How To Remove Link Default Browser Hijacker

Easy Guide To Delete Link Default from PC

Link Default is a fake webpage that is mainly designed to promote fake search engine linkdefault.com web address. It not only designed to promote fake search engine but also gathers user’s online browsing activities. Mostly users download and install such type of application unintentionally therefore it is categorized as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUAs).

It is able to infect all popular and mostly used web browsers like as Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer,  Google Chrome, Safari, Edge and others. It makes several unwanted changes like as homepage, search engine and DNS setting etc. It also replaces the homepage and default search engine with fake search engine address Link Default.  While users enter search queries in to URL bar, open new tab or web browser then it provides result generated by Google, Yahoo and redirect users to Google.com, Yahoo.com etc.

As a potentially unwanted program, the main aim of this virus is to generate web traffic on the visited webpage by the bombard various kinds of intrusive and harmful advertisements like as commercial ads, pop-up ads, coupons, banners, discounts etc. These ads might diminish the browsing experience and makes illegal revenue on pay per click methods for the creator. Upon clicking on these adverts might cause redirection issues on the malicious and phishing webpage and the installation of potentially unwanted program like as adware and other harmful threats.

How Link Default is More Harmful for PC:

Moreover, Link Default is able to corrupt your system files and Windows registries as well as create duplicate file as a similar name. It can block firewall, task manager, control panel and real antivirus program. It has the ability to install additional browser extension, plug-in, add-ons etc. It can track user’s online browsing habits to collect user’s personal and confidential information like as email-id, password, bank account details, IP address, geo-locations etc. After that share these details to the cyber offender for illegal use. It can generate web traffic on the running webpage to downpour surfing speed and makes your browser totally useless. Thus it is highly advice to delete Link Default as quickly as possible.

Threat Summary:

Name: Link Default

Threat Type: PUP, Browser Hijacker

Descriptions: Link Default is a fake webpage that is mainly designed to promote fake search engine linkdefault.com web address.

Distribution Methods: bundling of freeware program, Clicking on malicious ads, peer to peer sharing files and other social engineering techniques.

Removal Process: Users are highly advice scan the PC with reputable antimalware tool to keep the System safe and secure.

How did Link Default gets installed into the PC:

Link Default usually get enters into the PC with the bundling of freeware program, Clicking on malicious ads, peer to peer sharing files and other social engineering techniques. Bundling is a deceptive marketing method that is only a trick users into downloading pre-packing regular software with unwanted program. Users often download and install freeware program without checking custom or advance options as well as skipping steps. Such types of installation of freeware program might cause the infiltration of potentially unwanted program.  Once clicking on malicious ads even accidently executes lots of malicious script which cause the installation of unwanted program. Sharing files through bad network environments like as emule, torrent, clients, Gnutella and so on offers to the installation of lots of infections.

How To Avoiding the installation of Link Default:

It is highly recommended, don’t try to download and install freeware program from third party site. Use always the official or trustworthy site while download and installing freeware program. It is highly important to read the installation guide carefully till the end. Don’t skip to check custom or advance option because these setting prevent the installation of the malicious files and terminate the installation process intermediate. Users also must be avoiding the annoying and intrusive adverts. Please do not click on them even accidently. Users also must be pay attentive while sharing files and do not share files through bad network environments.  Users are highly advice scan the PC with reputable antimalware tool to keep the System safe and secure.

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 Link Default:

Remove the related items of Link Default 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 Link Default 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 (Link Default) 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 Link Default 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 Link Default 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 Link Default 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 Link Default 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 Link Default (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.