Remove Lookmini browser hijacker

Browser hijacked by Lookmini: Is there any solution?

Lookmini is browser hijacker infection that invades inside computer without user’s authorization. Installation of such app is accidental and is mostly happened when users install some kind of free software. As soon as this malicious software intrudes, it makes alterations into browser settings option in order to promote dubious search engine named tailsearch.com. This dubious threat is able to infect all kinds of well known browsers. Moreover, this browser hijacker spies on users browsing habits. Due to its infiltration methods, it is considered to be potentially unwanted application.

When the browser hijacker intrudes, it changes the settings of installed browser and changes its own URL address to homepage, default search engine and new tab page. Typically, these changes are considered as insignificant. In case of the browser hijacker infection, users are unable to restore to the previous browser setting options. They are redirected to the tailsearch.com while opening new browsing tab or typed any query into URL bar. The redirection is considered as harmful because there is a risk of various other malicious malware intrusions like Trojan or ransomware.

Other risk associated with the browser hijacker is its data tracking ability. They can monitor users browsing session and gather information relating to browsing habits including visited websites, viewed pages, search queries typed, geo-locations and similar. All such details are shared with third parties who misuse those data in a way to generate revenue. To sum up, presence of data tracking apps leads to various system infiltrations, browsing safety and also even leads to identity theft. To avoid all these things, remove Lookmini as soon as possible.

How your system gets infected from Lookmini?

PUAs like Lookmini have its own official download pages. However, these applications can also be installed along with other programs especially freeware and shareware. This dubious marketing method of installing unwanted application is called bundling. Developers conceal this information. It is usually hidden behind custom/advanced option of download/installation setups. When users rush these setups and skip most of the crucial installation steps they might give permission to potentially unwanted applications to be get downloaded and installed. On the other hand, this kind of applications also gets spread by intrusive adverts that displayed in form of ads and pop-ups. Once clicked, those ads can run scripts that secretly download and install this software.

How to avoid installation of PUAs?

It is recommended to research about products before downloading and installing it. You should use official websites and direct links for any software download. It is recommended not to use third party installer, unofficial pages and free file hosting sites as a source for software download since they commonly offer bundled content. Further, pay close attention during installation. Moreover avoid clicking on intrusive ads as they redirect you to questionable websites like pornography, adult dating and so on or cause unwanted downloads and installations. In order to keep device harmless and secured, you are recommended to remove Lookmini and all installed browser hijacker immediately from the system.

Short description

Name: Lookmini                   

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

Short Description: Aims to modify the settings on your web browser in order to get it to cause browser redirects and display different advertisements.

Symptoms: Your web browser begins to display various types of online advertisements, which results in slowing down of your system.

Distribution Method: Bundled downloads. Web pages which may advertise it, free software installers, fake Flash Player Installers.

Damage: display of unwanted ads, internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues) and redirects to dubious websites.

Removal: Both automatic as well as manual removal guidelines have been described below under this article.

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 Lookmini:

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