Page-ups.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is page-ups.com?
page-ups.com is a common fake search engine that is promoted as supposedly useful and of value. It operates in the same way as other engines of this type. Some examples are internet-start.net, blpsearch.com, and funkystreams.com. Developers promote page-ups.com via rogue download/installation setups designed to modify browser settings.
The aforementioned rogue set-ups usually target browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, and Internet Explorer. In this particular case, they appoint page-ups.com as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL.
Normally, these settings can be changed any time, however, set-ups install "helper objects" (browser apps) that prevent users from making any changes. Therefore, people are forced to visit page-ups.com when they open the affected browser, new tab, or they search via URL bar.
This continues as long as the browser apps are installed. Furthermore, these unwanted apps usually collect details relating to users' browsing habits such as Internet Protocol addresses, geolocations, URLs of visited websites, entered search queries, and other information of this kind.
People who develop these "helper" objects share all recorded data with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). In most cases, these other parties misuse private data to generate revenue.
Therefore, people who use fake search engines and have unwanted apps of this type installed on their browsers might experience problems with browsing safety, privacy, or they might even become victims of identity theft. For these reasons, we advise against the use of any of these tools.
| Name | page-ups.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Serving IP Address | 149.210.215.141 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
| Detection Names (page-ups.com) | CLEAN MX (Malicious), Malwarebytes hpHosts (Malware), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Detection Names (installer promoting page-ups.com) | Avast (Win32:AdwareX-gen [Adw]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Strictor.190221), ESET-NOD32 (a variant of Win32/Kryptik.GSCH), Kaspersky (Trojan.Win32.Ekstak.ojzj), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Symptoms | Manipulated internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the 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 browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
As mentioned, there are many fake search engines such as page-ups.com. Generally, developers offer an enhanced browsing experience (faster searches, more accurate results, etc.) and 'useful' features, tools. In fact, most of these search engines are useless and simply cause problems. Only the developers benefit from them.
How did page-ups.com install on my computer?
Typically, search engines of this type are promoted through set-ups that hijack web browsers. All information about possible changes to browser settings is hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar parts of the rogue set-ups. This method is called "bundling".
Developers use it to trick people into downloading/installing unwanted apps and it also modifies browser settings. Generally, this happens only when people leave all setup options unchecked and unchanged.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
All programs should be downloaded from official websites and using direct download links. Avoid other sources such as Peer-to-Peer networks (eMule, torrent clients, and so on), unofficial/dubious websites, third party downloaders, etc..
Furthermore, check all download/installation setup settings ("Custom", "Advanced", etc.) and decline offers to download or install unwanted software before completing the setup. Intrusive ads that are displayed on dubious web pages cannot be trusted, since they usually lead to other, potentially malicious websites or run scripts that cause download/installation of unwanted applications.
If a browser causes unwanted redirects or displays intrusive ads, there is a high probability that it is hijacked and has unwanted apps installed on it. We recommend that you check installed extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins and remove all unwanted/unknown apps immediately.
The same applies to programs of this type installed on the computer (operating system). If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.
Deceptive installer promoting page-ups.com:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is page-ups.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove page-ups.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove page-ups.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove page-ups.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove page-ups.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
page-ups.com 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 any recently installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the page-ups.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
page-ups.com redirect 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://page-ups.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 "page-ups.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the page-ups.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 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.page-ups.com) 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 "page-ups.com", 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 page-ups.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 on "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://page-ups.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: "page-ups.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with page-ups.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 page-ups.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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