Search by MixMovie Redirect - How to remove

Search by MixMovie and MixMovie Start are two extensions that complement each other, both promising to make it easier than before to find information on films, actors, trailers. They’re installed by thousands and thousands of people. Are these add-ons really that good? And why are so many people suspicious of them?

There are a lot of browser add-ons that are similar to MixMovie, such as MovieBox, Movie Browsing, and MixSportTV. These add-ons are all similar by the way they behave:

• Install without the user’s knowledge and with no warnings.
• Redirect the search queries to a certain website.
• Display ads where there shouldn’t be any.
• Track users’ activities and share that data with advertisers.

Search by MixMovie is a browser hijacker — an extension that is created to take over some of the settings of the browser in order to, ultimately, display more ads. Most often this is done by setting a specific search engine and showing you ads over there. Of course, MixMovie is not a virus — some might consider its behavior completely legitimate. However, being aware of what it’s doing is very important, as is knowing how to avoid having your browser hijacked again.

How to avoid browser hijackers

Browser hijackers don’t tend to have very valuable, original, praiseworthy features — they’re usually very bare and basic, and MixMovie doesn’t break the mold. These browser add-ons are rarely ever installed based on their own merits. In fact, a lot of hijackers are hidden on the Chrome Web Store and aren’t even accessible if you don’t have the direct link. That means that some of these extensions are distributed in alternative ways.

MixMovie and other hijackers are often distributed by bundlers. Some distributors of freeware bundle applications that pay to be installed on people’s computers, which is how you sometimes end up with strange new programs that you never installed on your machine.

MixMovie is also promoted by misleading advertisements and adware viruses. Considering that adware is basically malware that forces unwanted, excessive ads to be displayed on your screen, any product that partners with adware is immediately suspicious. And hijackers rarely shy away from using adware to spread.

Finally, some do install MixMovie and other ad-supported extensions themselves, usually seduced by the dishonest descriptions of these hijackers. Even though browsers warn that MixMovie can “change your search settings” and “read and change all your data on the websites you visit”, the latter of which is quite a powerful ability that would, in theory, allow MixMovie to even see your passwords.

So, to avoid various deceptive browser add-ons, from banking trojans to benign adware like MixMovie, you need to:

• Download free software from sources that don’t seek to profit from the distribution.
• Avoid shady ad-filled websites, never accept notifications from unknown sites.
• Remove adware as soon as you suspect it, scan your computer with an antivirus tool as often as needed.
• Get around malvertising by keeping your browser and other programs totally up-to-date.
• Check the reputation of a program or a browser add-on, as well as its developer, before you install it.

No anti-malware solution can protect us completely (though it does help), but healthy browsing habits can go a really long way in protecting your computer and your private data from criminals, fraudsters, and callous advertisers online.

How to remove MixMovie

At the end of the day, you can keep using MixMovie safely if you like it — it’s not outright malware. You should still scan your device using a competent antivirus tool (like Combo-Cleaner (Mac OS), or Spyhunter (Windows)) to make sure that there are no shady applications on your computer that could invite more unwanted programs. Adware promotes adware, trojans install viruses — to keep your device safe, you need to catch malware as soon as possible.

If you decide to uninstall MixMovie, the guide is below — you just need to go to the options and remove all the extensions that you do not trust.

Hijackers like MixMovie that share your data with third parties and are used as vehicles for promoting specific websites and search engines are indeed detected as threats by a lot of antivirus programs — not as malware, but as potentially unwanted programs. There is a difference between malware and PUPs, so you should look into whether your default cybersecurity solution does detect PUPs. Doing that does make the antivirus more aggressive but it’s probably worth it to switch this option on.

Automatic Malware removal tools

TopRemoving Search by MixMovie Redirect 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 Search by MixMovie Redirect. Click on the trash bin icon next to Search by MixMovie Redirect 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 Search by MixMovie Redirect, 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.