Kwiqsearch.com
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are assessment reports for different malware threats which have been collected and analyzed by our research team. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards evaluate and rank threats using several metrics including real-world and potential risk factors, trends, frequency, prevalence, and persistence. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are updated regularly based on our research data and metrics and are useful for a wide range of computer users, from end users seeking solutions to remove malware from their systems to security experts analyzing threats.
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards display a variety of useful information, including:
Ranking: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
| Ranking: | 16,542 |
| Threat Level: | 50 % (Medium) |
| Infected Computers: | 8 |
| First Seen: | December 6, 2012 |
| Last Seen: | August 22, 2023 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
Kwiqsearch.com is a fake search engine that relies on underhanded tactics to trick users into visiting and using it. As most fake engines of this type, this includes the use of browser hijacker applications. In this case, infosec researchers have noticed that Kwiqsearch.com is being spread by a fake Google Translate browser extension.
Activating the extension will result in the settings of the user's Web browser being modified forcibly. More specifically, the browser hijacker will change the homepage, new tab page, and the default search engine to open the address of the Kwiqsearch.com fake engine. Subsequently, any time that the affected browser is opened, a new tab is started, or a search is conducted in the URL bar, it would immediately result in a redirect to the fake engine. To protect itself and the unwanted modifications it has made to the Chrome browser, the browser hijacker will exploit the legitimate 'managed by your organization' feature.
Besides the sheer annoyance brought on by this PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program), users should be warned that their browsing activities might be tracked. PUPs are known for having data-collection functionality notoriously. They might harvest the entire browsing history, search history, and all clicked URLs in addition to numerous device details. This risky behavior should be enough to consider removing any PUP present on your system as soon as possible.
URLs
Kwiqsearch.com may call the following URLs:
| kwiqsearch.com |
