just need a bit of help please :)

Super Noob

Just curious if i have a internet highjacker thingy on my Microsoft Edge Browser.

(http//Vosteran jkhfybkdfsbd and a bunch of letterwas one of 3 pages that were before Google. I deleted them but I still cant open or search the Micro soft Extention store because it keeps saying "this page is not responding" i ran a scan with Bitdefender, and never found anything. I also tried repairing MS Edge and still no luck. I tried switching to Firefox but for some reason it wants me to put in a master pass word from another account and always syncs my data from that account and I have no way of reseting my master password and I cant install firfox without it syncing…So i wanna ask If i should just use Google (so I can use Bitdenders Traffic light and whatever other extension,,,or can I use Opera? is that browser safe? Or what about Mullvad browser? I currently have Bitdefender Premium and thanks for any help :)

Alexandru_BD

Hello,

Disclaimer: this will be a long post. 🙂
I'm not excluding a browser hijacker on Microsoft Edge, so let's break everything down, and maybe I can come up with some useful recommendations for you. So, a browser hijacker is a type of malware that modifies your browser settings without permission. It typically redirects your searches, changes your homepage, injects ads, or prevents access to certain websites. While you've removed the suspicious pages, there might still be some lingering effects..

I emphasize here that we are starting from an assumption and we do not have the necessary means to confirm this possible browser hijacker here, but we can look at the symptoms and take it from there.
For starters, if you notice any unwanted extensions or toolbars that suddenly appear, and they also reinstall themselves after deletion, then this is usually one of the first signs. Also, if you observe frequent pop-up ads, even on trusted websites, fake antivirus alerts or software downloads, and clicks on a normal link redirect you to random websites, this is definitely another solid proof. Other symptoms may include web pages that take longer to load than usual, browser freezes or crashes, new unknown background processes in Task Manager, and websites that force you to install unknown software, among other things. DNS or proxy settings could also be changed without your permission, in the event the hijacker uses rogue DNS servers to intercept your traffic.

Now, if Bitdefender did not detect anything malicious going on, this is of course a good sign. However, keep in mind that the antivirus will not take any measures against adware that you agreed on or something you enabled, like site setting, site notification, redirects in your browser or installed toolbars, extensions or applications. But its defenses will kick in as soon as a threat is detected as their indirect result.

Since you mentioned that Edge is still acting up and not letting you search or open the Microsoft Store, try these additional steps:

1. Reset Edge completely

Open Edge Settings → Click the three-dot menu (top-right) → Settings.
Go to Reset settings → Click Restore settings to their default values.
Restart Edge and see if the issue persists.

2. Check for malicious browser extensions
Go to Settings → Extensions.
Remove ANY extension you don’t recognize.

3. Check for DNS hijacking
Go to Windows Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced network settings.
Click Change adapter options → Right-click your network → Properties.
Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4).
Set the Preferred DNS server to 1.1.1.1 and Alternate DNS to 8.8.8.8.
Restart your PC.

As for the Microsoft Store not responding (if I understood this correctly), this could be linked to corrupted system files or even network issues. Try these steps and see if they make any difference:

1. Run Windows Troubleshooter
Windows + I → Go to Update & Security → Troubleshoot → Additional Troubleshooters.
Scroll to Windows Store Apps and click Run the troubleshooter.

2. Reset the Microsoft Store cache
Press Windows + R and type wsreset.exe
Hit Enter. A blank black window should appear and close after a while.

Concerning Firefox, if the browser is auto-syncing an old account you don’t have access to, simply uninstall Firefox completely, delete this folder - C:\Users\YourUser\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla, and reinstall but do not sign in. Or just reset Firefox - type about:support in the address bar and click refresh Firefox.

In regard to the browsers you mentioned, I will give you my personal opinion on them. Chrome is my browser of choice, because it has good security updates, syncs well with other Google services, works well with Bitdefender’s Traffic Light extension since you mentioned it, and I just find it better for general use and very reliable. Plus, I prefer to use a browser that I'm familiar with and where I already know where all the things I need are.
I haven't interacted with Opera much, to be honest. As for Mullvad, I think it's similar to Tor, but without the Tor network and it apparently blocks fingerprinting better than other browsers. However, I think it's not ideal for everyday browsing, as some websites might not work properly. Nevertheless, it's a good option for privacy-focused users who don’t need extensions.

I hope the information is helpful.

Regards,

Alex