Stop browser redirects to wwnc.xyz
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is wwnc.xyz?
The internet is full of dubious, fake search engines, including wwnc.xyz. This site is identical to lifesearch16.club and related to qip.ru (both fake search engines). Generally, these search engines are advertised as legitimate, useful, and so on, however, most are useless and distributed through rogue setups that change browser settings.
Additionally, search engines such as wwnc.xyz generally record information relating to users' browsing activities. Research shows that this particular address is used to display a fake error message (and others).
Most rogue download or installation set-ups used to promote fake search engines target browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. They promote addresses such as wwnc.xyz by assigning them as the homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL.
Furthermore, the set-ups usually install 'helper objects' (apps such as browser extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins). These apps prevent users from undoing settings that were appointed through a rogue download or installation setup.
Therefore, it is impossible to change or remove wwnc.xyz (or other fake search engine URLs) from the aforementioned settings unless the 'helper object' is removed. Most of these apps and fake search engines such as wwnc.xyz record details such as users' IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, and other similar data.
In some cases personal, sensitive details are also gathered. In any case, developers send all collected information to other parties who might be cyber criminals (who misuse received data to generate revenue).
Note that wwnc.xyz displays fake update or other windows that are used to distribute unwanted applications such as Plsc. Do not to agree to download or install any software offered through these fake update windows or other pop-ups.
Name | wwnc.xyz browser hijacker |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
Supposed Functionality | This fake search engine supposedly provides faster searches, accurate results, and so on. |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
Detection Names | Dr.Web (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Serving IP Address | 104.24.114.237 |
Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser 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. |
Typically, rogue developers advertise their fake search engines as legitimate sites that supposedly provide more accurate results, faster search, and so on. In fact, they provide dubious or misleading results. Search engines such as wwnc.xyz should not be trusted or used.
The same applies to installed 'helper objects' (unwanted browser apps), since they might cause problems with privacy, browsing safety, or even lead to more serious issues such as identity theft.
How did wwnc.xyz install on my computer?
In most cases, people allow rogue download or installation set-ups to change browser settings (or download and/or install unwanted apps) unintentionally. This usually happens since developers place information about possible changes or downloads/installations in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar options of various set-ups.
This marketing method is also known as "bundling". Furthermore, some people fail to check settings available in set-ups, often inadvertently allowing them to change browser settings or even download or install potentially unwanted applications.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised to download software from official websites and using direct download links. Any other sources or tools such as Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule, etc.), unofficial or third party downloaders/installers and other such tools should not be used.
Check all settings available in any setup, especially if downloaded software is free. Typically, settings such as "Custom", "Advanced" include offers to download or install unwanted apps (or change browser settings). Therefore, these options should be checked carefully, and any unwanted offers, dismissed.
Do not trust intrusive ads, especially if they are displayed on dubious websites (relating to gambling, dating, pornography, and so on). They open other untrustworthy websites or download, install dubious apps. To prevent browsers from opening dubious websites and/or displaying unwanted ads, remove all unwanted, unknown apps such as extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons.
Also remove any programs of this kind installed on the computer. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.
This rogue website (wwnc.xyz) displays a fake update pop-up window designed to distribute dubious apps:
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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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 wwnc.xyz?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove wwnc.xyz redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove wwnc.xyz browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove wwnc.xyz homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove wwnc.xyz redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
wwnc.xyz 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 wwnc.xyz website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
wwnc.xyz 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://wwnc.xyz 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 "wwnc.xyz".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the wwnc.xyz 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.wwnc.xyz) 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 "wwnc.xyz", 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 wwnc.xyz 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 (e.g., "Plsc").
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://wwnc.xyz 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: "wwnc.xyz"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with wwnc.xyz 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 wwnc.xyz 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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