How to remove VIPSportSearch browser hijacker

VIPSportSearch is a browser hijacker that, if installed on your computer, will set portal.vipsportsearch.com as your homepage and try to redirect you to sponsored websites. If you notice that you are redirected to the site every time you open your browser, you need to check your computer for a hijacker infection. It’s not particularly dangerous but still enough of an annoyance to warrant removal.

 

Browser hijackers are mostly considered to be minor infections as they don’t directly damage the computer. Instead, what a hijacker does is make changes to your browser’s settings without permission. In this particular case, the hijacker will set portal.vipsportsearch.com as the homepage/new tabs and searchlee.com as the default search engine. These changes are done to promote a questionable search engine that would insert sponsored content into search results. Getting you to click on that sponsored content is the hijacker’s primary purpose. The way it works is when you do a search, you will get results that appear to be what you are looking for but actually contain sponsored content. In most cases, those sites will be harmless. However, it’s not impossible to be redirected to a site that could be promoting scams or even hosting malware. Thus, even if it does not seem particularly necessary to remove VIPSportSearch hijacker, the sooner you do it the better.

Many users are not aware of how to install freeware correctly, and that is why hijackers and adware are such widespread computer infections. They use a method called software bundling to install unnoticed on computers. What happens is infections like browser hijackers come attached to free software as extra offers that are permitted to install alongside automatically. If users do not deselect them during installation, they install as well. It’s a rather sneaky method and most programs that use it to install are classified as potential infections.

How to avoid installing browser hijackers

Browser hijackers, adware, and potentially unwanted programs usually sneak into computers via software bundling, which is why many users are taken by surprise when they notice their presence. It’s especially common to end up with a hijacker infection when installing programs downloaded from unofficial websites, such as those free download sites. Learning how to correctly install free programs can help avoid the vast majority of these kinds of infections.

The above-mentioned infections usually come attached to free software in a way that allows them to install alongside free software automatically. They’re also hidden so if users are unaware, they will end up allowing their installation. Whatever has been added will only become visible if you choose Advanced (Custom) settings instead of Default. Advanced settings will also permit you to deselect everything. All you have to do is uncheck the boxes. Keep in mind that most free programs will come with these offers, so deselecting them is always necessary.

Should you remove VIPSportSearch

Browser hijackers make unwanted browser settings changes, which while very annoying is also why they’re such noticeable infections. It can attach itself to all popular browsers, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, and set portal.vipsportsearch.com as the homepage and searchlee.com as the default search engine. These changes will be irreversible while the hijacker remains installed.

Your new homepage is made to appear like some kind of sports news website, though the only indication is the logo and the name. The site has shortcuts to features like a PDF converter, a currency and cryptocurrency converter, and a calculator. It also has a search box, which is the main reason behind the changes to your browser’s settings. If you perform a search via the box or your browser address bar, you will be shown results generated by searchee.com. The search engine will show you loads of advertisement content, including regular ads displayed on the screen and sponsored links inserted among legitimate results. It’s not a good idea to engage with those ads or sponsored sites as there is no way to know whether you would be taken to safe sites. It’s not impossible for hijackers to redirect to malicious sites.

The mentioned changes to browser’s settings are made without explicit permission, so there is no reason to put up with this. Especially considering that the hijacker will also track your browsing and collect certain information, such as visited sites, search queries, and your IP address.

VIPSportSearch removal

Browser hijackers can be rather pesky infections, making their manual removal potentially tricky. The easiest way to delete VIPSportSearch would be to use anti-virus software, such as WiperSoft. The program would not only remove VIPSportSearch but also undo all setting changes. Once the hijacker is no longer present, your browser will return to normal.