What is Pick Color?
The experienced security specialists have determined that Pick Color is a browser extension that belongs to the family of browser hijackers. Browser hijacker is a kind of software that is developed to change the browser settings without the knowledge or permission of the computer user, and it usually redirects the affected system’s web browser to certain advertisement-related web sites. A browser hijacker installs multiple toolbars on the internet browser, initiates numerous popups, modifies the default web-browser search provider or startpage, generates multiple pop-up ads and redirects user web searches to its own web-site. If your web browser has been hijacked by a browser hijacker you may need to perform manual steps or use a malware removal tool to revert changes made to your internet browsers.
Pick Color browser extension redirects user seaches to fxsmash.xyz and Yahoo
Typically, browser hijackers and PUPs promote fake search providers by setting their address as the homepage or search engine of the affected internet browser. In this case, the browser hijacker changes browser settings to fxsmash.xyz. That is, in other words, the Pick Color extension is created for the sole purpose of forcing the user to visit the fxsmash.xyz address when the user opens the home page or uses the search provider. Therefore, the only way to remove a browser redirect to this unwanted website is to completely remove the browser hijacker associated with it. The reason for this is that browser hijackers often block the ability to change browser settings, thus preventing the user from restoring the start page and search provider. For example, in this case, to get rid of fxsmash.xyz from the address of the startpage and search engine, the user needs to uninstall the Pick Color browser extension.
Another reason why you need to remove Pick Color is its online data-tracking activity. It can collect privacy information, including:
- IP addresses;
- URLs visited;
- search queries/terms;
- clicks on links and advertisements;
- internet browser version information.
Therefore, Pick Color is a an unwanted browser extension. If you noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, we suggest you to complete few simple steps below to get rid of browser hijacker and remove Pick Color from the personal computer.
How can a browser hijacker get on your computer
PUPs and browser hijackers usually come bundled with free software which downloaded from the Internet. Which means that you need to be proactive and carefully read the Terms of use and the License agreement properly. For the most part, a hijacker will be clearly described, so take the time to carefully read all the information about the software that you downloaded and want to install on your device. In the Setup wizard, you should select the Advanced, Custom or Manual installation type to control what components and additional applications to be installed, otherwise you run the risk of infecting your personal computer with an unwanted program such as the Pick Color browser hijacker.
Threat Summary
| Name | Pick Color |
| Type | redirect virus, startpage hijacker, search engine hijacker, PUP, browser hijacker |
| Associated website | fxsmash.xyz |
| Affected Browser Settings | newtab page URL, search provider, home page |
| Distribution | misleading popup advertisements, free programs installers, fake update tools |
| Symptoms | Pop ups and newtab pages are loaded without your request. You keep getting redirected to questionable webpages. New entries appear in your Programs folder. Unwanted web browser toolbars on your desktop. Unwanted changes in your browser like displaying new tabs you didn’t open. |
| Removal | Pick Color removal guide |
How to remove Pick Color from personal computer
If you have an unwanted startpage or search provider, consistent pop-ups or advertisements, slow computer, crashing PC issues, you are in need of hijacker removal assistance. The steps below will guide you forward to get Pick Color browser hijacker removed and will help you get your computer operating at peak capacity again.
To remove Pick Color, complete the following steps:
How to manually delete Pick Color
Most common hijackers may be removed without any antivirus apps. The manual hijacker removal is steps that will teach you how to remove Pick Color hijacker. If you do not want to remove Pick Color in the manually due to the fact that you are an unskilled computer user, then you can run free removal tools listed below.
Remove unwanted or newly added software
First of all, check the list of installed applications on your computer and delete all unknown and newly installed apps. If you see an unknown application with incorrect spelling or varying capital letters, it have most likely been installed by malicious software and you should clean it off first with malware removal utility like Zemana Anti-malware.
- If you are using Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 then click Windows button, next press Search. Type “Control panel”and press Enter.
- If you are using Windows XP, Vista, 7, then press “Start” button and press “Control Panel”.
- It will show the Windows Control Panel.
- Further, click “Uninstall a program” under Programs category.
- It will display a list of all apps installed on the computer.
- Scroll through the all list, and uninstall questionable and unknown apps. To quickly find the latest installed applications, we recommend sort software by date.
See more details in the video tutorial below.
Delete Pick Color from Mozilla Firefox by resetting browser settings
This step will help you delete Pick Color, third-party toolbars, disable harmful extensions and return your default startpage, newtab and search provider settings.
Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and press the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as displayed below.
A small menu will appear, click the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, press “Refresh Firefox” button similar to the one below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to revert back your Mozilla Firefox web browser settings to their default values.
Remove Pick Color hijacker from Internet Explorer
The IE reset is great if your internet browser is hijacked or you’ve unwanted addons or toolbars on your internet browser, that installed by a malware.
First, launch the Internet Explorer, click 
) button. Next, click “Internet Options” as shown on the image below.
In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, click Reset button. The Internet Explorer will open the Reset Internet Explorer settings prompt. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and click Reset button.
You will now need to reboot your device for the changes to take effect. It will delete Pick Color hijacker, disable malicious and ad-supported web browser’s extensions and restore the Internet Explorer’s settings like new tab page, search engine and start page to default state.
Remove Pick Color from Chrome
Another solution to remove Pick Color from Google Chrome is Reset Chrome settings. This will disable malicious add-ons and reset Chrome settings including newtab page, search provider by default and home page to default state. It will save your personal information like saved passwords, bookmarks, auto-fill data and open tabs.
First open the Google Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will show the Chrome menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed plugins. If the list has the extension signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option named “Settings”.
The web browser will show the settings screen. Another way to display the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as displayed on the screen below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will open the confirmation prompt as on the image below.
You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The web-browser will run the process of cleaning. When it’s complete, the browser’s settings including new tab, search engine and start page back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your computer.
Automatic Removal of Pick Color
The easiest method to remove Pick Color browser hijacker is to run an antimalware program capable of detecting browser hijackers such as Pick Color. We suggest try Zemana AntiMalware or another free malware remover which listed below. It has excellent detection rate when it comes to adware, hijackers and other PUPs.
Use Zemana AntiMalware to remove Pick Color browser hijacker
Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) is a free tool that performs a scan of your computer and displays if there are existing adware software, browser hijackers, viruses, worms, spyware, trojans and other malicious software residing on your computer. If malicious software is detected, Zemana can automatically remove it. Zemana Anti-Malware doesn’t conflict with other antimalware and antivirus software installed on your PC system.
- Please go to the following link to download Zemana. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
Zemana AntiMalware
164114 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
- Once you have downloaded the setup file, make sure to double click on the Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. This would start the Zemana Free setup on your device.
- Select setup language and click ‘OK’ button.
- On the next screen ‘Setup Wizard’ simply click the ‘Next’ button and follow the prompts.
- Finally, once the installation is finished, Zemana Free will open automatically. Else, if does not then double-click on the Zemana Free icon on your desktop.
- Now that you have successfully install Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM), let’s see How to use Zemana to get rid of Pick Color hijacker from your computer.
- After you have launched the Zemana AntiMalware, you will see a window similar to the one below, just click ‘Scan’ button . Zemana program will scan through the whole device for the hijacker.
- Now pay attention to the screen while Zemana Free scans your personal computer.
- When the scan is finished, the results are displayed in the scan report. Review the report and then press ‘Next’ button.
- Zemana Free may require a restart PC system in order to complete the Pick Color browser hijacker removal procedure.
- If you want to permanently delete browser hijacker from your PC system, then click ‘Quarantine’ icon, select all malware, adware, potentially unwanted programs and other items and press Delete.
- Reboot your PC to complete the browser hijacker removal procedure.
Remove Pick Color hijacker from web browsers with HitmanPro
Hitman Pro is a free removal utility which can check your device for a wide range of security threats like adware, malware, PUPs as well as Pick Color browser hijacker. It will perform a deep scan of your computer including hard drives and Windows registry. When a malware is found, it will allow you to remove all found threats from your computer with a simple click.
- Download Hitman Pro from the link below.
- When the download is done, start the Hitman Pro, double-click the HitmanPro.exe file.
- If the “User Account Control” prompts, press Yes to continue.
- In the Hitman Pro window, click the “Next” to begin checking your PC for the Pick Color hijacker. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your computer. While the utility is checking, you may see how many objects and files has already scanned.
- When HitmanPro is done scanning your device, it will open the Scan Results. When you’re ready, click “Next”. Now, click the “Activate free license” button to start the free 30 days trial to get rid of all malware found.
Remove Pick Color hijacker with MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM)
Manual Pick Color hijacker removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the hijacker can be not completely removed. We recommend that use the MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) that are completely clean your personal computer of hijacker. Moreover, this free program will allow you to remove malware, potentially unwanted applications, adware software and toolbars that your PC system may be infected too.
First, please go to the following link, then press the ‘Download’ button in order to download the latest version of MalwareBytes Free.
326466 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the downloading process is complete, close all software and windows on your PC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named MBSetup as shown on the screen below.
When the setup begins, you’ll see the Setup wizard that will help you install Malwarebytes on your computer.
Once setup is complete, you’ll see window as shown in the following example.
Now click the “Scan” button to start scanning your device for the Pick Color browser hijacker. While the tool is scanning, you can see how many objects and files has already scanned.
After finished, MalwareBytes Free will open a scan report. In order to remove all items, simply click “Quarantine” button.
The Malwarebytes will now remove Pick Color browser hijacker. Once the cleaning procedure is complete, you may be prompted to reboot your device.
The following video explains few simple steps on how to get rid of hijacker, adware and other malicious software with MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM).
How to stop Pick Color redirect
It is important to use adblocker applications such as AdGuard to protect your computer from malicious web-pages. Most security experts says that it is okay to stop advertisements. You should do so just to stay safe! And, of course, the AdGuard can stop Pick Color redirects and block malicious websites.
Visit the following page to download AdGuard. Save it to your Desktop.
26660 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, double-click the downloaded file to start it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as displayed in the following example.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick tutorial as on the image below.
Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick instructions which will allow you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you start your personal computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop unwanted ads, block Pick Color redirects, as well as other harmful or misleading web-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, that is located on your desktop.
To sum up
Now your device should be free of the Pick Color hijacker. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup ads and unwanted malicious web-sites) and Zemana Free (to periodically scan your PC system for new hijackers and other malicious software). Probably you are running an older version of Java or Adobe Flash Player. This can be a security risk, so download and install the latest version right now.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove Pick Color browser extension from the Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge and Google Chrome, then ask for help here here.
