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MagnaEngine browser extension (also known as Magna Search) is a browser hijacker that targets Chrome users. This unwanted tool is promoted via dubious websites and, upon its installation, it changes browser’s settings by adding magnasearch.org as a default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. Consequently, the user is forced to use this unknown search engine, which also causes redirects to robustsearch.io. In some cases, it may redirect to Bing search results. In addition, this extension adds “Managed by your organization” feature, which complicates its removal for the user.
The purpose of MagnaEngine redirect is to drive traffic to suspicious websites. Typically, such seemingly unneeded browser extensions are used to generate hits to various ad networks, thus generating revenue for people behind them. Regular computer users should remove such extensions from their browsers and be careful when installing something from unverified online resources.
In addition, the malware analysts have also noticed that MagnaEngine is often installed together with another browser hijacker, Page Summarizer AI.
MagnaEngine extension aims to hijack Google Chrome browsers and take control of the homepage, default search engine and new tab settings. It assigns magnasearch.org URL to these settings, forcing the user to visit this website and use its search service on a daily basis. At the time of our research, this extension was renamed to Magna Search.
However, if the user enters a search query either via the search bar on the newly assigned homepage or the URL bar, the hijacker initiates a redirect to robustsearch.io. These redirects usually appear suspicious to a computer user, indicating that something is off with the browser, as regular search engines do not redirect to different URLs upon entry of a search query.
Cybersecurity specialists do not recommend using unknown search engines as they usually provide unreliable search results or simply redirect your queries to regular search engines after performing series of redirects to suspicious domains first. If you do not want to use a suspicious tool that uses your computer and network to connect to domains that are not relevant to you, we strongly recommend removing such unwanted tools from Chrome immediately. It is better for your safety and for the performance of your browser as well.
However, browser hijackers like MagnaEngine seek to prevent the user from removing them easily. Therefore, you may notice “Managed by your Organization” written in Google Chrome settings. This feature prevents changing homepage, new tab and default search engine settings. While this feature is typically used by educational institutions or businesses to enforce secure browser policies in the entire network, those behind browser hijackers leverage this feature to prevent the user from changing the settings causing unwanted redirects.
As mentioned earlier, the described browser hijacker often gets installed together with another hijacker named Page Summarizer AI. While it does not seem to have any functionality at the moment, it is likely that it is distributed as a backup hijacker in case the user decides to remove MagnaEngine extension from Chrome.
If you have detected the said extensions in your Chrome browser, we strongly recommend you to use the instructions provided below the article to initiate MagnaEngine removal. Make sure to delete any other suspicious extensions that got installed without your notice as well. If you’d like to opt for automatic removal, consider using INTEGO Antivirus for Windows or INTEGO for Mac.
Name | MagnaEngine (MagnaSearch) |
Type | Browser hijacker; potentially unwanted program; browser redirect virus |
Target browsers | Chrome |
Related domains | magnasearch.org, robustsearch.io |
Extension ID | ooaigdmmnlnmnjcdoeplbjfgigfonble |
Symptoms | Causes the browser to open magnasearch.org on startup and in new tab, uses the same domain for default search engine as well. Once the user enters a search query, the website causes redirects to robustsearch.io. |
Distribution | Chrome Web Store, suspicious online websites and ads |
Remove on Windows | Remove unwanted programs and malware on Windows using INTEGO Antivirus |
Remove on Mac | Clean annoying PUPs on Mac computers using INTEGO. |
Browser hijackers, or simply unwanted browser extensions with useless or suspicious functionality are often downloaded by computer users without notice. These unwanted tools are promoted by annoying pop-up advertisements or come hidden in bundleware installers. Some of these extensions are available of Chrome Web Store as well.
Users should be careful when visiting untrustworthy websites, especially those that promote software crack downloads, movie streaming and similar licensed content for free. These web pages are known to use untrustworthy ad networks that often push unwanted or even dangerous programs.
Some of them display ads in new tab or pop-up, asking the user to install an extension or allow notifications from unknown websites. Doing so can cause problems for the user, such as an excessive display of ads or browser redirects during daily browsing sessions.
In case you decide to download a specific program from a website using an installation wizard, make sure you choose Advanced installation option instead of Default or Recommended, as this installation route allows you to deselect bundled programs. Such bundleware installers allow software developers monetize their programs by including offers to install third-party software. However, these additional programs or tools often are useless to the user.
If you have detected this unwanted extension in your browser, then you should find our instructions on how to do it useful. Follow them attentively and you will remove MagnaEngine browser hijacker quickly. Do not forget to remove components related to Page Summarizer AI in the same way you delete MagnaEngine extension.
In case you wish to check your computer for additional threats or simply initiate the removal automatically, use INTEGO Antivirus if you’re Windows user, or INTEGO for Mac.
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MagnaEngine/MagnaSearch Removal Tutorial
To remove the unwanted program from your computer, use these instructions below to uninstall associated programs or apps from your Windows or Mac computer. Then scroll down for instructions how to clean each affected web browser individually.
Windows 10/8.1/8 users
Click on the Windows logo to open Windows menu. In search, type control panel and select the matching result. Then go to Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users
First, open Windows menu by clicking on the icon in the lower left corner of the screen. Then go to Control Panel and find section called Programs. Click on the Uninstall a program option under it.
Windows XP users
In Windows XP, click Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.
Uninstall unwanted programs
Once in Programs and Features, look through the list of installed programs. You can click on Installed on tab to sort the programs by their installation date.
Right-click on suspicious programs you can't remember installing and choose Uninstall. Follow instructions provided by the Uninstall Wizard, click Next and finally Finish to uninstall the unwanted program from your PC.
Remove MagnaEngine/MagnaSearch from Mac
Remove using INTEGO ANTIVIRUS for Mac (includes scanning for iOS devices). The one-of-a-kind security suite provides VirusBarrier X9 real-time protection against Mac and Windows-based malware, removes existing threats and scans for malware in popular e-mail clients. Includes NetBarrier X9, an intelligent firewall for home, work and public connections.
Remove MagnaEngine/MagnaSearch from Google Chrome
Remove suspicious Chrome extensions
Change Start Page settings
Change default search settings
Remove push notifications from Chrome
If you want to get rid of the annoying ads and so-called push-notifications viruses, you must identify their components and clean your browser. You can easily remove ads from Chrome by following these steps:
Reset Google Chrome browser
Remove MagnaEngine/MagnaSearch from Mozilla Firefox
Remove unwanted add-ons from Firefox
Change Firefox Homepage
Alter preferences in Firefox
Remove annoying push notifications from Firefox
Suspicious sites that ask to enable push notifications gain access to Mozilla's settings and can deliver intrusive advertisements when browsing the Internet. Therefore, you should remove access to your browser by following these simple steps:
Reset Mozilla Firefox
Remove MagnaEngine/MagnaSearch from Microsoft Edge
Remove suspicious extensions:
Change MS Edge Start Page and default search engine:
Turn off push notifications in Edge
If you keep receiving pop-up ads or other promotional content while browsing on Microsoft Edge, your browser might be corrupted by a potentially unwanted program (PUP). You have to clean it — follow these easy instructions:
Clear browsing data
Remove MagnaEngine/MagnaSearch from Safari
Uninstall suspicious Safari extensions
Change Safari Homepage and default search engine
Remove push notifications on Safari
Some suspicious websites can try to corrupt your Safari by asking to enable push notifications. If you have accidentally agreed, your browser will be flooded with various intrusive advertisements and pop-ups. You can get rid of them by following this quick guide:
Reset Safari
Remove MagnaEngine/MagnaSearch from Internet Explorer
TIP: If you are still using IE, we strongly advise using Microsoft Edge or a different browser because Microsoft is no longer providing technical or security support for IE browser.
Remove suspicious extensions from IE
Change default search provider and remove suspicious ones
Change IE Home Page
Block pop-up notifications on Internet Explorer
Suspicious websites can gain access to your Internet Explorer browser through push notifications. If you enable them even by accident, you will start receiving numerous annoying ads and other advertising content while browsing. The easiest way to remove push-notification viruses is by performing the following steps:
Reset Internet Explorer
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Norbert Webb is the head of Geek’s Advice team. He is the chief editor of the website who controls the quality of content published. The man also loves reading cybersecurity news, testing new software and sharing his insights on them. Norbert says that following his passion for information technology was one of the best decisions he has ever made. “I don’t feel like working while I’m doing something I love.” However, the geek has other interests, such as snowboarding and traveling.
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