Updatesearch.org

By LoneStar in Browser Hijackers

Updatesearch.org – A Malicious Web Page Containing a Fake Video Codec

If you visit Updatesearch.org, you will find a web page that attempts to convince you to download and install what is supposedly an update for the xvid video codec. The real version of the xvid codec allows your computer system to play video files in certain formats. However, the supposed codec contained at Updatesearch.org is not real. Instead, Updatesearch.org is a Trojan that usually requires the computer users themselves to download and install on the victim's computer system. These kinds of fake video codecs are a very common way of distributing malware, especially on websites specialized in pornographic video or pirated streaming movies. In part due to Windows' integrated media player horrendous support for common video formats, inexperienced computer users are more likely to fall for this scam. Under no circumstances should you install the fake video codec contained at Updatesearch.org and ESG security researchers strongly recommend staying away from this fraudulent web page altogether, but, this is a lot easier to say than to do.

How Criminals Force You to Visit Updatesearch.org Repeatedly

While it may be easy to suggest staying away from Updatesearch.org as a possible malware-prevention technique, most computer users that arrive at this web page do not have that option. This is because Updatesearch.org is linked to the Google Redirect Virus, an infamous browser hijacker that is designed to force a web browser to visit Updatesearch.org and other malicious web pages repeatedly.

The browser hijacker linked to Updatesearch.org has also been known to launch the victim's web browser and connect to Updatesearch.org without any need for the victims themselves to open their web browser beforehand. The most common way in which browser hijackers related to Updatesearch.org work is by redirecting searches on Google and other common online search engines. Basically, when a search is carried out on an infected computer system, the Trojan changes the links so that they will take the victim to Updatesearch.org instead of to the correct website. Inexperienced computer users, thinking that their computer is missing a vital component for viewing their content, may fall for the trap and download the fake video codec contained at Updatesearch.org. Any redirects to Updatesearch.org should be treated as definite symptoms of a severe malware infection. To stop them, ESG security researchers recommend using a reliable anti-malware tool to remove any malware associated with Updatesearch.org.

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