Opera Redirect Virus
Opera Redirect Virus is an often-used term to describe the numerous adware and browser hijackers apps that are designed to overtake the normal functionality of the Opera web browser and modify it according to their needs. In most cases, the affected settings include the homepage, new tab page, and the default search engine. The goal of these apps is to run an intrusive ad campaign, generate artificial traffic towards a promoted fake search engine, or a combination of both.
Many users may not have even realized that such apps had managed to sneak onto their computer systems until the Opera browser starts to open strange and unfamiliar pages. Indeed, adware and browser hijackers rely primarily on dubious distribution techniques that are designed to keep their installation hidden from the user. That is why the infosec community also classifies them as PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs).
Although PUPs cannot cause any damage to the computer system they are installed on directly, they are still considered a security risk and should be removed as soon as possible. The ads generated by adware could redirect to compromised pages running phishing or tech support scams, spreading additional PUPs, or even malware threats. Browser hijackers, on the other hand, will take all search queries conducted in the affected Opera browser and route them through a fake search engine. The next is either starting a redirect chain involving several fake engines or going straight to a legitimate engine that will produce the results displayed to the user. The problem is that several sponsored ads may be injected into the list of results, even if they do not meet the search criteria.
PUPs are also known for having at least some degree of data-harvesting capabilities. They may spy on the user's browsing habits and then upload the collected information to a remote server. Details such as browsing history, clicked URLs, IP address, geolocation, search history, etc., could be among the gathered data.
It is recommended to clean all apps under the Opera Redirect Virus descriptions with a professional anti-malware solution.
