Snitou.com Redirect

What is snitou.com?

According to the developers, snitou.com is a "high-quality" Internet search engine that significantly enhances the browsing experience by generating improved results. Judging on the appearance, snitou.com barely differs from Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other similar legitimate search engines.

Therefore, many users believe that snitou.com is also legitimate and useful. In fact, cyber criminals promote this site using rogue browser-hijacking download/installation set-ups that modify browser options without consent. Furthermore, snitou.com records various user-system information.

Rogue set-ups target Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, they stealthily assign the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to snitou.com. Due to these changes, users are automatically redirected to snitou.com when they search via the URL bar or simply open a browser/new browser tab.

The unwanted redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience. Furthermore, set-ups stealthily install a number of "helper objects" (third party potentially unwanted programs [PUPs] and/or browser add-ons) that reassign the aforementioned settings when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, users are unable to revert changes performed by rogue set-ups.

As mentioned above, snitou.com claims to generate improved search results, however, it copies the search query and redirects users to search.yahoo.com. Therefore, searches are carried out via the Yahoo search engine. Another downside is information tracking.

Be aware that helper objects and snitou.com continually record various information (including IP addresses, URLs visited, search queries, pages viewed, keystrokes, etc.) that might contain personal details. Developers sell this information to third parties (mostly for dubious marketing purposes), putting users' privacy at risk.

Some rogue PUPs and browser plug-ins are known to misuse system resources to run background processes (for example, mining cryptocurrency) without consent. The presence of these programs often results in a significant reduction in computer performance.

If you encounter unwanted redirects to snitou.com, uninstall all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. Never return to this website.

Threat Summary:

Name	snitou.com browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

snitou.com is virtually identical to search.securysearch.com, boxedsearch.com, searchprotector.net, and hundreds of other fake search engines. 

All claim to enhance the browsing experience by providing "useful features" (for example, improved search results, shortcuts to popular websites, weather forecasts, etc.), however, by delivering fake promises, these websites attempt to give the impression of legitimacy - most are useless for regular users.

Only a small percentage provide the features promised. Fake search engines cause unwanted redirects and collect user-system information.

Some even generate fake search results and deliver various 'malvertising ads'. These results and ads can lead to malicious websites. In addition, some ads run scripts that download and install malware. Therefore, fake search engines pose a direct threat to your privacy and Internet browsing safety.

How did snitou.com install on my computer?

As mentioned above, snitou.com is promoted via rogue download/installation set-ups (a deceptive marketing method called "bundling"). Developers know that users often rush the download/installation processes and skip steps.

They do not properly disclose details of browser modifications and hide this information (most likely within the "Custom/Advanced" options of the download/installation processes).

Therefore, rushing and skipping steps inadvertently grants set-ups permission to modify options. In addition, users expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Potentially unwanted programs (such as helper objects) are distributed using the "bundling" method, and via the aforementioned intrusive ads. Therefore, be cautious when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet.

Third party download/installation tools commonly bundle malicious apps and, thus, we strongly advise you to avoid using such tools - download your software from official/trusted sources only and, preferably, using a direct download link. In addition, carefully analyze each window of the download/installation dialogs to opt-out of all additionally-included programs.

Note that malvertising ads usually appear genuine, however, they can be identified by their redirects - they often lead to surveys, adult dating, pornography, gambling, and other similar deceptive websites. Therefore, if you encounter ads and are redirected to these sites, remove all suspicious apps and browser plug-ins.

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is snitou.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall snitou.com application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove snitou.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove snitou.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove snitou.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove snitou.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

snitou.com browser hijacker 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 any recently-installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the snitou.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

snitou.com browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://snitou.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "snitou".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the snitou.com browser hijacker, 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.snitou.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "snitou", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the snitou.com browser hijacker, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove all recently-installed browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://snitou.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "snitou.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with snitou.com browser hijacker 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 snitou.com browser hijacker, 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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