How to remove Hockey Start redirect Virus

Hockey Start is a browser hijacker targeting Macs

Hockey Start browser hijacker is also known as a redirect virus, and primarily targets Mac computers. Browser hijackers don’t directly harm the system, which is why they are pretty minor infections. Since the hijacker’s prime goal is to redirect users and generate traffic/profit, it’s not an entirely benign infection either. Even if you don’t see the hijacker installing, its presence will become quite noticeable as soon as it is inside the computer. You will observe odd browser behaviour, such as random redirects, sponsored content displayed among legitimate search results, etc. But some users might not associate the unusual behaviour with browser hijacker if they do not know what they are. But a plain google search of the symptoms and the website they’re redirected to would indicate a hijacker being responsible.

You will see that your browser’s settings will be changed, in addition to the odd redirects. Your browser will have another homepage/new tabs, and canceling these changes might be hard. Hijackers are able to redirect you precisely because they make those modifications.

Since redirect viruses aren’t malware they cannot install without you permitting it, whether you do it knowingly or not. While users usually do not realize this, but they install the hijackers themselves. Infections like hijackers, adware and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) come added to free software as extra items, and along with the freeware, users end up installing the attached items as well. Stopping these unwanted installation isn’t complicated, and the following section of the article will clarify how to do it.

While it might not be that severe, we advise that you uninstall Hockey Start from your Mac promptly. The hijacker won’t just interrupt your regular browsing, it might also subject you to quite untrustworthy content, like malicious programs and scams.

Browser hijacker spread ways

Browser hijackers install with freeware, as we have said above. This is called software bundling, and it involves free programs with attached additional items (hijackers, adware, etc). In the beginning, the offers are covered and are preselected to install by default, which means it’s necessary for users to manually stop it from installing together with the freeware. Fortunately, it’s very simple to block these undesirable installations, as long as you pay attention when installing freeware.

During free software installation, it’s vital to pick Advanced (Custom) settings. Otherwise, the offers will stay hidden. If the program does have an offer attached, it’ll be made visible in Advanced settings, and you will have the option of deselecting everything. These not wanted installations may be blocked by simply deselecting the offers. It does not take long to block these offers from installing as you just have to uncheck a box, while deleting already installed threats is an increasingly longer process. You’ll be avoiding loads of rubbish as long as you pay attention to program installation.

What does the hijacker do

Browser hijacker symptoms will become noticeable immediately as your browsers (whether you are using Safari, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox) will be taken over, and you’ll be redirected. The hijacker will make alterations to your browser’s settings so that your homepage is set to load its advertised website, and every time your browser is opened, that’s the web page you will see. You will also notice that your search engine is now different. If you search through your browser address bar, you will be automatically redirected to a hijacker’s promoted website and displayed search results that have been altered. Sponsored content will be embedded into results so they will have little to do with what you were searching for. By redirecting you to certain web pages, hijackers could generate traffic and revenue. The random redirects make hijackers possibly dangerous as well as aggravating infections. Thus, do not interact with any sponsored content or advertisements while the redirect virus remains installed. Hijackers do not check what type of pages they lead users to, so it is pretty likely that you might end up on one that’s damaging. The web pages you get led to might try to deceive you into installing malicious software or promote all types of scams. So even if hijackers don’t directly harm the Mac, keeping them installed is a bad idea.

The hijacker will also be tracking what websites you visit, your searches, IP address, what content you engage with. It is doubtful that you want the hijacker to collect that information, let alone share it with unknown third-parties.

In short, the hijacker is considered to be pretty disruptive because its installation is basically unauthorized, it changes browser’s settings, redirects to odd websites and exposes you to possibly damaging content. While the threat is not the most dangerous one, Hockey Start deletion is essential.

Hockey Start deletion

For the simplest way to uninstall Hockey Start, use anti-spyware software. The program would take care of the threat and ensure it’s no longer installed. Manual Hockey Start deletion is not impossible, if you do everything correctly. As long as you successfully delete Hockey Start, you shouldn’t have any issues restoring your browser’s settings.

Offers

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Quick Menu

Step 1. Uninstall Hockey Start and related programs.

• Windows 8
• Windows 7
• Windows XP
• Mac OS

Remove Hockey Start from Windows 8

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel choose Programs and Features and select to Uninstall a software.

Uninstall Hockey Start from Windows 7

Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features → Uninstall a program.

Delete Hockey Start from Windows XP

Click Start → Settings → Control Panel. Locate and click → Add or Remove Programs.

Remove Hockey Start from Mac OS X

Click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications. Select applications folder and look for Hockey Start or any other suspicious software. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash, then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

Step 2. Delete Hockey Start from your browsers

• Internet Explorer
• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari

Terminate the unwanted extensions from Internet Explorer

1. Tap the Gear icon and go to Manage Add-ons.
2. Pick Toolbars and Extensions and eliminate all suspicious entries (other than Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Oracle or Adobe)
3. Leave the window.

Change Internet Explorer homepage if it was changed by virus:

1. Tap the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of your browser and click Internet Options.
2. In General Tab remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Press Apply to save changes.

Reset your browser

1. Click the Gear icon and move to Internet Options.
2. Open the Advanced tab and press Reset.
3. Choose Delete personal settings and pick Reset one more time.
4. Tap Close and leave your browser.
5. If you were unable to reset your browsers, employ a reputable anti-malware and scan your entire computer with it.

Erase Hockey Start from Google Chrome

1. Access menu (top right corner of the window) and pick Settings.
2. Choose Extensions.
3. Eliminate the suspicious extensions from the list by clicking the Trash bin next to them.
4. If you are unsure which extensions to remove, you can disable them temporarily.

Reset Google Chrome homepage and default search engine if it was hijacker by virus

1. Press on menu icon and click Settings.
2. Look for the “Open a specific page” or “Set Pages” under “On start up” option and click on Set pages.
3. In another window remove malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
4. Under the Search section choose Manage Search engines. When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search websites. You should leave only Google or your preferred search name.
   

Reset your browser

1. If the browser still does not work the way you prefer, you can reset its settings.
2. Open menu and navigate to Settings.
3. Press Reset button at the end of the page.
4. Tap Reset button one more time in the confirmation box.
5. If you cannot reset the settings, purchase a legitimate anti-malware and scan your PC.

Remove Hockey Start from Mozilla Firefox

1. In the top right corner of the screen, press menu and choose Add-ons (or tap Ctrl+Shift+A simultaneously).
2. Move to Extensions and Add-ons list and uninstall all suspicious and unknown entries.

Change Mozilla Firefox homepage if it was changed by virus:

1. Tap on the menu (top right corner), choose Options.
2. On General tab delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
3. Press OK to save these changes.

Reset your browser

1. Open the menu and tap Help button.
2. Select Troubleshooting Information.
3. Press Refresh Firefox.
4. In the confirmation box, click Refresh Firefox once more.
5. If you are unable to reset Mozilla Firefox, scan your entire computer with a trustworthy anti-malware.

Uninstall Hockey Start from Safari (Mac OS X)

1. Access the menu.
2. Pick Preferences.
3. Go to the Extensions Tab.
4. Tap the Uninstall button next to the undesirable Hockey Start and get rid of all the other unknown entries as well. If you are unsure whether the extension is reliable or not, simply uncheck the Enable box in order to disable it temporarily.
5. Restart Safari.

Reset your browser

1. Tap the menu icon and choose Reset Safari.
2. Pick the options which you want to reset (often all of them are preselected) and press Reset.
3. If you cannot reset the browser, scan your whole PC with an authentic malware removal software.