Computer Help and Support

RKP5637

(67,112 posts) Sat Dec 9, 2017, 12:50 PM Dec 2017

Is DuckDuckGo invasive Malware? It had hijacked my search engines in Linux Chrome

Last edited Sun Dec 10, 2017, 09:51 AM - Edit history (1)

and was about impossible to get rid of.

More on DuckDuckGo ... it well might not have been the specific problem, but rather how it got bundled.

https://novirus.uk/duckduckgo/

UPDATE: I manually removed it and reset my browser. I apparently picked up some third party crap along the way. Everything is OK now.

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

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Is DuckDuckGo invasive Malware? It had hijacked my search engines in Linux Chrome (Original Post) RKP5637 Dec 2017 OP

I love duckduckgoose. It work very well with Mozilla Firefox. I love Firefox a lot.... marble falls Dec 2017 #1

I used to use FF a lot, from day 1. I was looking at the recent FF release. It's pretty cool, RKP5637 Dec 2017 #2

They're very big on privacy and that is one of DDGs strong points for me... marble falls Dec 2017 #3

Yahoo is high risk IMO. Seems they are hacked a lot. RKP5637 Dec 2017 #6

I am very unhappy with Yahoo. I've had a lot of problems with it, once locked my account for .... marble falls Dec 2017 #7

link is to a page selling a product to remove DDG. an internet search turns up no particular msongs Dec 2017 #4

I removed it manually, also required a browser reset. Why are they so invasive? n/t RKP5637 Dec 2017 #5

Are you sure it's not a consequence of some "privacy" software you have installed... hunter Dec 2017 #8

I removed it and reset my browser and it is no longer self-installing after deleted. I'm extremely RKP5637 Dec 2017 #9

Prevent Bytefence and other hidden programs with Unchecky douglas9 Dec 2017 #10

Yes, I think this is what happened. I've now cleared the problem, so everything is back and RKP5637 Dec 2017 #11

marble falls

(62,061 posts)

1. I love duckduckgoose. It work very well with Mozilla Firefox. I love Firefox a lot....

Reply to RKP5637 (Original post)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 01:03 PM

Dec 2017

I truly hate anything out of Google, especially chrome.

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)

2. I used to use FF a lot, from day 1. I was looking at the recent FF release. It's pretty cool,

Reply to marble falls (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 01:10 PM

Dec 2017

might switch back to FF.

marble falls

(62,061 posts)

3. They're very big on privacy and that is one of DDGs strong points for me...

Reply to RKP5637 (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 01:16 PM

Dec 2017

google keeps trying to be my search default but its easy to over ride. I find it happens a lot less if I don't sign in to YouTube. I worry about Yahoo, so I wish mozilla offered e-mail service.

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)

6. Yahoo is high risk IMO. Seems they are hacked a lot.

Reply to marble falls (Reply #3)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 03:27 PM

Dec 2017

marble falls

(62,061 posts)

7. I am very unhappy with Yahoo. I've had a lot of problems with it, once locked my account for ....

Reply to RKP5637 (Reply #6)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 03:32 PM

Dec 2017

three months.

msongs

(70,172 posts)

4. link is to a page selling a product to remove DDG. an internet search turns up no particular

Reply to RKP5637 (Original post)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 01:50 PM

Dec 2017

problems except for hysteria sites

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)

5. I removed it manually, also required a browser reset. Why are they so invasive? n/t

Reply to msongs (Reply #4)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 02:12 PM

Dec 2017

hunter

(38,931 posts)

8. Are you sure it's not a consequence of some "privacy" software you have installed...

Reply to RKP5637 (Original post)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 04:16 PM

Dec 2017

... or other sketchy freeware?

The site you link to says as much, that some bullshit freeware and shareware downloads will change your search engine preferences, and aggressively keep them changed.

--snip--

I haven’t installed DuckDuckGo. How did it appear on my browser?

We have already mentioned that browser hijacker spreads bundled with free programs that users download from the Internet. The developers of PUPs are aware of the fact that computer users are lazy, brave and inattentive. They always choose ‘Quick’ or ‘Recommended’ software installation mode and just several times click ‘Next’ and ‘Agree’ buttons.

They do not realise that by using this setup and clicking ‘Agree’ they let PUPs in. To avoid DuckDuckGo hijack or other suspicious add-ons, you have to choose ‘Advanced’ or ‘Custom’ setup. Then you will be able to see the list of additional programs and decline their installation.

Besides, you should always download software from reliable sources and read all documents provided by the developers. The Privacy Policy, EULA or Terms and Agreements might not be the most interesting pieces to read, but you have to secure your computer and your identity.

--snip--

https://novirus.uk/duckduckgo/

There are probably a lot of sketchy or dangerous sites that don't want you using google as your default search engine because google flags them as sketchy or dangerous sites.

The DuckDuckGo search engine itself is legitimate according to Apple, Microsoft, Yahoo!, Wikipedia, and other business partners.

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)

9. I removed it and reset my browser and it is no longer self-installing after deleted. I'm extremely

Reply to hunter (Reply #8)

Sat Dec 9, 2017, 04:42 PM

Dec 2017

careful with things like this, but I'm more than willing to admit I could have done something dumb. Thanks for your reply!

douglas9

(4,474 posts)

10. Prevent Bytefence and other hidden programs with Unchecky

Reply to RKP5637 (Original post)

Sun Dec 10, 2017, 05:38 AM

Dec 2017

Last edited Sun Dec 10, 2017, 07:56 AM - Edit history (1)

Bundling is a highly discussed software marketing method. Despite the fact that this distribution technique has been widely used by developers of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs)[1], e.g. adware or browser hijackers, it’s still a legitimate strategy. Even well-known companies are using it, no matter that they often risk to damage their reputation.

Not long ago, security software developer Bytefence[2] was reported for spreading their products together with programs like Any Video Converter and Clip Grab. After installing any of these programs, people complained that they found this tool scanning their computer, changing browser’s homepage and promoting this program in other ways.

No matter that this program was approved to be legitimate, many computer users believed that Bytefence cannot be a reliable tool because it appeared on their computers out of nowhere. Thus, this questionable marketing method might give opposite results than publishers expect.

Legitimate programs that users download unintentionally can be removed without any problems. However, infiltration of PUPs or even malware might require spending hours terminating potentially dangerous or malicious components. Thus, it's better to avoid it; and Unchecky tool offers to help you.

https://www.2-spyware.com/prevent-bytefence-and-other-hidden-programs-with-unchecky

https://unchecky.com/

RKP5637

(67,112 posts)

11. Yes, I think this is what happened. I've now cleared the problem, so everything is back and

Reply to douglas9 (Reply #10)

Sun Dec 10, 2017, 09:46 AM

Dec 2017

working OK. Unchecky is for Windows only, but thanks for your reply.

Relative to handhelds, with all of the endless apps available, it seems one could really be at risk. Just fyi ... For those, Sophos is good, which also works with Linux, Macs and Windows across many devices. https://home.sophos.com/

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