iHaveNet.com

By LoneStar in Browser Hijackers

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iHaveNet.com is one of the many low-quality websites that have been associated with what is commonly known as the Google Redirect Virus. The Google Redirect Virus is a well-known browser hijacker that takes over search results on Google and other popular search engines in order to direct computer users to different websites against their will. This is usually part of a scam that involves profiting illegally from pay-per-click schemes, affiliate marketing plans, and advertising revenue. ESG security researchers advise scanning your computer with a strong, reliable anti-malware program if your web browser is consistently forcing you to visit iHaveNet.com and other similar websites against your will.

The term 'Virus' is not quite correct when referring to the Google Redirect Virus. These kinds of redirects are actually caused by a Trojan infection that is a common component in many rootkit threats. This Trojan can make changes to the HOSTS file, altering how your computer connects to the Internet and forcing your web browser to visit websites against your will. The vast majority of websites associated with the Google Redirect Virus are low-quality search engines (this includes iHaveNet.com). This is because iHaveNet.com is much more effective when redirects occur after an online search. Inexperienced computer users will often mistake these kinds of redirects as a normal event and may try their searches again on iHaveNet.com or on the particular fake search engine associated with that particular Google Redirect Virus infection. Doing this exposes their computer to other malware and also allows criminals to profit further from advertising and affiliate marketing plans.

Although the iHaveNet.com website is not particularly dangerous, ESG security researchers take browser redirects such as this one very seriously. This is because the Google Redirect Virus is often a component in a severe rootkit infection. These kinds of malware threats take over a computer and infect it on a deep level, effectively changing various essential system settings, Windows Registry entries, and how the infected computer connects to the Internet. Because of this Trojan's harmful associations, using a normal anti-malware program may not be enough to stop iHaveNet.com redirects. ESG malware analysts advise computer users to use an anti-malware program with anti-rootkit capabilities or a separate anti-rootkit utility if iHaveNet.com redirects continue after removal with a normal anti-malware application.

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