Maxask.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: | 433 |
| Threat Level: | 50 % (Medium) |
| Infected Computers: | 1,682 |
| First Seen: | April 26, 2024 |
| Last Seen: | June 13, 2024 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
Browser hijackers are intrusive applications that manipulate your Web browser settings without your consent. They often redirect you to unwanted websites and bombard you with intrusive advertisements. These threats can severely disrupt your browsing experience and compromise your online security by promoting fraudulent search engines and tracking your activities.
Maxask.com is a fake search engine discovered by cybersecurity researchers. This dubious site is spread through an intrusive application named Max Ask, which exhibits browser-hijacking capabilities. Unlike most fraudulent search engines, maxask.com can generate search results, although they are often inaccurate and misleading. Browser-hijacking software like Max Ask promotes such fraudulent search engines by redirecting users through modified browser settings, ensuring that every search query and Web address entered leads to the hijacker's preferred sites. This manipulation not only disrupts the user experience but also poses significant security risks, making it essential to detect and remove browser hijackers promptly.
Table of Contents
Maxask.com Takes Over Essential Browser Settings
Browser hijackers alter browser settings, changing the homepage, default search engine, and new tab pages to specific, endorsed sites. Consequently, users are often redirected to these promoted Web pages whenever they perform Web searches via the URL bar or open new browser tabs or windows. In the case of the Max Ask application, these redirects direct users to the maxask.com website.
Most fake search engines cannot generate their own search results, so they redirect users to legitimate search engines like Bing, Yahoo or Google. Maxask.com is an exception in that it can generate search results, but these results are often inaccurate and filled with sponsored, unreliable, deceptive, and potentially unsafe content.
Additionally, illegitimate search engines typically collect data about their visitors. Max Ask likely possesses data-tracking capabilities common to browser hijackers. The information it targets may include visited URLs, viewed pages, search queries, browser cookies, usernames and passwords, personally identifiable information and financial data. This collected information can be monetized by selling it to third parties, posing significant privacy and security risks to users.
Users are Unlikely to Install Browser Hijackers on Their Devices Knowingly
Users are unlikely to install browser hijackers on their devices knowingly due to the deceptive tactics employed by cybercriminals. These fraudulent programs often bundle with legitimate software, hiding in plain sight during the installation process. This bundling technique, known as "bundled software," takes advantage of users' tendency to quickly click through installation steps without thoroughly reading each prompt.
Additionally, browser hijackers can masquerade as useful tools or software updates. They may present themselves as necessary browser extensions, media players, or system optimizers, convincing users that they are beneficial applications. By disguising themselves as legitimate and desirable software, hijackers can trick users into installing them without suspicion.
Moreover, unsafe websites and phishing emails often play a crucial role in the spread of browser hijackers. Users may encounter pop-up advertisements or deceptive download links while browsing the Internet, leading them to inadvertently download the hijacker. Similarly, phishing emails may contain links or attachments that, when accessed, initiate the download and installation of the hijacker.
Social engineering tricks further enhance the effectiveness of these deceptive strategies. Cybercriminals craft persuasive messages and fake alerts that create a feeling of urgency, pressuring users to download and install the hijacker without taking the time to verify its authenticity.
Overall, the combination of bundling with legitimate software, disguising as useful tools, exploiting fraud-related websites and phishing emails, and employing social engineering tactics makes it highly unlikely for users to install browser hijackers on their devices knowingly.
URLs
Maxask.com may call the following URLs:
| maxask.com |
