Nature NewTab Extension
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: | 2,414 |
| Threat Level: | 50 % (Medium) |
| Infected Computers: | 880 |
| First Seen: | February 9, 2023 |
| Last Seen: | September 30, 2023 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
Research has revealed that the Nature NewTab Extension is a browser extension that hijacks Web browsers and promotes naturenewtabextension.com, a fake search engine incapable of providing unique results. It is often the case that users unintentionally download and install browser hijackers on their systems due to the questionable methods involved in the distribution of such PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs).
Intrusive Actions Seen in Browser Hijackers such as the Nature NewTab Extension
The Nature NewTab Extension promotes a fake search engine, naturenewtabextension.com, which redirects to bing.com. This application sets naturenewtabextension.com as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page and does not allow users to remove it from these settings while Nature NewTab is present on the system. While Bing.com is a legitimate search engine, fake search engines like naturenewtabextension.com also may redirect or show results from untrustworthy search engines.
What Are the Risks Associated with PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs)?
A major risk associated with PUPs is unauthorized access to personal data stored on devices. Many times these Potentially Unwanted Programs are injected with intrusive code that can grant them the ability to collect sensitive information, such as browsing-related data, passwords, bank account numbers and other valuable data.
Another common consequence of installing PUPs onto one’s device is having advertisements popping up all over their screen – whether it’s from their Web browser or desktop applications - without prior warning or consent from the user. It goes without saying, but this inundation of advertisements can quickly become very annoying for those affected by it and can eventually lead to them removing the program from their devices entirely or using an ad blocker as a last resort solution.
Finally, another common risk posed by PUPs is unwanted browser redirections, whereby users could get accidentally redirected to rogue websites containing deceptive content or tactics.
