How to remove Earth (earthapp.net) browser hijacker

What kind of extension is Earth?

Our researchers inspected the Earth browser extension, available on the Chrome Web Store, and found that it has the traits of a browser hijacker. Although it is marketed as a tool for viewing satellite imagery, adding it to the browser changes the default search engine to earthapp.net, a page that cannot generate its own search results.

Browser hijackers like Earth are also considered a privacy risk, as software within this category often monitors browsing activity. We recommend avoiding Earth and removing it (along with earthapp.net-related settings) if it is already present on your system.

Earth and earthapp.net browser hijacker overview

According to its permissions, adding Earth to the browser changes its default search engine to earthapp.net. Like many similar extensions, Earth may also alter the browser's homepage and new tab page, forcing earthapp.net to open whenever a new tab or window is created. This process is known as browser hijacking.

Earth's Chrome Web Store listing claims that the extension lets users choose between Google Earth and Bing Maps as their preferred search provider. In practice, however, installing Earth sets earthapp.net, a page that does not provide its own search results, as the default search engine.

Instead, earthapp.net redirects users to search.yahoo.com (a legitimate search engine), and possibly to other websites depending on factors such as geolocation. Promoted search engines that simply forward queries elsewhere are a hallmark of browser-hijacking software.

Browser hijackers often rely on persistence-ensuring mechanisms, such as restricting access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes, to prevent users from recovering their browsers.

Software within this classification usually has data-tracking abilities, and this might be true of Earth. Information of interest may include visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, browser cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, and finance-related data. This information can be monetized via sale to third parties, potentially including cyber criminals.

To summarize, browser-hijacking software is associated with intrusive advertising, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Browser hijacker examples

We have examined numerous browser hijackers; Nautilus Notes, PerfecTab, Search with AI on Chrome, and Outer Space Tab are merely a few of our newest articles.

Browser-hijacking software typically appears legitimate and offers various features. However, these functions seldom work as advertised, and in most cases - they are completely nonoperational.

How did Earth infiltrate my computer?

Earth is available on the official Chrome Web Store, which can give users a false sense of security about its trustworthiness. However, a listing like this does not guarantee that an extension behaves as advertised, and the permissions requested during installation can reveal a very different purpose.

Aside from being installed directly from the Chrome Web Store, browser hijackers are commonly promoted through deceptive websites that urge visitors to "Add to Chrome", as well as bundled with free software downloaded from freeware sites, free file-hosting pages, and Peer-to-Peer sharing networks.

Intrusive advertisements and spam browser notifications can also lead users to pages promoting extensions like Earth. Clicking such ads may trigger scripts that perform sneaky downloads or installations.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We strongly advise researching software and downloading it only from official or verified sources. Before installing a browser extension, check its requested permissions carefully and consider whether they match what the extension claims to do.

During installation, read the terms, explore the available options, and use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings to opt out of any extensions, toolbars, or other supplementary apps that you do not recognize.

Be vigilant while browsing, since deceptive ads and pages urging you to install browser extensions often look harmless but can lead to questionable software. If your browser's settings have already been changed without your permission, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate Earth and related components.

Permissions asked by Earth browser hijacker:

Website used to promote Earth browser hijacker:

Earthapp.net redirecting users to Yahoo (GIF):

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:

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.

Quick menu:

• What is Earth?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Earth browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove earthapp.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove earthapp.net redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Earth 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 applications, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Earth browser hijacker 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 "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate "Earth" and other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Earth", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.earthapp.net) 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 "earthapp.net", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the earth 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 extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate "Earth", as well as all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable "Earth", remove hxxp://earthapp.net 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 "Accept the Risk and Continue".

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 earth 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.

If you continue having problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

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 earth 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users to visit websites like earthapp.net?

Software that generates rogue redirects is developed for profit. The people behind Earth and earthapp.net likely earn revenue through increased traffic to earthapp.net and the search engines (such as Yahoo) that it redirects users to.

Is visiting earthapp.net a threat to my privacy?

Fake search engines like earthapp.net are usually capable of collecting visitor data, which may then be sold to third parties. Although earthapp.net redirects to Yahoo, a legitimate search engine, having it set as your default search provider without consent is still a privacy concern.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers like Earth can be downloaded directly from the Chrome Web Store, but they are also distributed through deceptive promotional webpages, bundled installation setups, freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and intrusive advertisements.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Earth browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate installed browser-hijacking applications. It is noteworthy that manual removal (performed without security programs) might not be ideal, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present.

In these cases, after one is removed - the others may reinstall it. What is more, removal-related settings might be inaccessible when this software is installed. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.