UPortal

Posted by Max Lehmann on August 23, 2016

What is UPortal?

UPortal is a browser hijacker that users might download with bundled installers. This application could hijack user’s browser and replace the default homepage or search engine. As a consequence, instead of your favorite web page, the browser might start loading greenet.xyz. The main problem is that the search engine may show you third-party advertising, which could promote malicious web pages or unreliable software. Thus, if you do not want to expose the system to threats, it is highly advisable to get rid of the application. If you take a look at the instructions below, you will see that UPortal could be removed while resetting the hijacked browser. However, if more doubtful programs managed to enter the system, you may want to use a security tool that would deal with all possible threats. test

Where does UPortal come from?

Users might install UPortal even if they did not plan it. The truth is that such browser hijackers are may be distributed with bundled installers, which could be available on doubtful file-sharing web pages. Bundled installers suggest additional programs that are often installed automatically if the user does not deselect them himself. If you think that reading Privacy Policy and Terms of use documents of all optional programs is too much, you could just uncheck all of them on the setup wizard. Just make sure that the one application you want do install is developed by a reliable company and is safe to use.

How does UPortal work?

UPortal could alter some of your browser preferences, e.g. default homepage or search engine. For instance, the hijacker might replace your homepage site with greenet.xyz, which is the search engine’s URL address. Our researchers at Anti-spyware-101.com indicated that the application uses Bing engine to gather results, but it could also redirect them to other sites and add third-party ads. Thus, some of the advertisements might show up in the modified search results. Additionally, the ads may be placed below the search bar.

According to the software’s Privacy Policy, the browser hijacker could provide links to other web pages or downloads with installers of third-party programs. Unfortunately, it is possible that such links could lead you to malicious websites or web pages, which distribute adware. To be more precise, one of the Privacy Policy statements says that “All the downloads and Exe files provided on this site are from a 3rd party and www.greenet.xyz is not responsible for any files or adware.” Some of the statements also warn users to be careful while submitting personal data on third-party sites as it could be dangerous as well.

How to remove UPortal?

Clearly, UPortal is not a good choice if you do not want to be exposed to the potentially harmful content. Luckily, our researchers found a way to delete it manually and prepared a removal guide that you can find if you scroll a little below this text. Nonetheless, we would advise you to use a reliable antimalware tool too. Especially, if you think that you might have installed more similar software. The tool can scan the system and locate the browser hijacker or other possible threats. It would also allow you to delete the detections automatically with only one mouse click.