How to remove Dotop from browser hijackers

Effective guide to delete Dotop frequently

Dotop is described as malicious websites that has been designed by cyber criminals to make certain changes in browser settings in order to promote fake search engine. This site is often promoted by various browser hijacking potentially unwanted programs. This dubious program may seem legit but it surely had some very dark sides as it has been reported guilty for stealing personal information, showing unwanted ads and installing malicious programs on the compromised machine. Finding and removing this browser hijacker infection manually could be tricky as it spread its associated files so this guide can help you to identify and delete this threat completely.

Moreover, browser hijackers usually target the most popular and well known browsers without having user’s approval. After infiltrating, they assign default search engine, homepage and new tab URL browser settings in order to promote its own malicious domains. After that, every time users are insisted to visit hijackers websites whenever they open new browsing tab or enter any query in the search box. It will bombard your PC with lots of sponsored results and annoying pop-up ads that will keep redirecting your browser on unknown and malicious websites.

Further, browser hijacking apps are likely used to monitor user’s internet browsing activity and collect various browsing related data (pages viewed, entered search queries, IP addresses, password etc). There is high possibility that your personal details might also get hacked. After that all those details are shared with third parties who misuse it in order to make revenue as much as possible. Further, such type of behavior might leads to serious privacy issues, financial losses and even cause identity exposure. So, in one way or another removal of Dotop and all installed suspicious applications and browser extensions is compulsory.

Distribution methods:

Browser hijackers and PUAs can infiltrate into your system by using several ways. They can get downloaded from official promotional websites. However, they also invade into your PC through download or installation setups of other programs. This deceptive marketing method of packing ordinary software with unwanted or malicious content is called bundling. This technique is used by freeware developer to generate revenue from their free products of by designers of unreliable content promoted by misusing the popularity of legitimate programs. Thus, rushing and skipping installation procedure increase the risk of unintentionally allowed bundled content. So, while downloading and installing you must be cautious.

How to prevent intruding unwanted apps?

The key to computer safety is carefulness therefore you must always pay close attention while downloading and installing any software as well as browsing internet. Avoid clicking on deceptive ads as they redirect you to harmful websites or cause unwanted downloads or installations. All programs and files should only be downloaded by using official and verified sources. You are suggested not to use untrustworthy download channels as they are used to proliferate malware. Further, to prevent installation of browser hijackers closely observe each step of the software download and installation processes. Decline all offers to download or install additional programs and opt out for those already included.

Remove Dotop

Manual malware removal threat might be lengthy and complicated as it requires advanced computer skills to perform virus removal process. To keep system web browser safe and secure you are recommended to use Spyhunter for Windows that has the capability to remove Dotop and all installed browser hijackers completely from the machine.

Threat classification

Name: Dotop

Type: Browser hijacker, Redirect, PUA, Search hijacker

Mostly affected browsers: Google chrome, Opera, Internet Explorer, Safari, Mozilla Firefox and many other browsers.

Description: It is another hectic browser hijacker that impacts all your browsers to promote its sponsored advertisements or websites in high frequency.

Distribution: deceptive pop-up ads, software bundling, peer to peer sharing networks such as torrent clients, eMule and so on, porn or torrent sites and many more.

Symptoms: alter homepage, default search engine and new tab settings, redirect you to dubious websites that contain lots of infections and display lots of intrusive advertisements.

Risks: exposes user to suspicious and potentially dangerous content, collect and track users browsing related information including IP addresses, entered search queries, pages viewed and other similar details.

Elimination: To remove all infiltrated browser hijackers, our security experts recommend users to use some reputable antivirus removal tool.

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 Dotop:

Remove the related items of Dotop 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 Dotop 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 (Dotop) 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 Dotop 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 Dotop 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 Dotop 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 Dotop 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 Dotop (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.