What redirects are and why they happen
A redirect is when your browser automatically sends you to a different website than the one you typed or clicked. You type example.com and end up on ads.example.com. You click a search result and land on a coupon site instead. Sometimes redirects happen because a website legitimately moved — the old address points to the new one. Most of the time, though, redirects are caused by malware, browser extensions you did not intend to install, or settings that got changed without your knowledge.
Redirects can slow your browsing, show you unwanted ads, or expose you to phishing sites designed to steal passwords. The source is usually one of four things: a browser extension, your browser's homepage or search settings, malware on your computer, or a DNS hijack. Finding which one is the fastest way to stop them.
Key Takeaways
- Most redirects come from unwanted browser extensions, so checking your installed extensions is the first step.
- Your browser's homepage and search engine settings can be changed by malware or unwanted software, and resetting them often stops redirects immediately.
- If redirects continue after removing extensions and resetting settings, run a malware scan with Malwarebytes or Windows Defender to catch infections your browser cannot see.
- DNS hijacks redirect you at the network level, and fixing them means changing your DNS settings to a public provider like Google DNS or Cloudflare.
- Redirects from a specific website usually mean that website itself is compromised or using aggressive advertising, and switching browsers or clearing cookies can help.
Check and remove unwanted browser extensions
Browser extensions are small programs that add features to your browser. They can also be the easiest way for unwanted software to slip in. If you see redirects, the first thing to check is whether you have extensions you do not recognize or remember installing.
In Chrome: Click the three-line menu in the top right, then go to More Tools > Extensions. Look through the list. If you see anything you did not deliberately install, click the trash icon to remove it. Pay special attention to extensions with generic names like "Helper" or "Optimizer" — those are common redirect culprits. After removing each one, close and reopen your browser to see if redirects stop.
In Firefox: Click the three-line menu in the top right, then select Add-ons. Click Extensions on the left. Look through the list and click the three dots next to anything suspicious, then select Remove. Restart Firefox after each removal.
In Safari: Click Safari in the menu bar, then Preferences. Click Extensions. Select any extension you do not recognize and click Uninstall. Close and reopen Safari.
In Edge: Click the three-dot menu in the top right, then go to Extensions. Click Manage Extensions. Remove anything you do not recognize by clicking the trash icon. Restart Edge.
Reset your browser's homepage and search engine
Malware often changes your browser's default homepage and search engine to redirect you through ad networks. Resetting these settings back to what you chose stops many redirects immediately.
In Chrome: Click the three-line menu, then Settings. On the left, click Startup. Make sure "Open the New Tab page" is selected. Then click Search engine on the left, and under "Search engine used in the address bar," select Google (or whichever you prefer). If you see an unfamiliar search engine in the list, click the three dots next to it and select Remove.
In Firefox: Click the three-line menu, then Settings. On the left, click Home. Under "Homepage and new windows," select "Firefox Home." Then scroll down to "Search," and under "Default Search Engine," select Google or your preferred engine. If you see an unfamiliar one, click the X next to it to remove it.
In Safari: Click Safari in the menu bar, then Preferences. Click the General tab. Under "Homepage," clear the field and type the address you want (or leave it blank). Then click the Search tab and select Google under "Search engine."
In Edge: Click the three-dot menu, then Settings. On the left, click Startup. Under "Open these pages," remove any unfamiliar URLs. Then click Privacy, search, and services on the left. Scroll to Search engine and select Bing or Google.
Run a malware scan on your computer
If you still see redirects after removing extensions and resetting your browser, malware on your computer itself is likely the cause. Malware can hijack your browser at a level that extensions and settings cannot fix. The two most effective tools are built into Windows or available for free.
Windows Defender (built in): Click the Windows Start button and type "Windows Security." Open it. Click Virus & threat protection on the left. Under "Current threats," click Scan options. Select Full scan and click Scan now. This takes 20 minutes to an hour depending on your hard drive size. Let it finish, and Windows will quarantine anything it finds.
Malwarebytes (free version): Go to malwarebytes.com on another device or browser if redirects prevent you from reaching it. Download the free version. Install it and open it. Click Scan on the left. Select Full Scan and click Start Scan. This also takes 20 to 40 minutes. Malwarebytes often catches things Windows Defender misses, especially redirect-causing malware.
Run both scans if you can — they use different detection methods and catch different threats. After each scan finishes, restart your computer and test whether redirects have stopped.
Check and change your DNS settings
A DNS hijack redirects you at the network level, before your browser even loads. This means changing your browser settings will not help — you have to change your DNS settings instead. Your computer normally uses DNS servers provided by your internet provider, and malware can change these to point you toward ad networks.
On Windows: Click the Windows Start button and type "Network settings." Open it. On the left, click Advanced network options. Scroll down and click Change adapter options. Right-click your active connection (usually "Ethernet" or your Wi-Fi name) and select Properties. Scroll down and double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Select "Use the following DNS server addresses." In the Preferred DNS server field, type 8.8.8.8 (Google DNS). In the Alternate DNS server field, type 8.8.4.4. Click OK and close the window. Restart your computer.
On Mac: Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences. Click Network. Select your active connection on the left and click Advanced. Click the DNS tab. Click the + button under DNS Servers. Type 8.8.8.8 and press Enter. Click + again and type 8.8.4.4. Click OK, then Apply.
If you still see redirects after changing DNS, your router itself may be compromised. Restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds, plugging it back in, and waiting two minutes for it to fully restart.
Stop redirects from a specific website
Sometimes redirects happen only on one particular website, not everywhere. This usually means that website is compromised, using aggressive advertising, or has a tracking script that is misbehaving. You have a few options.
Clear cookies for that site: Cookies store login information and preferences. A corrupted cookie can cause redirects. In Chrome, click the three-line menu, then Settings. Click Privacy and security on the left, then Clear browsing data. Make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked. Click the dropdown that says "All time" and select it. Click Clear data. Then go back to the website and try again.
Try a different browser: If redirects only happen in one browser, the problem is likely an extension or setting in that browser, not the website itself. Try opening the same website in a different browser (Firefox if you normally use Chrome, for example). If it works fine there, the issue is in your main browser.
Use an ad blocker: If the website itself is causing redirects through ads, an ad blocker extension can stop them. Install uBlock Origin (available free for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge) and reload the page. If redirects stop, the website's ads were the cause.
Prevent redirects from happening again
Once you have stopped the redirects, a few habits will keep them from coming back. Do not install browser extensions unless you recognize the developer and have a specific reason for it. Stick to extensions from the official Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, or Safari Extensions — these have some review process. Be cautious when downloading software from unfamiliar websites; malware often hides inside installers for free tools. Use the custom or advanced install option and uncheck anything that offers to change your homepage or search engine.
Keep your operating system and browser updated. Updates patch security holes that malware uses to get in. On Windows, updates usually install automatically. On Mac, click the Apple menu, select System Preferences, then Software Update. In your browser, redirects sometimes happen because you are running an old version — all modern browsers update automatically, but restarting your browser forces the update to take effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I get redirected only when I click search results?
This usually means a browser extension is intercepting your clicks, or your search engine setting has been changed to a redirect-heavy engine. Check your extensions first, then reset your search engine to Google or Bing in your browser settings. If it happens only in one browser, the problem is definitely in that browser, not your computer.
Can redirects steal my passwords?
Redirects themselves do not steal passwords, but they often send you to phishing sites designed to look like legitimate login pages. If you have been redirected to what looked like a bank or email login, change your password from a different device or browser immediately. Do not enter your password on a page you reached through a redirect.
What if I cannot reach the malware scanner website because of redirects?
Use a different device or browser. If you have a phone or tablet, download Malwarebytes from the app store there, then transfer the installer to your computer using a USB drive. Alternatively, restart your computer in Safe Mode (hold Shift while clicking Restart on Windows, or hold Command-S while starting up on Mac), which loads only essential programs and often blocks malware from running.
Do I need to pay for malware removal?
No. Windows Defender and the free version of Malwarebytes both remove malware without charging. Paid antivirus software offers extra features like real-time scanning, but for removing existing redirects, the free tools work just as well.
Why do redirects come back after I fix them?
Usually because the malware is still on your computer and reinstalling itself. Run a full malware scan again, making sure to let it finish completely. If it keeps coming back, the infection may be deeper than consumer tools can reach — consider taking your computer to a local repair shop or backing up your files and reinstalling your operating system.