Search.hrecipenetwork.co Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.hrecipenetwork.co?
Recipe Network is a rogue application that supposedly provides access to various food recipes. Judging on appearance alone, Recipe Network may seem legitimate and useful, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA) and a browser hijacker.
There are three main reasons for these negative associations: 1) installation without users' consent; 2) promotion of a fake search engine, and; 3) tracking of browsing activity.
This browser hijacker promotes the search.hrecipenetwork.co search engine. Recipe Network targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. After successful infiltration, this unwanted app assigns the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options to search.hrecipenetwork.co.
These changes may seem insignificant, however, users are unable to revert them. Research shows that Recipe Network reassigns browser settings when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, as long as this browser hijacker is present, returning browsers to their previous states is impossible and users are forced to visit search.hrecipenetwork.co when they search via the URL bar or simply open a new browser tab/window. These redirects significantly diminish the browsing experience.
Note that, once a search query is entered, search.hrecipenetwork.co redirects users to search.yahoo.com and, ultimately, they end up searching via Yahoo (a legitimate search engine). This makes search.hrecipenetwork.co useless and redundant. As mentioned, Recipe Network (and search.hrecipenetwork.co) record information relating to browsing activity.
Furthermore, browser hijackers/fake search engines are likely to collect personally identifiable information that developers later share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).
These people misuse private information to generate revenue. Thus, data tracking might lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly advise that you uninstall the Recipe Network browser hijacker and never return to search.hrecipenetwork.co.
Name | Recipe Network 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. |
Recipe Network is identical to Find My Route, Your Television Now, Doppler Weather Radar, and dozens of other browser-hijacking applications. By offering "useful functions", these applications attempt to give the impression of legitimacy and trick users to install, however, browser-hijacking apps typically have just one purpose: to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than giving any real value for regular users, they cause unwanted redirects and gather information, thereby diminishing the browsing experience and posing a direct threat to your privacy. Note that some fake search engines generate false results and intrusive advertisements.
These typically lead to dubious (potentially malicious) websites. Thus, using fake search engines might lead to various system infections.
How did Recipe Network install on my computer?
This browser hijacker does has an official download website, however, many users install Recipe Network inadvertently, since these apps are often distributed using "bundling" and intrusive advertising methods. "Bundling" is essentially stealth installation of third party apps with regular software.
Developers hide "bundled" apps within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes. Intrusive advertisements redirect users to malicious sites and execute scripts that download and install unwanted apps.
Furthermore, many users often skip download/installation steps and click advertisements without understanding the possible consequences - this behavior often leads to inadvertent installation of unwanted applications, such as Recipe Network. In this way, users expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent this situation, be very cautious when browsing the internet and downloading/installing software. Intrusive advertisements typically seem legitimate, but once clicked, redirect to dubious websites such as gambling, adult dating, pornography, and similar. These are usually delivered by adware-type applications.
Thus, if you encounter unwanted ads/redirects, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. In addition, select "Custom/Advanced" settings, carefully observe each step of the download/installation processes, and deselect all additionally-included programs.
We advise you to download your programs from official sources only, using direct download links, rather than using third party downloaders/installers.
These tools often include rogue apps, and thus should not be used. The key to computer safety is caution. If your computer is already infected with Recipe Network, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting Recipe Network browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.hrecipenetwork.co?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Recipe Network application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.hrecipenetwork.co redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Recipe Network browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.hrecipenetwork.co homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.hrecipenetwork.co redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Recipe Network 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 (for example, "Recipe Network"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.hrecipenetwork.co website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Recipe Network 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://search.hrecipenetwork.co 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 "Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the recipe network 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 "Recipe Network" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
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.search.hrecipenetwork.co) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on 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 "search.hrecipenetwork.co", 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 recipe network 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 on "Extensions" and remove "Recipe Network" (or simply "Recipes"), as well as all other 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, disable "Recipes Network" (or simply "Recipes"), remove hxxp://search.hrecipenetwork.co 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: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with recipe network 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 recipe network 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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