Grenet . xyz is the homepage of a browser hijacker dubbed uPortal. Browser hijackers are a way to collect information and make money out of displaying ads and selling the collected data. Have you experienced changes in your browser that you don’t remember making, like a new homepage, default search engine, bookmarks, and others? If so, chances are your browser was hijacked. You can learn how to fix it by reading this article.
Greenet . xyz Browser Hijacker – Distribution
Greenet . xyz is likely using the usual methods of spreading browser hijackers – bundled packaging. This is a way for unethical software developers to push PUPs(potentially unwanted programs, sometimes crudely referred to as crapware. Browser hijacker developers use this method so users would install the useless content. It works like this: a program’s install file will include the option to install more software, hidden under the Custom or Advanced options of the installer. Users who don’t pay attention to what they’re letting into their computer often don’t check these options, thus, agreeing automatically to their inclusion.
Another way of getting browser hijackers like Greenet . xyzis through malicious redirects on shady advertisements. Pop-ups, banners, etc. shown on sites that contain pirated content or pornography are the likeliest places to contract crapware or worse yet, malware or viruses. Avoid going to these webpages and never click on the ads you find there, especially if the ads belong to the “One weird trick for” variety. Browsers that can be affected by browser hijackers include Internet Explorer, Microsoft’s Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Google Chrome.
Greenet . xyz Browser Hijacker – More Details
The Greenet . xyz is the main page of the uPortal domain. The site is copyrighted by ESOffers Network Co., Limited. We’ve provided a screenshot of the homepage bellow:
Greenet . xyz looks like a regular search engine. It contains a search bar, Privacy Policy, License Agreement, and Contact options. On a closer look, however, some troubling signs begin to emerge. For starters, legitimate search engines rarely put ads on directly onto the homepage like Greenet . xyz does.
Another red light is the redirection to Yahoo; once a search is imputed. Before the search loads, the site redirects the search through Search.Safefinder . com, another search engine, that’s linked to a browser hijacker. Using the Grenet . xyz search engine will give results by Yahoo. Here’s an example:
Greenet . xyz includes a Privacy Policy, which discloses the data collected by their product. The site can collect both non-personal and personal user data. The information that can be extracted includes:
- Your name
- E-mail address
- IP address
- The Operating System you’re using
- Your Browser type
- ZIP code
- Internet service provider
And others
You can see the Privacy Policy bellow
In addition to collecting personal information Greenet . xyz could also slow down your browser’s working speed and make it difficult to use your preferred search engine. That’s why it’s for the best to remove Greenet . xyz from your system.
Greenet . xyz Browser Hijacker – Complete Removal
You can get rid of Greenet . xyz by completely removing all its files from your computer. You can do that either by hand or by using a specialized anti-malware tool. You can consult the guide bellow for the most fitting approach. The second method is preferable, as the the program would delete all malicious files automatically. That would remove the chance of missing anything harmful that might linger into your system an cause problems.
How to Enter Safe Mode
Booting Into Safe Mode in the Windows XP, Vista, 7 operating systems
- Unplug devices such as USB flash drives, Memory Sticks, DVD’s, CD’s, anything that can be bootable
- Now you have to decide which of the following methods is right for your computer. If you have:
- –One operating system on your PC, then press F8 repeatedly when you see the first boot screen after restarting your computer. If the Windows logo appears, repeat the same action until you enter the
–Multiple operating systems on your computer. This is very similar to booting with a single operating system. Press F8 repeatedly when you see the first boot screen. You just have to use the arrow keys to choose which system you should boot. - When the Advanced Boot Options appear, you should select the Safe Mode option with the arrow keys. Confirm the selection by pressing Enter
- Log into your computer using the Administrator account
While you’re in safe mode, your screen will be windowed.
Booting into Safe Mode on the Windows 8, 8.1, and 10 Operating Systems
- Open the Start menu
- Hold down the Shift button and left-click on the Power icon, then click Restart
- After the reboot, the Startup menu will appear. From there, choose Troubleshoot
- From the Troubleshoot menu choose Advanced Options
- Once you’re in Advanced Options, click on Startup Settings
- Click Restart
- A menu should appear after the reboot. Choose Safe Mode by pressing its corresponding key number. The PC will restart and boot into Safe Mode.
Remove/Uninstall Greenet . xyz 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:
- Hold the “Windows” button (It’s between CTRL and Alt on most keyboards) and press “R.” You’ll see a pop-up window
- In the textbox, type “appwiz.cpl”, then press “Enter.”
- 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.
Follow these instructions and you’ll be able to uninstall it successfully.
How to Remove Greenet . xyz 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
Internet Explorer
- Start Internet Explorer
- Go to the Tools menu and click on Manage add-ons.
- In the Manage add-ons window, bellow Add-on Types, select Toolbars and Extensions
- If you see a suspicious toolbar, select it and click Disable
- In 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
- Open the Tools menu, select Internet Options
- In the General tab, in Home page, enter your preferred page
- Click Apply and OK
- On the desktop, right-click on Internet Explorer icon and select Properties
- In the Properties window, under the Shortcut tab, in Target delete the text after iexplore.exe
- Click Apply, click OK to save
- Click Close
- Start Google Chrome
- On the upper-right corner, there a Customize and Control Google Chrome menu icon. Click on it, then click on Settings
- Click Extension under Chrome
- In the Extensions menu, click on the unknown extensions, then click on the trash bin icon
- Under Chrome, Click on Settings
- In Settings, under on Startup click Set pages
- In the Startup pages menu, select the suspicious entries and click on X
- Click OK
- In Settings, under Appearance select the Show home button and click Change
- In the Home page menu, click Use New Tab page and press OK
- In the Settings window under Search, click on Manage search engines
- Once you enter Search engines, select your search engine of choice and click Make default
- In the default search settings list, find the unknown search engine and click on X
- Click Done
- Start Mozilla Firefox
- In the upper right corner, click on the Open menu icon and select Add-ons
- Inside the Add-ons Manager select Extensions
- Search the list of extensions for suspicious entries. If you find any, select them and click Disable
- Click on the Open menu icon, then click Options
- In the Options window, under General tab, Click Restore to Default
- Click OK
- In the Firefox window, right next to the URL field, click the down arrow icon. Select Manage Search Engines
- In Manage Search Engines List window, select the unknown search engine and press Remove
- Click OK
