Do you know what Flashit.xyz is?
Do you want to take security risks when browsing the web? We are sure that you do not, and if that is the case, Flashit.xyz is not the search tool we recommend trusting and using. It is most likely to take over the homepage and default search provider on your Google Chrome web browser when you install an extension named Flashit. At the time of research, an official installer for this PUP did not exist. In the past, users could find it at chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/flashit/nmkcplnpfmfmnaiehoeegkekmpegfjec, but this page has been taken down already, and an official download website does not exist. All in all, regardless of how you installed the PUP or the browser hijacker associated with it, we can help you remove it. First, we suggest reading the report to understand the hijacker better and to learn about different methods you could use when deleting Flashit.xyz.
If you have discovered Flashit.xyz set as your homepage and default search provider without your permission, it is most likely that you downloaded something without paying enough attention to it. The hijacker cannot just drop out of nowhere, and if it exists, it is most likely that you can find a PUP (like Flashit) or even a more malicious infection installed on your operating system. We recommend installing a trusted malware scanner to help you figure out whether there is anything malicious that you need to delete from your operating system. Hopefully, only the PUP exists as getting rid of it is very easy. First of all, you need to understand why removing Flashit.xyz is something you should care about at all. Many users might find this search tool not only harmless but also quite useful, and that is the wrong way of thinking.
Once Flashit.xyz hijacks the browser, you are introduced to an interface of a search engine. This interface introduces you to a search box and also easy-access links to Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, AliExpress, Amazon, and eBay. So far, so good. The problem is deep-seated, and you need to take a good look at the hijacker to understand why trusting it is risky. First of all, we have the more obvious – the modified search results. When you use the hijacker to search something online, you are redirected to Bing Search, and while this search engine has a good reputation, the hijacker can modify the results you end up seeing. Therefore, this search tool cannot be trusted. Second, you have to think about advertising. Flashit.xyz can be identified as an advertising tool because it tracks user-related information and shares it with undisclosed advertisers, whose ads are then injected into the modified search results. Do you still think that the hijacker is harmless?
Flashit.xyz screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
It is recommended that you remove Flashit.xyz immediately, but in fact, you should not focus on the hijacker itself. If you try to modify the homepage and the default search provider individually, you will see that you cannot change the settings. That is because you need to eliminate the PUP that is linked to the hijacker. If it is Flashit, you should be able to delete it using the instructions below. Because this PUP uses web cookies to gather user-related information, it is also important that you clear browsing data, as shown in the guide below. After you are done with the elimination of existing threats, consider implementing trusted anti-malware software to protect you and your entire operating system against threats in the future.
Delete Flashit.xyz from Google Chrome
- Launch the browser and tap Alt and F keys.
- Click More tools and then go to Extensions.
- Remove the extension named Flashit.
- Tap Ctrl, Shift, and Delete keys.
- Navigate to the Advanced menu (select at the top).
- Choose a time range and the boxes you want.
- Click Clear data.
In non-techie terms:
Flashit.xyz is a browser hijacker that can redirect your search queries to Bing Search. Unfortunately, the results you see are modified to showcase third-party sponsored links, and interacting with them could be dangerous. That is the conclusion we are drawing because not enough is revealed about the third-party partners that the creator of the hijacker works with. To delete Flashit.xyz from your Google Chrome web browser, you are likely to need to eliminate a potentially unwanted program. Flashit, for example, is an extension that, in the past, has been seen bundled with the hijacker. If this is the PUP you need to erase, follow the instructions above. Afterward, do not hesitate to implement a legitimate anti-malware program, especially if you know that other threats exist on your system and browsers already.