Delete HDSportsSearch hijacker

HDSportsSearch is a browser hijacker that takes over the browser and changes settings in order to be able to redirect you to sponsored sites. If you have this hijacker on your computer, hdsportssearch.com will be set as your homepage.

 

If your browser redirects you to hdsportssearch.com every time you open your browser, you have a browser hijacker installed. HDSportsSearch is a fairly typical hijacker, it even looks identical to countless other ones. Once inside your computer, it will change your homepage and new tabs, and try to force you to use a questionable search engine. The primary aim of a hijacker is to redirect you to sponsored websites, and changing your browser’s settings makes doing that much easier. This is very annoying behaviour which also makes hijackers very noticeable infections, meaning users are able to get rid of them much quicker.

HDSportsSearch, like most browser hijackers, is pretty harmless, at least in the sense that it will not directly harm your computer. However, it does have a lot of questionable features, not to mention is very annoying to deal with. So as soon as you notice that it’s installed on your computer, you should immediately try to delete HDSportsSearch browser hijacker. If you have anti-virus software, that should not be an issue at all.

Browser hijackers and similar infections use a method called software bundling to install on users’ computers without being noticed. It’s a rather sneaky installation method, and is thus used by a lot of potentially unwanted program developers. It’s important that you learn how to correctly install freeware so you can avoid infections like HDSportsSearch browser hijacker.

Browser hijacker installation method

Minor infections like adware, browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) use the software bundling method to essentially trick users into installing them. It’s quite a controversial installation method due to how sneaky it is, and programs that use it are commonly detected by anti-virus programs as potential threats.

Freeware bundling is essentially adding additional offers to freeware. In most cases, especially when it comes to programs you download from non-official websites, it’s the above mentioned minor infections that are attached. The offers are optional but because they are preselected to install alongside automatically, a lot of users end up installing them accidentally.

If you want to avoid these unwanted installations, you need to pay close attention when installing freeware. Most importantly, opt for Advanced (Custom) settings when given the option. Advanced settings, unlike Default, will make all added offers visible. You will be able to review what has been added and deselect what you want. While some of those offers may seem useful, we don’t recommend installing any of them. Since this is a rather sneaky method that essentially allows programs to install without your permission, program that use it should not be allowed to install.

Should you uninstall HDSportsSearch

You will immediately know if this hijacker installs on your computer because hdsportssearch.com will open every time you launch your browser, as it will be set as your homepage. The hijacker can attach itself to all popular browsers, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and change their settings without your explicit permission. Once these changes have been implemented, you will not be able to reverse them until you get rid of the hijacker.

The site that’s set as your homepage has a PDF converter feature, cryptocurrency and currency converter, and a calculator. But it primarily aims to prompt you to use its search box. If you do, you will be redirected to a couple of different sites for a couple of seconds and then be shown sponsored search results. Those results will include links to sites that have nothing to do with what you were searching for. The main goal of a hijacker is to redirect you to those sites. In most cases, this is just annoying but it should be mentioned that some redirects can lead to potentially dangerous sites, like ones that promote scams or hide malware. We suggest you avoid interacting with any results that have been generated by questionable search engines for this reason.

How to delete HDSportsSearch

HDSportsSearch removal can be done both manually and using anti-virus software. The latter would be easier because the anti-virus program would take care of everything. Loads of programs, such as WiperSoft, detect browser hijackers and get rid of them without you doing anything. All setting changes would also be reversed automatically. If you manually uninstall HDSportsSearch, you would need to undo setting changes yourself, but it’s not difficult to do.