Remove Settings-chrome.com browser hijacker

Proper guide to delete Settings-chrome.com

Settings-chrome.com is a dubious site promoted by many potentially unwanted programs that intrude in without user’s consent. PUPs intrude along with other software download when not proper download/installation method is chosen and skip through crucial steps during installation moments.

As it mentioned, potentially unwanted programs promote Settings-chrome.com which is a fake search engine. To achieve this, the PUPs hijack well known browsers and assign the URL tabs, homepage and default search engine to their original defaults. Users are unable to return to the previous browser’s setting options.

The PUPs reassigns the changes all the time whenever the attempts to change them were made. For this reason, users have no other choice rather than to visit Settings-chrome.com when they open browsing tab or search the web via URL bar. As a result, the web browsing quality significantly decreases.

Also, it has data gathering capability. It can collect the data relating to users browsing habits or even sensitive information like credit card details, passwords etc. The developers use such details to design customized advertisements to generate more and more revenue.

The collected information could be shared to potent cyber criminals who misuse the data to make profit. This data tracking can result into huge risk of privacy or even identity exposure. We highly recommend uninstall the malicious applications and never visit Settings-chrome.com again.

How did Settings-chrome.com intrude in my PC?

As it mentioned in the introduction, potentially unwanted programs intrude without users consent. PUAs developers distribute their applications via using intrusive advertisements and bundling method. Intrusive adverts typically redirect users to unreliable websites and may run malicious scripts to download/install malware. On the other hand, bundling is the process used to define as an undercover installation of unwanted apps that take place with some regular software. In such cases, unwanted apps can be found included in downloader’s and installers as additional offers. Users who download or install programs that come bundled with PUAs without changing any settings, download or install those unwanted apps too. Usually, unwanted apps can be opted out by using custom or advanced settings or by unticking certain checkboxes. So, users are advised to be very careful when downloading and installing software as well as clicking on ads.

How to avoid installation of PUAs?

It is strongly advised not to use unreliable sources such as third party downloader’s, unofficial pages, torrent clients, eMule and so on for downloading applications or files. It should only be downloaded by using official pages and via direct links. Installation of any programs cannot be completed without checking installers for custom, advanced and other settings or ticked checkboxes. Additionally, it is recommended not to click on advertisements that appear while visiting questionable pages. Such ads are used to promote other pages of this kind or distribute unwanted apps. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, then we recommend running a scan with reliable antivirus removal tool that has the ability to eliminate them immediately.

Quick Glance

Name: Settings-chrome.com

Type: Browser hijacker

Symptoms:  manipulated browser’s settings, intrusive redirects, annoying and deceptive ads and pop-up displaying, decreased web browsing speed.

Distribution methods: software bundling, intrusive advertisements, pirated software, porn or torrent sites, unsafe file sharing networks and so on.

Damage: data tracking, redirecting to shady sites, other possible malware infections 

Removal: Delete Settings-chrome.com by using Spyhunter

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 Settings-chrome.com:

Remove the related items of Settings-chrome.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 Settings-chrome.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 (Settings-chrome.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 Settings-chrome.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 Settings-chrome.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 Settings-chrome.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 Settings-chrome.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 Settings-chrome.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.