Search.yourinstantsocialhub.com

According to our research, Search.yourinstantsocialhub.com is a browser hijacker that might affect your Internet Explorer and Google Chrome browsers. Clearly, this hijacker is an integral part of the “Your Instant Social Hub” extension by SaferBrowser. This add-on does not have an official installer, which means that the hijacker is distributed in an unknown manner. So, has it corrupted your browsers already? If it has, you need to read this report to learn exactly why deleting it is the best thing you could do for your virtual security. We also discuss different methods that can be employed for the removal of Search.yourinstantsocialhub.com, and we answer other important questions. If you want to join a discussion, post your thoughts in the comments section below.

This is not the first time we have encountered Search.yourinstantsocialhub.com; although, in a different form. This hijacker is identical to such well-known hijackers as Search.yourinterestscenter.com and Search.yourpackagesnow.com. These hijackers must have been created using the same engine, but it is possible that they have unique creators. What is more, these hijackers are always introduced to users via suspicious browser extensions. In reality, these extensions are bogus. If you download the extension, your homepage will be modified, as the hijacker will be installed, but no other service will be provided to you. As you must understand by now, these extensions are merely tools to introduce you to the hijacker. Unfortunately, these add-ons present information that creates an illusion that they can offer you the best services. If we are talking about “Your Instant Social Hub,” you must have been promised access to your favorite social networking accounts.

If you have installed Search.yourinstantsocialhub.com yourself, can you say that this extension/search tool has met your expectations? This hijacker looks like a search engine with some easy-access links at the top. The links route to facebook.com, twitter.com, linkedin.com, and instagra.com, which, luckily, are legitimate websites. The search box in the middle allows you to enter search keywords, and your search queries are redirected to Yahoo Search. We have seen this to be the case with all other hijackers from the SaferBrowser family. Our biggest concern is that this search engine could include sponsored links. The hijacker could modify the results shown to display the links for whose promotion it might get money. This is one of the reasons – if not the primary reason – why we advise deleting Search.yourinstantsocialhub.com from the browsers. What about third-party software?

Was Search.yourinstantsocialhub.com bundled with third-party software upon installation? According to our data, this hijacker could be introduced to you via pop-ups showcased by malware (e.g., TermTrident). Moreover, it could be attached to software bundles represented via file-sharing sites. Whichever way you look at it, it is likely that the hijacker will be accompanied by other unreliable and possibly even malicious threats. Also, remember that some of these threats might have employed tracking cookies. The hijacker itself uses tracking cookies, and the statement in the Privacy Policy informs that the data collected by them could include personally identifiable information. If you have no clue how to erase cookies, move to the browser of your choice, tap Ctrl+Shift+Delete keys, and clear the cookies in the menu that appears.

The guide below was designed to help you delete Search.yourinstantsocialhub.com from Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers manually. According to our researchers, it should be enough to change the homepage on IE to get rid of this infection, but it is possible that you will also need to uninstall an unwanted application via Control Panel, so do not forget to check it out. Mozilla Firefox users will have to erase an extension, as well as change the homepage URL. After you are done cleaning your browsers, you can restart the PC, and run a full system scan. If any leftovers are present, you will be informed about them. Although manual removal is attractive, we advise using automated malware removal software. If you do, you will not need to worry about hijackers, cookies, adware representing malicious pop-ups, threats that could have entered bundled, and so on. Most importantly, the responsibility of keeping your operating system protected against malware will be lifted off your shoulders.

Search.yourinstantsocialhub.com Removal

Internet Explorer:

1. Launch the browser and tap Alt+T keys.
2. In the Tools menu click Internet options.
3. Click the General tab on the left.
4. Move to the Home Page box.
5. Overwrite the URL and click OK.
6. Tap Ctrl+Shift+Delete keys.
7. Select the appropriate boxes and click Delete.
8. Restart the browser.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Launch the browser and tap Alt+T keys.
2. In the Tools menu select Options.
3. Move to the General menu.
4. Find the Home Page section.
5. Overwrite the hijacker’s URL.
6. Tap Alt+T again and click Add-ons.
7. Remove the unwanted extension.
8. Tap Ctrl+Shift+Delete keys.
9. Select the appropriate boxes and click Clear Now.
10. Restart the browser.