LinkBucks Redirect Virus

LinkBucks redirect virus - how to eliminate Google redirects to LinkBucks?

What is LinkBucks redirect?

The LinkBucks advertising network pays for clicks on links. This is a popular platform used by webmasters, bloggers, etc. to make money from their websites. Everyone is able to join the network to make money by generating Linkbucks links and directing traffic to them. Whilst this ad network is legitimate, an increasing number of computer user complain that they are redirected to Linkbucks when using Google. These redirects are related to malware and virus infections. If you experience these problems, your are advised scan your computer with a legitimate antispyware program immediately. As the Linkbucks platform is very popular, there are many people who attempt to corrupt the system and gain revenue using black-hat techniques.

Google redirects to Linkbucks can occur after inadvertent installation of unwanted Internet browser extensions, or the problem may be directly related to malware infections. Computer users should express caution when installing free software downloaded from the Internet. Reckless installation of free software is a common mistake resulting in redirect problems. Free software developers often bundle their programs with browser extensions, which cause browser redirects in order to monetize incoming web traffic. Note that the Linkbucks network does not tolerate deceptive link promotion techniques and bans any users employing rogue promotion strategies. If your Internet browser redirects Google searches to Linkbucks ads, your computer is infected. The best way to eliminate these redirects is to use legitimate antivirus and antispyware scanners.

The problem of Google searches redirecting to Linkbucks ads is caused by cyber criminals who exploit legitimate ads networks to earn revenue using malware infections. Recently, these redirects were found to be caused by a malicious browser plug-in called Stats Reader. The guide below describes the removal steps required to eliminate this browser plug-in. Linkbucks redirects can be caused by various malicious software and viruses, thus, if you experience these problems, scan you computer for malware and virus infections. Note that malware infections are often contained within Trojans and exploit kits, thus if your computer remains infected with redirect malware, this can cause further problems.

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Quick menu:

• What is LinkBucks?
• STEP 1. Uninstall LinkBucks application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove LinkBucks add-on from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove LinkBucks plugin from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove LinkBucks extension from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove LinkBucks ads from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Linkbucks redirect removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Stats Reader", select this entry and click " Uninstall" or "Remove"

After uninstalling Stats Reader, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. Note that Google redirects to LinkBucks are directly related to malware infections. Don not skip this step. Recommended malware removal software.

(Note that Stats Reader is just one possible software element causing Google redirects to Linkbucks. Every case is unique, and therefore, please use our Forum for further help regarding this infection if you cannot find this program in the list).

Linkbucks redirect removal from browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "Stats Reader" and disable it.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the linkbucks ads, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions".  Locate "Stats Reader" select this entry and click on the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the linkbucks ads, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and disable "Stats Reader".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with linkbucks ads removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the linkbucks ads, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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