A browser hijacker called 2inf.net is now widely spread on the World Wide Web. Many computer users have got infected by this browser hijacker and are struggling to get rid of it from their PC systems. You may consider 2inf.net as a search provider that provides the search service as what Bing, Yahoo or Google. But in reality, the 2inf.net is web-browser hijacker that could harm your computer if not removed as soon as possible. A mostly harmful actions of the browser hijacker is to replace users’ web-browser settings like the home page, new tab and search provider by default to its own without any permission.
The 2inf.net hijacker infection mostly affects only the Google Chrome, Firefox, IE and MS Edge. However, possible situations, when any other web browsers will be affected too. The hijacker will perform a scan of the PC for internet browser shortcuts and change them without your permission. When it infects the web browser shortcuts, it will add the argument like ‘http://site.address’ into Target property. So, each time you launch the web browser, you will see the 2inf.net intrusive web site.
Table of contents
- What is 2inf.net
- How to remove 2inf.net from PC system
- Run AdBlocker to stop 2inf.net and stay safe online
- Don’t know how your web browser has been hijacked by 2inf.net hijacker infection?
- To sum up
Being infected by 2inf.net browser hijacker you will be forced to use its own search provider. It could seem not to be dangerous, but you still should be very careful, since it may show undesired and harmful ads made to mislead you into buying some questionable software or products, provide search results that may redirect your web browser to certain deceptive, misleading or malicious web pages. We recommend that you use only the reliable search provider like Google, Yahoo or Bing.
Although, 2inf.net hijacker is not a virus, but it does bad things, and it can make changes to current settings of all your typical web-browsers. Moreover, an adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) may be additionally installed on to your computer with this browser hijacker infection, that will display a huge number of ads, or even massive full page ads that blocks surfing the Internet. Often such these ads can recommend to install other unknown and unwanted programs or visit malicious pages.
It is important, don’t use 2inf.net web-page and don’t click on ads placed on it, as they can lead you to a more harmful or misleading web pages. The best option is to use the instructions posted below to clean your system of hijacker, remove the 2inf.net search, and thereby restore your previous startpage and search provider.
How to remove 2inf.net from PC system
We can assist you remove 2inf.net, without the need to take your machine to a professional. Simply follow the removal guide below if you currently have the unwanted hijacker infection on your personal computer and want to remove it. If you’ve any difficulty while trying to remove the browser hijacker infection, feel free to ask for our help in the comment section below. Some of the steps will require you to restart your personal computer or exit the web-site. So, read this guide carefully, then bookmark or print it for later reference.
How to get rid of 2inf.net redirect without any software
If you perform exactly the tutorial below you should be able to remove the 2inf.net search from the Google Chrome, FF, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge internet browsers.
Remove suspicious and potentially unwanted software using Windows Control Panel
Some of PUPs, adware and hijacker can be removed using the Add/Remove programs utility which can be found in the Windows Control Panel. So, if you are using any version of Microsoft Windows and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to remove it through Add/Remove programs.
Press Windows button , then press Search . Type “Control panel”and press Enter. If you using Windows XP or Windows 7, then click “Start” and select “Control Panel”. It will open the Windows Control Panel as shown on the screen below.
Further, press “Uninstall a program”
It will display a list of all applications installed on your machine. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any suspicious and unknown software.
Fix infected web browsers shortcuts to delete 2inf.net
When installed, this hijacker may add an argument such as “http://site.address” into the Target property of the desktop shortcut for the Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Edge. Due to this, every time you launch the web-browser, it will show the annoying start page.
To clear the internet browser shortcut, right-click to it and select Properties. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text such as “http://site.address” which has been added here. You need to delete it.
When the text is removed, click the OK button. You need to clean all shortcuts of all your web browsers, as they may be infected too.
Remove 2inf.net search from FF
If the Mozilla Firefox settings like homepage, new tab and default search engine have been changed by the hijacker, then resetting it to the default state can help.
Run the Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the web-browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will display the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you’re unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown on the screen below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation prompt. The FF will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the 2inf.net hijacker infection. When, it is finished, click the “Finish” button.
Get rid of 2inf.net from Google Chrome
Reset Chrome settings is a simple way to delete the browser hijacker infection, malicious and ‘ad-supported’ extensions, as well as to recover the web-browser’s newtab, home page and search provider by default that have been replaced by 2inf.net hijacker.
- First run the Google Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three horizontal stripes).
- It will show the Chrome main menu. Select “Settings” option.
- You will see the Google Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and click “Show advanced settings” link.
- Scroll down again and press the “Reset settings” button.
- The Google Chrome will show the reset profile settings page as shown on the screen above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this process is complete, your web browser’s start page, newtab page and default search provider will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.
Get rid of 2inf.net home page from Internet Explorer
The Internet Explorer reset is great if your web-browser is hijacked or you have unwanted addo-ons or toolbars on your internet browser, which installed by an malicious software.
First, open the Internet Explorer, press ) button. Next, press “Internet Options” as shown on the screen below.
In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, click Reset button. The Internet Explorer will display the Reset Internet Explorer settings prompt. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and click Reset button.
You will now need to restart your machine for the changes to take effect. It will get rid of 2inf.net browser hijacker, disable malicious and ad-supported web-browser’s extensions and restore the Microsoft Internet Explorer’s settings such as homepage, newtab and search engine by default to default state.
Run free malware removal utilities to completely remove 2inf.net search
If your machine is still infected with the 2inf.net browser hijacker, then the best way of detection and removal is to run an anti malware scan on the PC system. Download free malicious software removal utilities below and start a full system scan. It will allow you remove all components of the hijacker infection from hardisk and Windows registry.
Run Zemana Anti-malware to remove 2inf.net
We recommend you to use the Zemana Anti-malware that are completely clean your computer. Moreover, the tool will help you to remove potentially unwanted applications, malicious software, toolbars and ad supported software that your computer may be infected too.
Download Zemana antimalware by clicking on the link below.
164108 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Once the downloading process is done, close all applications and windows on your machine. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup like below.
When the installation begins, you will see the “Setup wizard” that will allow you install Zemana antimalware on your computer.
Once setup is finished, you will see window as shown on the image below.
Now click the “Scan” button . This will start scanning the whole PC system to find out hijacker that reroutes your browser to the 2inf.net unwanted web-site. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your personal computer. While the tool is checking, you may see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malicious software.
When it has finished scanning, you will be displayed the list of all detected threats on your computer. Next, you need to press “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti-malware will begin removing 2inf.net hijacker infection related files, folders and registry keys.
How to get rid of 2inf.net with Malwarebytes
Manual 2inf.net removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the browser hijacker can be not completely removed. We suggest that use the Malwarebytes Free that are completely clean your system of hijacker. Moreover, the free program will allow you to remove malware, potentially unwanted software, adware and toolbars that your personal computer may be infected too.
Download Malwarebytes Free on your system by clicking on the link below. Save it on your desktop.
326461 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
When downloading is complete, close all windows on your computer. Further, open the file named mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” dialog box pops up as shown below, press the “Yes” button.
It will show the “Setup wizard” which will allow you install Malwarebytes on the machine. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once setup is finished successfully, click Finish button. Then Malwarebytes will automatically launch and you can see its main window as shown on the screen below.
Next, click the “Scan Now” button to start checking your PC system for the browser hijacker which redirects your browser to the 2inf.net intrusive web-page. This task can take some time, so please be patient. While the tool is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified as being infected by malware.
When it has finished scanning, it’ll display a list of all threats detected by this tool. In order to get rid of all threats, simply click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The Malwarebytes will start removing 2inf.net browser hijacker infection and other security threats. Once disinfection is finished, you can be prompted to reboot your personal computer. We recommend you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the Malwarebytes to delete browser hijacker, adware and other malware.
Double-check for potentially unwanted applications with AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner is a free removal tool that can be downloaded and run to delete hijackers, adware, malicious software, potentially unwanted applications, toolbars and other threats from your PC system. You may run this utility to find threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security program.
- Download AdwCleaner by clicking on the following link.
AdwCleaner download
225298 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
- Select the file location as Desktop, and then press Save.
- When the download is done, launch the AdwCleaner, double-click the adwcleaner_xxx.exe file.
- If the “User Account Control” prompts, press Yes to continue.
- Read the “Terms of use”, and click Accept.
- In the AdwCleaner window, click the “Scan” to perform a system scan with this tool for the 2inf.net hijacker . While the program is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.
- As the scanning ends, it’ll display a scan report. Review the report and then click “Clean”. If the AdwCleaner will ask you to reboot your PC system, click “OK”.
The guidance shown in detail in the following video.
Run AdBlocker to stop 2inf.net and stay safe online
It’s important to run ad blocking software such as AdGuard to protect your machine from malicious web-sites. Most security experts says that it is okay to stop ads. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard may to block 2inf.net and other undesired web sites.
Download AdGuard program by clicking on the following link.
26656 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
Once downloading is finished, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen like below.
Follow the prompts. When the install is complete, you will see a window as on the image below.
You can press “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your PC, AdGuard will run automatically and stop popup advertisements, web-pages such 2inf.net, as well as other malicious or misleading sites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, which is located on your desktop.
Don’t know how your web browser has been hijacked by 2inf.net hijacker infection?
A browser hijacker infections may be spread with the help of trojan horses and other forms of malicious software, but in many cases, the browser hijacker like 2inf.net spreads in the composition, together with some free applications. Many makers of freeware include additional applications in their install package. Sometimes it is possible to avoid the install of any browser hijacker infections like 2inf.net: carefully read the Terms of Use and the Software license, choose only Manual, Custom or Advanced installation method, unset all checkboxes before clicking Install or Next button while installing new freeware.
To sum up
Now your PC system should be clean of the 2inf.net start page. Uninstall AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop ups and undesired malicious pages) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your personal computer for new malware, browser hijackers and ‘ad supported’ software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijacker, malicious software and adware are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove 2inf.net from your web-browser, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.