How to remove DiscoverAncestry browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

About DiscoverAncestry hijacker origins

DiscoverAncestry installation popup

DiscoverAncestry search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to browse some specific details, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser far more safe, allow downloading of any type of video clip, et cetera.

Nonetheless, the DiscoverAncestry plugin is rather useless due to the fact that all such features are already integrated to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising mottos are targeted on low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But often even skilled users are getting caught on such an appeal. In certain situations, this hijacker is spread along with free software.

How harmful is DiscoverAncestry hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, DiscoverAncestry hijacker is also considerably hazardous for browser usage. It changes your search engine to its specific – discoverancestry.com, and also transforms your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the specified sign).

Apart from visual alterations done by DiscoverAncestry hijacker, you may observe that many of your search queries are redirecting to the unknown sites, filled with links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can consist of the web links for malware downloading. The possibility of redirecting surges if you attempt to start Google search page forcibly.

Toolbar added by DiscoverAncestry

However all these actions are more annoying than really destructive. The biggest danger, primarily for individuals who have a great deal of secret information in their internet browsers, is installed in data collecting functions. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited sites as well as various other activities are easily collected by DiscoverAncestry hijacker.

How to remove DiscoverAncestry search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are almost always rather simple to delete. In many cases, they have a separate application that can be located in the list of installed software. Due to the specific marketing method of DiscoverAncestry hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and removed manually. Nevertheless, if you got DiscoverAncestry in the package with a free application( s), your personal computer may be infected with far more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I ‘d recommend you to use anti-malware programs to deal with the DiscoverAncestry PUA and all other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and removing various malware, including mentioned hijacker. But serious malware, that may be present on your computer in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by editing the Group Policies. To keep away from such circumstances, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all unwanted programs on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious programs, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

You can observe the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible harm till the scan process. But to choose any actions against the viruses, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for every spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of detected virus. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to original.

Deleteing DiscoverAncestry hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that the time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender