Ieodk.xyz Hijacker - How to remove

Ieodk.xyz (ieodk.xyz) is a new search-hijacking website that comes with a malicious browser extension for Chrome. This site is associated with QxSearch and SearchDimension. It replaces your search engine to allow ads to be displayed in your search results while the creators of Ieodk.xyz collect the ad revenue. Ieodk.xyz doesn’t have any valuable features and gets installed with fake software updates, without the user’s consent.

What is Ieodk.xyz

Ieodk.xyz is a browser hijacker that redirects search queries:

Type of threat	Adware, browser hijacker, a version of Searchgg
How Ieodk.xyz works	A browser extension is installed thanks to misleading ads, the extension changes the user’s default search settings
Harm caused by the hijacker	Private information collected for targeted ads, potentially dangerous ads displayed among search results
Remove the Ieodk.xyz hijacker	Uninstall it manually, use anti-malware programs (Combo Cleaner for Mac or SpyHunter for PC)

Ieodk.xyz is very similar to Uioxj.xyz, Losx.xyz, Cr447.xyz, Uspo.xyz, Uejsc25.xyz, and a bunch of similar browser hijackers. These sites are all made to promote the Searchgg hijacker. Most of them are short-lived, so new hijackers come out often to replace the retired ones. Ieodk.xyz is new and it’s being distributed since a few days ago.

Ieodk.xyz hijacker is installed by browser extensions like Woosearch, Apmlive, App, Cerx, ImSearch. These Chrome extensions don’t display icons and don’t change your homepage, so you might not even know it when they’re installed.

The way that Ieodk.xyz works is that, when you search for information online in your browser, the results are returned in a Ieodk.xyz page. Even if your homepage and new tab page is the same as always, Ieodk.xyz is set as the default search engine. Not all browser hijackers take over your new tab page – some are almost invisible.

Even if you did manage to use other search engines, like Google.com or Bing.com, the Ieodk.xyz hijacker can still interfere with your search results. It can inject ads and links to partner sites.

Like other browser hijackers, Ieodk.xyz doesn’t miss the chance to spy on users. Your browsing history and search terms are recorded and then used to help advertisers target ads. The ads on Ieodk.xyz are not all safe. This website does not have the same strict guidelines for safe ads as other networks. Which means that scammers and fraudsters can push their content to the victims of Ieodk.xyz and potentially put them in danger. In general, we don’t expect to have to deal with malicious ads in search results and we tend to trust them to be safe. So, if a malicious actor does put their ad in search results, they can expect to scam a lot of people.

How to avoid hijackers in your browser

Browser hijackers are a popular way for unethical companies to make advertising money – they hijack some browsers and force them to go through their related websites. This allows them to make money without creating any worthwhile content.

Besides Searchgg, which Ieodk.xyz is a part of, there is also SearchDimension, which seems to be related, though those hijackers are quite different. And overall, there are many hijacker families with their unique approaches to sneaking their way on computers and delivering the ads. Some, like Ieodk.xyz, force you to go to its search engine. Others just plaster ads on every page you go to.

One good way to avoid browser hijackers is to use a good anti-malware program with real-time protection that would recognize malicious browser extensions and block the kinds of websites that advertise them.

Ieodk.xyz is promoted by “Flash SD App Required To Proceed”, “Flash Player might be out of date”, “Recommended Extension”, and similar ads. These webpages try to convince you that you must install whatever app they are recommending, then push a malicious application. Ieodk.xyz is only one example of malware that these pages spread.

Ads to these sites appear on streaming sites (especially the adult ones), file download sites (mostly the ones used for piracy), and in social media spam. Sometimes, websites automatically redirect to those ads. However, it’s not practical to avoid all these ads, which is where real-time web protection would come in useful. Malicious sites would just be blocked.

How to remove Ieodk.xyz hijacker

Ieodk.xyz hijacker can be removed by getting rid of the associated browser extension. First, try removing it normally, like in the instructions below. If that doesn’t work, Ieodk.xyz might have left some malicious file in your folders that reinstalls it. You might want to scan your computer with an anti-malware program like Combo Cleaner for Mac or SpyHunter for PC because it can be tedious trying to find the exact location of the malware. At the same time, an anti-malware scan would tell you if you downloaded some other potentially unwanted software.

Automatic Malware removal tools

TopHow To remove Ieodk.xyz Hijacker from Google Chrome:

• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
  
• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
  
• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
  
• Select Manage Search engines
  
• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
  
• Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
• If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
  
• Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Ieodk.xyz Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.