An infection with the dangerous Gatmog Search Redirect leads to serious security issues. Victims can restore and protect their computers by following our complete removal guide.
Remove Gatmog Search Redirect and Restore PC
Manual Removal Guide
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Distribution of Gatmog Search Redirect
Gatmog Search is a new malware which has been reported in various attacks worldwide. At the moment the security experts have not been able to identify a single tactic that is being used to infect the targets. We presume that the hackers are using several of the most important methods to carry out the malicious campaigns.
A common way of setting browser hijacker attacks is the use of email spam messages. They may directly distribute malicious file attachments containing scripts that lead to an infection. Other cases can utilize complex social engineering tricks and hyperlinks that are specifically made to confuse the intended targets into infecting themselves. Two more scenarios that are used in combination with email messages rely on infected files used as payloads ‒ documents and software installers.
- Infected Software Installers ‒ The criminals craft malicious packages made out of legitimate software installers. They are taken from the official vendor download sites, modified and then posted on online sites or attached (either as file attachments) or linked in the email messages.
- Infected Documents ‒ They represent dangerous files that usually come in the form of some of the most popular document types: rich text documents, spreadsheets and databases. When the users open them up a notification prompt will ask them to enable the built-in scripts (macros). If this is done then the malware is installed on the victim computer.
The malware browser plugins can be uploaded to hacker-controlled sites and P2P networks like BitTorrent as well. The hacker operators frequently utilize template design, text and images to create portals that look like legitimate download sources. They may also use domain names that are very similar to legitimate sites and advertise them via pop-ups or ad networks.
The browser hijacker code associated with the Gatmog Search Redirect can be found in numerous malware toolbars. They are usually made for the most popular web browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Microsoft Edge. They can be distributed on such download sites or even on the browsers repositories (such as the Chrome Web Store for Google Chrome) using fake developer accounts.
Impact of Gatmog Search
The Gatmog Search redirect is a browser hijacker that has recently been reported to carry out infections against computer users worldwide. Like all similar threats it aims to alter some of the most important parameters: default home page, search engine and new tabs page. Usually the hacker operators make it compatible with the most popular applications including the following: Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari, Google Chrome, Opera and Mozilla Firefox. As the infections begin in the browsers the hackers can gain access to all stored information in them: history, bookmarks, cookies, form data, preferences, passwords and account credentials.
Browser hijackers are extremely dangerous as they covertly modify the installed web browsers and do not display a hacker-operated site as it is the most typical case. As a result the only way that the victims can distinguish the infections is by looking at their address bar.
In addition to redirecting to hacker-controlled sites they are responsible for other malware actions. The criminal operators can include code to perform in-depth information harvesting operations thereby retrieving a lot of information about the compromised host and user. When used as a part of a complex infection strategy it can also be used as means for additional malware redirect.
Once the browser Gatmog Search redirect has been successfully deployed it transfers the users to the hacker-controlled web page. It is designed with a logo image and a search box underneath. This is made in order to fool the prospective users into using it. The simple layout may appear similar to some legitimate services and thus confuse the victims into relying on this site. The bottom menu bar lists the service links containing the privacy policy and terms of use documents.
The malware components extract two main types of data:
- Personally-identifiable Data — Extracted data of this kind includes all manners of information that can identify the victims: real names, address, telephone numbers, social security number, accounts and passwords.
- Anonymous Metrics — This type of data is made up of metrics that are related to the browsing patterns but cannot be used to directly identify the users.
The malware site is used to constantly spy on the victim’s actions and relays this data to the hacker operators. The cookies are used to aggregate data about the site interactions, traffic and preferences according to each user. All victims should note that the search results will probably contain sponsored sites or lead to further malware infections. Browser hijackers like this one are usually employed by criminals to redirect to pop-ups and similar threats. Furthermore some of the links may lead to download portals that contain ransomware and other virus types.
Usually the collected data is recorded in large databases that are shared between several sites and hijackers. The harvested records are then sold to marketing agencies or shared with partners that may abuse the data.
Gatmog Search Redirect is a very dangerous threat that must be eliminated completely to prevent any privacy and security risks for the victim users. This is why we we recommend that all users remove the active infections by following our in-depth removal guide.
Remove Gatmog Search Redirect and Restore PC
WARNING! Manual removal of the Gatmog Search Redirect requires being familiar with system files and registries. Removing important data accidentally can lead to permanent system damage. If you don’t feel comfortable with manual instructions, download a powerful anti-malware tool that will scan your system for malware and clean it safely for you.
SpyHunter anti-malware tool will diagnose all current threats on the computer. By purchasing the full version, you will be able to remove all malware threats instantly. Additional information about SpyHunter / Help to uninstall SpyHunter
Gatmog Search Redirect – Manual Removal Steps
Start the PC in Safe Mode with Network
This will isolate all files and objects created by the ransomware so they will be removed efficiently. The steps bellow are applicable to all Windows versions.
1. Hit the WIN Key + R
2. A Run window will appear. In it, write msconfig and then press Enter
3. A Configuration box shall appear. In it Choose the tab named Boot
4. Mark Safe Boot option and then go to Network under it to tick it too
5. Apply -> OK
Remove Gatmog Search from Windows
Here’s a way to remove the program. This method will work regardless if you’re on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP. Simply selecting the program and pressing delete won’t work, as it’ll leave a lot of small files. That’s bad because these leftovers can linger on and cause all sorts of problems. The best way to delete a program is to uninstall it. Here’s how you can do that:
1. Hold the “Windows” button (It’s between CTRL and Alt on most keyboards) and press “R”. You’ll see a pop-up window.
2. In the textbox, type “appwiz.cpl”, then press“ Enter ”.
3. The “Programs and features” menu should now appear. It’s a list of all the programs installed on the PC. Here you can find the program, select it, and press “Uninstall“.
Remove Gatmog Search Virus From Your Browser
Before resetting your browser’s settings, you should know that this action will wipe out all your recorded usernames, passwords, and other types of data. Make sure to save them in some way.
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1. Start Mozilla Firefox. In the upper right corner, click on the Open menu icon and select “Add-ons“.
2. Inside the Add-ons Manager select “Extensions“. Search the list of extensions for suspicious entries. If you find any, select them and click “Remove“.
3. Click again on the Open menu icon, then click “Options“.
4. In the Options window, under “General” tab, click “Restore to Default“.
5. Select “Search” in the left menu, mark the unknown search engine and press “Remove”.
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1. Start Google Chrome. On the upper-right corner, there a “Customize and Control” menu icon. Click on it, then click on “Settings“.
2. Click “Extensions” in the left menu. Then click on the trash bin icon to remove the suspicious extension.
3. Again in the left menu, under Chrome, Click on “Settings“. Go under “On Startup” and set a new page.
4. Afterward, scroll down to “Search“, click on “Manage search engines“.
5. In the default search settings list, find the unknown search engine and click on “X“. Then select your search engine of choice and click “Make default“. When you are ready click “Done” button in the right bottom corner.
2. In the “Manage add-ons” window, bellow “Add-on Types“, select “Toolbars and Extensions“. If you see a suspicious toolbar, select it and click “Remove“.
3. Then again in the “Manage Add-ons” window, in “Add-on Types“, Select “Search Providers“. Chose a search engine and click “Set as default“. Select the unknown search engine and click “Remove and Close”.
4. Open the Tools menu, select “Internet Options”.
5. In the “General” tab, in “Home page”, enter your preferred page. Click “Apply” and “OK”.
Repair Windows Registry
1. Again type simultaneously the WIN Key + R key combination
2. In the box, write regedit and hit Enter
3. Type the CTRL+ F and then write the malicious name in the search type field to locate the malicious executable
4. In case you have discovered registry keys and values related to the name, you should delete them, but be careful not to delete legitimate keys
Click for more information about Windows Registry and further repair help
