QueryExplorer.com

QueryExplorer.com can be used to refer to a fake search engine's domain or to a browser hijacker designed to force its victims to visit this fake search engine's website. QueryExplorer.com is part of a large family of fake search engines with similar, associated browser hijackers. Some examples of these include BarQuery and QuestDNS (BarQuery.com and QuestDNS.com). Superficially, QueryExplorer.com seems to be a legitimate search engine. However, do not be fooled by its slick, professional-looking design; QueryExplorer.com is designed to scam you, while turning a profit for the criminals behind this fake search engine. Do not let criminals make money at your expense. ESG security researchers strongly recommend removing QueryExplorer.com's browser hijacker with a legitimate anti-malware program. As long as your security application is fully updated and reliable, it should be able to detect malware associated with QueryExplorer.com. If your Internet browser is still forcing you to visit QueryExplorer.com and your security program claims that nothing is wrong, it may be necessary to restart your computer in Safe Mode, to prevent malware associated with QueryExplorer.com from obfuscating your security applications. In some cases, QueryExplorer.com's browser hijacker may be installed in association with a rootkit. A rootkit may create an invisibility on your hard drive or protect QueryExplorer.com in other ways. In these cases, the removal of QueryExplorer.com is made more difficult and a specialized tool for rootkit removal may be necessary.

How the QueryExplorer.com Scam Works

There are plenty of ways in which hackers can take advantage of a browser hijacker in order to make a hefty, albeit illegal, profit. It is important to remember that most online revenue is generated through advertisement impressions and affiliate marketing links. While the vast majority of legitimate companies will earn this revenue by building useful or interesting websites designed to attract Internet traffic, the criminals behind websites like QueryExplorer.com use malware in order to drive up their traffic artificially. Most people visiting QueryExplorer.com do so because they have no choice in the matter. Regardless of their actions, online searches or an address typed into the address bar, will cause the victim's Internet browser to lead him/her to QueryExplorer.com. Any searches performed on this fake search engine will lead to a variety of spam websites that display advertisements, in order to boost the criminals' earnings. The QueryExplorer.com browser hijacker will usually infect a computer through a spam email attachment or directly through an attack website or corrupted Internet advertisement.