Chump Search Hijacker - How to remove

Chump is a browser add-on for Chrome and Chromium-based web browsers. It can be found on the Chrome Web Store and it currently shows as having more than 100,000 users, but only 25 reviews. According to the few reviews that Chump does have, Linkvertise forces users to install this extension, which then opens Bing.com in people’s browsers.

Chump in short:

Threat type	Search hijacker, potentially unwanted program, adware.
Problems with Chump	It may be installed against the user’s wishes, it duplicates features, it can read user data, it may open unwanted websites, such as Bing.com.
How to avoid browser hijackers	Block malicious sites and ads, avoid websites that offer monetized download links, protect your computer with antivirus tools (Spyhunter for PC, Spyhunter for Mac, Malwarebytes, others).
How to remove Chump	Uninstall Chump and other unwanted extensions from your browser.

Is Chump safe?

Chump may open Bing.com

Depending on how Chump was installed on your browser, you might see Bing.com or another unexpected website opening on your screen.

Bing.com is a fine search engine, but occasionally, it’s promoted by search hijackers – malicious browser extensions. These extensions make money from redirecting searches to Bing. Meanwhile, Bing makes money from advertising in its search results.

This is sometimes called third-party search monetization. It can be done well, like when a free browser extension offers this as an option and explains that it relies on it to make money. But when extensions like Chump force people to use a search engine that they don’t want, that’s malicious.

Chump can read your data on all the sites that you visit. This could include everything from passwords to private DMs. Chump promises that it does not log this data, and it probably doesn’t. Still, it’s important to be careful when you install an extension that can read all your data: only allow this for extensions that you really trust, that come from reputable developers.

Chump lacks useful features

Chump offers to let you create shortcuts for websites. This is supposed to help you open or search those sites more quickly.

For instance, if you type a search query into your address bar and start it with “yt”, then Chump will open Youtube.com search results automatically.

This is similar to Google Chrome’s built-in search engine feature. In fact, Chrome does the exact same thing: it lets you add your own search engines, create labels (keywords) for them, and search those sites directly.

For instance, you can add Wikipedia.org as a search engine and then search the site directly from your omnibar:

1. open your browser,
2. open the main menu (the three-dot button in Google Chrome) -> Settings -> Search engine -> Manage search engines -> Add,
3. fill in the form, use the URL provided by the site (it’s different for each site).

Also, check what search engines you already have. You can change their keywords if you want.

How to avoid browser hijackers

Linkvertise is a link monetizer. When developers and publishers want to make money from downloads, they might use Linkvertise, Adfly, and other links. These tend to just force you to sit through a few seconds of ads. However, they can also ask you to subscribe to notifications (1Music-online.me) or install an app or a browser add-on. What you see is up to the creator of the link.

If you are forced to install an add-on like Chump, don’t worry too much. You can simply remove the extension after you’re done. But it would be better if you weren’t forced to install unwanted add-ons at all.

Unfortunately, there’s no perfect solution.

• You can use ad blockers to avoid some malicious ads. However, Linkvertise often recognizes ad blockers and won’t work with them turned on.
• You could also avoid sites that spread monetized download links. You won’t encounter Chump and similar extensions if you don’t visit the types of websites that promote them: pirating sites, game mod sites. Pirating is especially dangerous.

To stay safe, make sure that you have a good antivirus program installed (such as Spyhunter for PC, Spyhunter for Mac, Malwarebytes, etc.) and that you never ever disable it. Especially not when an installer asks you to. If you need to, use a virtual machine or a sandbox (How to Safely Run Software With Windows 10 Sandbox) to check files before running them on your computer.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to stop Chump redirects

If Chump is forcing you to visit unwanted sites (or even if it’s doing nothing at all), you can remove it like any other browser add-on. Open the extension area (the puzzle button) and click the three-dot button next to Chump, then select Remove.

TopRemoving Chump Search Hijacker from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to Chump Search Hijacker. Click on the trash bin icon next to Chump Search Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Chump Search Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove Chump Search Hijacker from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to Chump Search Hijacker. Click on the "Remove" icon next to Chump Search Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving Chump Search Hijacker from Firefox

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything Chump Search Hijacker related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Chump Search Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.