Search-News Default Search
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: | 6,165 |
| Threat Level: | 50 % (Medium) |
| Infected Computers: | 132 |
| First Seen: | January 25, 2023 |
| Last Seen: | September 22, 2023 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
While analyzing the Search-News Default Search application, cybersecurity researchers discovered that it functions as a browser hijacker. The invasive application promotes a fake search engine at 'search-news.xyz' by changing several basic settings of users' Web browsers. The Search-News Default Search application was observed being promoted by shady websites.
Details about the Search-News Default Search Browser Hijacker
The Search-News Default Search is a browser hijacker that sets the 'search-news.xyz' address as the default search engine, homepage and new tab page of the user's browser. Afterward, it does not allow users to replace this address with any other while the PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program) is active on the device. However, the promoted search-news.xyz is not a genuine search engine. It operates by redirecting the initiated Web searches to bing.com, a legitimate search engine. Computer users should keep in mind that this outcome may not be guaranteed. Many browser hijackers adjust their behavior based on specific factors and could instead start showing results from untrustworthy search engines.
Furthermore, Search-News Default Search may be able to monitor and collect the users' browsing information, which may be misused for marketing purposes or sold to third parties by the application's operators. Therefore, avoid keeping browser hijackers and PUPs of this type on your computers or devices.
