The Packages Tracker is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) from the group of Browser hijackers. Once installed, it alters some settings of installed web-browsers. It will set Packages Tracker as your start page, newtab page and search engine by default. Thus, if you open any of the web browsers, it’ll always be show this undesired web-page. Moreover, when you create a new tab, the Microsoft Internet Explorer, Chrome, Edge and Firefox can be also rerouted to Packages Tracker web page.
Packages Tracker takes over your browser’s default search engine and controls what will be displayed to you whenever you do a searching. Other than the search results, it also provides tons of unwanted ads on the search page. Some of these ads designed to trick you into buying some questionable products and apps. Moreover, sometimes, those advertisements could reroute you to misleading or malicious web-sites.
Moreover, an adware (sometimes called ‘ad-supported’ software) may be additionally installed on to your machine by this browser hijacker, that will display a huge number of ads, or even massive full page ads that blocks surfing the Internet. Often such these advertisements can recommend to install other unknown and undesired software or visit harmful websites.
Threat Summary
| Name | Packages Tracker |
| Type | browser hijacker, search provider hijacker, startpage hijacker, toolbar, unwanted new tab, redirect virus |
| Symptoms |
|
| Removal | Packages Tracker removal guide |
If your PC has been affected by Packages Tracker hijacker, you must have finished any of the steps above. Once you’ve cleaned your PC system by following our suggestions below, make sure not to commit the same mistakes again in the future.
How to Remove Packages Tracker from Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
In order to get rid of Packages Tracker from the MS Edge, Chrome, Internet Explorer and Firefox and set your preferred startpage and search engine, you need to reset the internet browser settings. Additionally, you should look up for other dubious entries, such as files, programs, internet browser extensions and shortcuts. However, if you want to delete Packages Tracker easily, you should use reputable anti malware utility and let it do the job for you.
To remove Packages Tracker, perform the following steps:
- How to manually get rid of Packages Tracker
- How to get rid of Packages Tracker automatically
- How to stop Packages Tracker redirect
- Why has my startpage and search provider changed to Packages Tracker?
- To sum up
How to manually get rid of Packages Tracker
Packages Tracker is a hijacker that can replace your web-browser homepage, newtab and search provider and redirect you to the websites which may contain countless advertisements. Not every antivirus program can detect and get rid of Packages Tracker easily from the PC system. Follow the few simple steps below and you can delete browser hijacker by yourself.
Uninstalling the Packages Tracker, check the list of installed software first
One of the first things to attempt for removal of browser hijacker is to check your machine installed programs screen and look for unwanted and dubious applications. If there are any software you do not recognize or are no longer using, you should delete them. If that doesn’t work, then you may need to use malware removal utility such as Zemana AntiMalware.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Click the Microsoft Windows logo, and then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as displayed in the following example.
After the ‘Control Panel’ opens, press the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as on the image below.
Windows 7, Vista, XP
Open Start menu and select the ‘Control Panel’ at right such as the one below.
Then go to ‘Add/Remove Programs’ or ‘Uninstall a program’ (MS Windows 7 or Vista) as shown below.
Carefully browse through the list of installed applications and get rid of all suspicious and unknown programs. We recommend to press ‘Installed programs’ and even sorts all installed software by date. After you’ve found anything dubious that may be the browser hijacker which cause a reroute to Packages Tracker website or other PUP (potentially unwanted program), then select this program and click ‘Uninstall’ in the upper part of the window. If the questionable application blocked from removal, then use Revo Uninstaller Freeware to fully remove it from your computer.
Delete Packages Tracker from Mozilla Firefox by resetting web browser settings
If Mozilla Firefox homepage or search provider are hijacked by the Packages Tracker, your internet browser shows unwanted popup advertisements, then ‘Reset Mozilla Firefox’ could solve these problems. However, your themes, bookmarks, history, passwords, and web form auto-fill information will not be deleted.
First, run the Mozilla Firefox. Next, press the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (
). It will display the drop-down menu. Next, click the Help button (
).
In the Help menu click the “Troubleshooting Information”. In the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page click on “Refresh Firefox” button as on the image below.
Confirm your action, click the “Refresh Firefox”.
Get rid of Packages Tracker start page from Microsoft Internet Explorer
If you find that Internet Explorer web-browser settings like new tab page, search engine and start page had been hijacked, then you may restore your settings, via the reset web browser procedure.
First, run the Internet Explorer, then press ‘gear’ icon 
. It will show the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the browser, then click the “Internet Options” as displayed on the screen below.
In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then press the “Reset” button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” dialog box. Further, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, press the “Reset” button like the one below.
Once the procedure is complete, click “Close” button. Close the IE and restart your PC for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your web-browser’s homepage, new tab page and search provider to default state.
Remove Packages Tracker from Google Chrome
If you have hijacker problem or the Google Chrome is running slow, then reset Google Chrome settings can help you. In the steps below we’ll show you a way to reset your Google Chrome settings to default values without reinstall. This will also help to remove Packages Tracker from newtab page, default search engine and startpage.
Open the Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (
). It will open the drop-down menu. Choose More Tools, then click Extensions.
Carefully browse through the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.
Open the Chrome main menu again, press to “Settings” option.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, as displayed on the screen below and click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
Confirm your action, click the “Reset” button.
How to get rid of Packages Tracker automatically
If you are not expert at computers, then all your attempts to delete Packages Tracker hijacker by completing the manual steps above might result in failure. To find and remove all of the Packages Tracker related files and registry entries that keep this browser hijacker infection on your computer, use free antimalware software like Zemana, MalwareBytes AntiMalware and Hitman Pro from our list below.
Scan and clean your computer of Packages Tracker with Zemana Free
Zemana Free is free full featured malicious software removal tool. It can check your files and Windows registry in real-time. Zemana AntiMalware can help to delete Packages Tracker browser hijacker infection, other PUPs and adware. It uses 1% of your system resources. This utility has got simple and beautiful interface and at the same time best possible protection for your PC.
Now you can set up and use Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) to remove Packages Tracker homepage from your web browser by following the steps below:
Click the following link to download Zemana AntiMalware setup file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup on your computer. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
164976 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
Launch the install package after it has been downloaded successfully and then follow the prompts to install this utility on your PC.
During installation you can change some settings, but we recommend you don’t make any changes to default settings.
When installation is finished, this malware removal tool will automatically start and update itself. You will see its main window such as the one below.
Now click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the browser hijacker that causes web browsers to display annoying Packages Tracker web site. This process may take quite a while, so please be patient. When a malicious software, adware software or PUPs are found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
When the system scan is complete, Zemana Anti Malware will open you the results. In order to delete all items, simply click “Next” button.
The Zemana will get rid of browser hijacker responsible for modifying your internet browser settings to Packages Tracker and add items to the Quarantine. After finished, you can be prompted to restart your PC to make the change take effect.
Scan your machine and remove Packages Tracker with HitmanPro
Hitman Pro is a portable program that requires no hard install to look for and remove hijacker responsible for redirections to Packages Tracker. The application itself is small in size (only a few Mb). HitmanPro does not need any drivers and special dlls. It’s probably easier to use than any alternative malware removal tools you’ve ever tried. Hitman Pro works on 64 and 32-bit versions of Windows 10, 8, 7 and XP. It proves that removal tool can be just as useful as the widely known antivirus programs.
Click the link below to download HitmanPro. Save it to your Desktop.
Download and use Hitman Pro on your machine. Once started, press “Next” button to begin scanning your personal computer for the hijacker which cause Packages Tracker web-page to appear. This process can take some time, so please be patient. While the HitmanPro utility is checking, you may see how many objects it has identified as being affected by malware..
When HitmanPro has finished scanning, HitmanPro will display a scan report.
All detected threats will be marked. You can remove them all by simply press Next button.
It will show a prompt, press the “Activate free license” button to start the free 30 days trial to remove all malware found.
Get rid of Packages Tracker with MalwareBytes Free
We recommend using the MalwareBytes AntiMalware which are completely clean your system of the browser hijacker. The free utility is an advanced malicious software removal program developed by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This application uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It’s able to help you remove browser hijacker infection, potentially unwanted applications, malware, adware software, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your personal computer for free.
- Click the link below to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware. Save it on your Desktop.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
327218 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- Once the downloading process is complete, close all applications and windows on your computer. Open a folder in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named mb3-setup.
- Further, click Next button and follow the prompts.
- Once installation is complete, press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan with this tool for the hijacker infection that alters web-browser settings to replace your search provider, home page and newtab with Packages Tracker web-site. This process may take quite a while, so please be patient.
- After MalwareBytes Free completes the scan, it will display the Scan Results. You may remove items (move to Quarantine) by simply press “Quarantine Selected”. Once that process is done, you may be prompted to restart your personal computer.
The following video offers a few simple steps on how to remove hijacker infections, adware and other malware with MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM).
How to stop Packages Tracker redirect
One of the worst things is the fact that you cannot stop all those intrusive web pages like Packages Tracker using only built-in Microsoft Windows capabilities. However, there is a application out that you can use to block intrusive browser redirections, advertisements and pop-ups in any modern web-browsers including Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Microsoft Edge. It is called Adguard and it works very well.
- First, click the following link, then click the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of AdGuard.
Adguard download
26882 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- After downloading it, start the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- When the install is complete, press “Skip” to close the install application and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that 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 launch automatically and stop undesired advertisements, block Packages Tracker, as well as other malicious or misleading web-pages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon named AdGuard, which is located on your desktop.
Why has my startpage and search provider changed to Packages Tracker?
Many programs used to hijack a PC system’s browser. So, when you installing free programs, carefully read the disclaimers, select the Custom or Advanced setup method to watch for third-party software that are being installed, because some of the apps are adware and potentially unwanted programs.
To sum up
After completing the steps shown above, your system should be clean from browser hijacker responsible for modifying your internet browser settings to Packages Tracker and other malware. The Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge and Internet Explorer will no longer open intrusive Packages Tracker webpage on startup. Unfortunately, if the steps does not help you, then you have caught a new hijacker infection, and then the best way – ask for help here.
This program works perfect, thanks.