How to remove Find.linkdefault.com browser hijacker

Proper guide to delete Find.linkdefault.com

Threat summary

Name: Find.linkdefault.com

Type: Browser hijacker, unwanted new tab, Search hijacker, Redirect

Infiltration: spam email attachments, updating system software, downloading unwanted programs, harmful websites, suspicious links and performing other online activities.

Functionality: This browser hijacker main intention is to enhance web browsing experience by providing best and immediate searching results. 

Symptoms: modifying web browser settings like default search engine, homepage and new tab URL. After that users are encouraged to visit hijacker’s websites in order to search any query by using their search engines.

Damage: display lots of unwanted and annoying advertisements, redirect to unreliable websites, loss of private information, internet browser tracking (possibly privacy issues).

Removal process: In order to keep the system web browser safe and secure from more issues, you are highly suggested to remove Find.linkdefault.com by using strong antimalware tool.

Find.linkdefault.com is rogue website that users encounter during web browsing over all internet browsers such as Edge, IE, Mozilla Firefox, Safari and others. As a rule, user comes to this site as a redirect from potentially unwanted application that is already installed on the PC. Such apps come bundled with other free programs without having user’s consent. What’s worst, besides causing redirects, they deliver intrusive advertisements as well as collect data related to users browsing habits.

Usually, Find.linkdefault.com promotes fake search engines by making changes into browser settings like the address of default search engine, homepage and new tab URL. Therefore, it forces users to visit the above domain when they enter any search queries into URL bar. Basically, it is called fake search engines because it provides result generated by Google once visited and then redirect them to google.com. Thus, to reset previous browser settings users need to uninstall this software first.

As we mentioned above that it can be designed to collect various data also. In most of the cases, this type of apps target browsing data. The worst part is that all recorded data are shared with third parties (potentially cyber criminals) who misuse to generate revenue. In such case, users may experience lots of problems related to online privacy, browsing safety or even becomes victims of identity theft. So, it becomes mandatory for users to remove Find.linkdefault.com as early as possible.

How did Find.linkdefault.com install on my PC?

Usually, Find.linkdefault.com enters into your system through bundles of free third party programs, spam emails, suspicious websites, harmful links, misleading ads and pop-up and other similar option. During installation of program, always pay close attention and select custom or advance options of installation setups. Once installed, it will disable all your security programs like antivirus software and firewall security and other important applications to avoid its removal and detection. So, must be very attentive before clicking on any misleading adverts or go for fake online survey. All software (especially if  it is free) should be downloaded only from official websites and via direct links.

Remove Find.linkdefault.com

Complete removal instructions have been described below under this article by using both automatic and manual removal process. Manual removal of this threat is quite risky and time-taking as well as also requires some computer knowledge to perform this removal process. Instead this process, we suggest our users to use some reliable antivirus removal tool such as Spyhunter that has the capability to remove Find.linkdefault.com and all this browser hijacker infection completely from the system.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Find.linkdefault.com:

Remove the related items of Find.linkdefault.com using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Find.linkdefault.com issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Find.linkdefault.com) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Find.linkdefault.com removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Find.linkdefault.com still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Find.linkdefault.com plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Find.linkdefault.com removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Find.linkdefault.com (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.