How to remove ctcodeinfo.com from browser settings?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is ctcodeinfo.com?
Ctcodeinfo.com is the address of a fake search engine. As a rule, fake search engines are promoted via browser hijackers. It is known that this particular address is promoted through various malicious apps, for example, a fake Google Translate extension, which also adds the "Managed by your organization" feature).
In most cases, apps of this kind hijack browsers by changing some of their settings. It is common that they collect browsing-related and (or) other information as well.
More about ctcodeinfo.com
Most browser hijackers promote fake search engines (hijack browsers) by modifying settings such as the address of a homepage, new tab, and default search engine. More precisely, by changing those addresses to an address of a certain fake search engine.
The fake Google Translate and a number of other apps change those settings to ctcodeinfo.com - they open ctcodeinfo.com when users open a browser/new browser window, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar. Typically, fake search engines show results generated by a legitimate search engine, by another questionable search engine, or generate their own results that often include links to untrustworthy websites, shady ads.
Ctcodeinfo.com shows results generated by Google. It redirects users to google.com. Usually, the only way to stop a hijacked browser from opening a certain address is to uninstall a browser hijacker from it (or the operating system). The same applies to ctcodeinfo.com - it can be removed from browser settings only when the fake Google Translate extension or another app that promotes ctcodeinfo.com is no longer installed.
Another reason to remove any installed browser hijacker is that it could be designed to gather browsing data like entered search queries, IP addresses, geolocations, URLs of visited sites and other information, or even sensitive data (e.g., passwords, credit card details). It is common that data collected by browser hijackers is misused for marketing purposes, sold to third parties (potentially cybercriminals), or monetized in other ways.
Therefore, users who have a browser hijacker installed on a browser or the operating system may have problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy, or other issues.
| Name | ctcodeinfo.com browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Fake Google Translate extension and other unwanted applications |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience, accurate search results |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Serving IP Address | 155.138.226.36 |
| Detection Names (installer for the fake Google Translate app) | Avast (Win32:PWSX-gen [Trj]), BitDefender (Gen:Variant.Zusy.371633), ESET-NOD32 (Multiple Detections), Kaspersky (UDS:Trojan.Win32.Injuke.gen), Microsoft (Trojan:Win32/Stealer.KA!MTB), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| 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. |
Examples of fake search engines
More examples of fake search engines are janextupd.com, oksearch.org, and searchnets.xyz. It is worthwhile to mention that sometimes browser hijackers promote fake search engines without changing any settings.
In such cases, they redirect users to certain addresses when users enter search queries into the URL bar. In one way or another, unwanted addresses can be stopped from being opened only after removing browser hijackers that promote them.
Apps of this type are called unwanted applications because most users download and install them unknowingly.
How did ctcodeinfo.com install on my computer?
One of the deceptive ways to distribute browser hijackers and other unwanted apps is by using a marketing method called "bundling" (by bundling unwanted apps with other programs). In other words, by including those apps in downloaders and installers of other programs.
In most cases, offers to download or install bundled applications can be declined using "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings, or by unticking checkboxes that certain downloaders, installers have.
When users download and install programs without changing any of those settings, they allow for included apps to be downloaded and installed too. Another deceptive way to distribute unwanted apps is by designing advertisements to execute certain scripts. Users cause unwanted downloads, installations by clicking on those ads.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?
It is not recommended to download software, files from untrustworthy, unofficial websites through torrent clients, eMule, and other Peer-to-Peer networks), using third-party downloaders, and so on. It is not safe to use third-party installers as well. It is common that they are used to distribute questionable, even malicious files, apps.
Software and files should be downloaded through direct links and from official websites. Furthermore, downloads and installations should not be finished without checking downloaders, installers for "Custom", "Advanced," (or other settings) and declining unwanted offers (opting out bundled apps).
One more way to avoid unwanted downloads, installations is not to click on ads that appear on untrustworthy websites. Those ads tend to be used to promote shady pages or distribute unwanted apps.
Unwanted, suspicious extensions, add-ons, plug-ins installed on a browser or programs of this kind installed on the operating system should be uninstalled. If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.
Ctcodeinfo.com redirects to google.com (GIF):
Fake Google Translate extension adds the "Managed by your organization feature:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is ctcodeinfo.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove ctcodeinfo.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove ctcodeinfo.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove ctcodeinfo.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
- STEP 6. Remove ctcodeinfo.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
ctcodeinfo.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 unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the ctcodeinfo.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
ctcodeinfo.com redirect removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 (like the fake Google Translate extension), 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.ctcodeinfo.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 "ctcodeinfo.com" 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 ctcodeinfo.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 plugins 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://ctcodeinfo.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the 
button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with ctcodeinfo.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 ctcodeinfo.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.
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://ctcodeinfo.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 "ctcodeinfo.com".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the ctcodeinfo.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.
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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit ctcodeinfo.com website?
Typically, the more users fake search engines have, the more profit their creators generate. Either way, the amount of revenue directly depends on the count of visitors/users.
Is visiting ctcodeinfo.com a threat to my privacy?
It is not safe to use fake search engines since they can be designed to gather browsing data and other information about users. The same applies to browser hijackers.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Typically, users add browser hijackers unintentionally. Apps of this type are distributed via shady ads, notifications shown by untrustworthy pages, software bundles, etc.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove all browser-hijacking applications. It is worth mentioning that it can be difficult to remove multiple browser hijackers manually. Some browser hijackers are designed to reinstall one another. Therefore, all of them have to be removed at once.
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