Google redirect hijacker

Google redirect hijacker is simply an alias of the Google Redirect Virus, a malware infection that is quite prevalent. The Google redirect hijacker is associated with a variety of Trojans and rootkits. As its name implies, the Google redirect hijacker is a malware threat that changes the results displayed by the Google search engine. Instead of linking to your legitimate search results, the hijacked Google search results direct the victim to a variety of rogue websites associated with several malware infections. According to ESG malware researchers, the presence of the Google redirect hijacker on your computer is cause for worry and can, potentially harm your computer system or make your personal information available to a third party. ESG security researchers recommend using a fully-updated anti-malware tool to remove the Google redirect hijacker from your computer system.

What Causes a Google Redirect Hijacker Infection?

A Google redirect hijacker infection is usually caused by a Trojan, or some rootkits (especially the TDSS Rootkit and its variants.) This malware infection is known as a browser hijacker because it literally hijacks your Internet browser, taking control and causing it to visit several malicious websites against the victim's will. The Google redirect hijacker can also be caused by a variety of malicious toolbars and adware infections and is, usually, also associated with the display of annoying advertisements and pop-up windows. One typical course of action that many malware infections take is to use the Google redirect hijacker to drive traffic to certain websites, in order to generate revenue or infect a computer system with additional malware threats.

How the Google Redirect Hijacker Affects a Computer System

The Google redirect hijacker receives its name because Google redirect hijacker alters the search results on the most commonly-used search engine: Google. The Google search engine will still display a normal list of results. However, the Google redirect hijacker changes the links, so that they will direct the user to one of several malicious websites, instead of to the website associated with the actual result. Variants of the Google redirect hijacker have been known to include spyware capabilities and the ability to display malicious advertisements directly. The Google redirect hijacker is associated with websites that sell rogue security programs (such as Total Security Pro or Windows Proofness Guarantor) and fake versions of real anti-virus software, like AVG Antivirus 2011.