What is MagnaEngine

MagnaEngine (magnasearch.org) is a type of browser hijacker, a malicious software that takes control of a user’s web browser and modifies its settings without their consent. This hijacker is primarily designed to promote a fake search engine, which is often accessed through a homepage or default search engine change.
Browser hijackers like MagnaEngine typically install on a user’s computer through bundling with free software or applications downloaded from questionable sources, such as P2P networks or third-party app stores. Users may overlook or fail to notice additional software included in the installation package, resulting in the unintentional installation of the browser hijacker along with the desired program. Deceptive tactics, such as fake download buttons or misleading ads and pop-ups, can also trick users into downloading and installing browser hijackers. Additionally, malicious actors may create fake browser extensions or add-ons that mimic legitimate ones to deceive users into downloading browser hijackers

Brief overview:

Name	MagnaEngine (magnasearch.org)
Type of threat	Browser hijacker
Symptoms	Browser hijacker changes homepage and search engine of browser so that users are forced to use them. It fills the targeted browser with commercial content in form of pop-ups, banners, in-text links, audio/video ads, etc. Also, hijacker can occasionally cause redirects to third-party websites
Infiltration	Freeware programs, illegal software, software cracks, torrents, fake updates
Manual Removal	To eliminate threat manually, you should remove all files and applications related to the browser hijacker
Removal Tool	To completely get rid of hijacker, We recommend using SpyHunter. This is the only way you can be 100% sure that all components of the threat are removed from the system.

How to uninstall MagnaEngine hijacker from your computer?

The easiest and most modern way of removing pop-ups, trojans, ransomware, or other viruses is to use automatic removal tools. See our Anti-malware tools below for further instructions.

Recommended Anti-malware tools:

Sometimes, an extension cannot be removed because it is supposedly “Managed by your organization”. If this is your case, we recommend that you also use this guide – How to remove Managed by your organization from Chrome?

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Step 1: Remove MagnaEngine hijacker from system

For Windows 7:

1. Access Control Panel:
   • Click on the Start button and select Control Panel.
   • Double-click on the Uninstall a Program option.
2. Uninstall Suspicious Programs:
   • Locate any programs related to the MagnaEngine browser hijacker.
   • Right-click on the program and select Uninstall.

For Windows 8 and 8.1:

1. Access Control Panel:
   • Press the Windows key + X and select Control Panel.
   • Click on Uninstall a Program under Programs.
2. Uninstall Suspicious Programs:
   • Identify and uninstall any programs associated with the MagnaEngine browser hijacker.

For Windows 10 and 11:

1. Access Settings:
   • Click on the Start menu and select Settings.
   • Go to Apps > Apps & Features.
2. Uninstall Suspicious Programs:
   • Locate and uninstall any programs linked to the MagnaEngine browser hijacker.

For Mac:

1. Access Finder:
   • Click on Finder in the Dock.
2. Navigate to Applications:
   • In Finder, go to Applications folder.
3. Delete Suspicious Applications:
   • Select and drag any suspicious applications to Trash.
4. Delete Browser Extensions:
   • In browsers, remove any unwanted extensions related to the hijacker.
5. Clean Browser Settings:
   • In browsers, reset settings to default if needed.

By following these steps tailored for each version of Windows, you can effectively remove the MagnaEngine browser hijacker from your system without the need for third-party programs.

Step 2: Remove MagnaEngine from browsers

1. Google Chrome:

   If you cannot remove the extension from Google Chrome, as the delete icon is greyed out and the extension is marked as “managed by your organization”, you should first perform steps described in the How to remove Managed by your organization from Chrome? article and only then proceed with the removal.

   1. Open Chrome:
      • Launch Google Chrome.
   2. Access Extensions:
      • Click on the three dots in the top-right corner and select “More tools” > “Extensions.”
   3. Remove Extension:
      • Locate suspicious extensions that may be related to the MagnaEngine and click on “Remove.”

2. Mozilla Firefox:

   1. Open Firefox:
      • Open Mozilla Firefox.
   2. Manage Add-ons:
      • Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and choose “Add-ons.”
   3. Remove Add-on:
      • Find suspicious add-ons related to MagnaEngine and select “Remove.”

3. Microsoft Edge:

   1. Launch Edge:
      • Start Microsoft Edge.
   2. Access Extensions:
      • Click on the three dots in the top-right corner and choose “Extensions.”
   3. Delete Extension:
      • Locate any suspicious extensions linked to MagnaEngine and click on “Remove.”

4. Safari:

   1. Open Safari:
      • Launch Safari on your Mac.
   2. Manage Extensions:
      • Go to “Safari” > “Preferences” > “Extensions.”
   3. Uninstall Extension:
      • Find any suspicious extensions associated with MagnaEngine and click on “Uninstall.”

5. Android & iOS (Chrome):

   1. Access Settings:
      • Open the Chrome app on your Android or iOS device.
   2. Manage Extensions:
      • Tap on the three dots in the top-right corner, go to “Settings,” then select “Extensions.”
   3. Remove Extension:
      • Identify any suspicious extensions related to MagnaEngine and disable or delete them.

Step 3: Resetting your browser settings

Resetting browser settings is a crucial step in combating browser hijackers as it effectively undoes unauthorized changes made by these malicious programs. By resetting settings to their original state, users can regain control of their browsers and eliminate unwanted alterations like homepage redirects and intrusive pop-ups. This process helps restore the browser’s security and functionality, making it a key strategy in removing browser hijackers and safeguarding against potential threats.

1. Google Chrome:

   1. Open Chrome:
      • Launch Google Chrome.
   2. Access Settings:
      • Click on the three dots in the top-right corner and select Settings.
   3. Reset Settings:
      • Scroll down and click on Advanced > Reset settings.

2. Mozilla Firefox:

   1. Open Firefox:
      • Open Mozilla Firefox.
   2. Access Settings:
      • Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and choose Options.
   3. Reset Firefox:
      • Navigate to the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information. Click on Refresh Firefox.

3. Microsoft Edge:

   1. Launch Edge:
      • Start Microsoft Edge.
   2. Access Settings:
      • Click on the three dots in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
   3. Reset Edge:
      • Scroll down and click on Reset settings.

4. Safari:

   1. Open Safari:
      Launch Safari on your Mac.
5. Access Preferences:
   • Go to Safari > Preferences.
6. Reset Safari:
   • Select the Privacy tab and click on Manage Website Data. Remove all data to reset Safari.

Android & iOS (Chrome):

1. Access Settings:
   • Open the Chrome app on your Android or iOS device.
2. Reset Chrome:
   • Navigate to the browser settings and look for options like Clear cache or Clear all data to reset Chrome.

While manual removal steps are helpful, antimalware tools offer advanced scanning capabilities and real-time protection to safeguard your system against a wide range of malware. Using an antimalware tool can provide a more comprehensive and efficient solution for removing persistent threats like browser hijackers.