assistant or a beneficial tool, but, in reality, was created to serve third-party advertisers?
Although Search.myprivacy.zone allows you to change the color and the image of your New Tab page, and it displays the current time, location, and weather forecast, there is more than meets the eye. It is obvious that this hijacker is an advertising tool. First of all, it promotes links to Gmail, Yahoo, Facebook, YouTube, Amazon, Macy’s, Target, TripAdvisor, Groupon, and Instagram. The good news is that these route to legitimate websites. The bad news is that Search.myprivacy.zone can exploit a popular search provider – Yahoo Search – to expose you to unpredictable third-party content, and we cannot guarantee that this content is just as harmless as the easy-access links. The hijacker redirects all search queries to search.yahoo.com without authorization, and that is a red flag. If you ignore that, you are likely to interact with all search results that are shown to you, and they might include advertisements and even unreliable links. Needless to say, that is not something you can overlook, especially because there are so many malicious parties and schemers who are using ads to open up security backdoors.
How to remove Search.myprivacy.zone
If your New Tab page represents Search.myprivacy.zone, the chances are that you need to delete an add-on that is responsible for hijacking your Chrome browser. If you have no clue how to eliminate this add-on, use the guide below. Hopefully, that is how you get your operating system free from suspicious software. Unfortunately, no one can guarantee that. If you have acquired the extension that is linked to the hijacker using a third-party installer represent by an unfamiliar party, the chances are that other threats have invaded your operating system as well. How can you determine that? We advise using a legitimate malware scanner. Alternatively, you can install an anti-malware tool right away. This tool will scan your PC, delete malware (of course, it will automatically delete Search.myprivacy.zone as well), and keep your system protected. Obviously, if you choose to erase all found threats yourself, you will need to take care of protection separately.
Removal Instructions
- Launch Google Chrome.
- Tap Alt+F on keyboard to access the Chrome menu.
- Click More tools and then Extensions.
- Click the recycle bin next to the unwanted add-on.
- Select Remove and then restart the browser.
100% FREE spyware scan and
tested removal of Search.myprivacy.zone*
0 Comments.