What is Google Chrome “Managed By Your Organization” Browser Hijacker (Windows)
“Managed By Your Organization” Browser Hijacker refers to an infection that abuses a legitimate Google Chrome feature. Google Chrome has a feature that allows system administrators to remotely control some of the browser’s features for users within their organization. However, while the feature is legitimate, it’s often misused by browser hijackers. If you see the “Managed By Your Organization” message in your Google Chrome, either the browser is actually managed by someone in your workplace or you’re dealing with a browser hijacker. If you’re using a personal device, it’s likely the latter. Fortunately, browser hijackers aren’t dangerous infections, though they need to be removed nonetheless.
The “Your browser is managed by your organization” message will appear in your Settings. You can also see it by clicking on the three dots in Google Chrome. “Managed by your organization” will appear at the bottom. If you’re using a work device, Chrome is probably managed by the system administrator. This feature allows them to manage users much easier. For example, they can make changes to browser settings, block certain websites, set a homepage, etc.
However, if the message appears on your personal device or if you know for a fact that your browser should not be managed by anyone, your computer likely has a browser hijacker infection. It’s a pretty common, and mostly harmless infection that makes unwanted changes to a browser’s settings in order to expose users to sponsored content. Since many hijackers misuse this feature, we cannot give details on what exactly the hijacker did in your case. However, they usually change the homepage/new tab to a questionable website that has a search box. The default search engine is also changed to expose users to sponsored search results. In this particular case, the hijacker is affecting your Google Chrome browser but generally, all browsers are susceptible.
Once browser hijackers are able to make setting changes, undoing those changes is not possible while the hijacker is installed. If you try to undo these changes, the hijacker will just make them again. So before anything, you need to remove “Managed By Your Organization” Browser Hijacker (Windows).
If the browser hijacker made unwanted changes to your browser’s settings, a questionable website is likely loading every time you open your Google Chrome browser. Your searchers are also likely going through a strange search engine. The search engine is likely showing you modified search results that include sponsored links. Usually, those results will lead to sites full of ads. But in some cases, browser hijacker results can lead to potentially dangerous websites that host malware and promote scams.
Browser hijackers also track users’ browsing and collect certain information. In particular, hijackers track what sites you visit, what you search for, what content you engage with, your IP address, etc. While this isn’t personal information, there’s really no reason to put up with such an intrusive program that doesn’t have any useful features. What’s worse is that these hijackers often install without permission. They use a method known as software bundling, a rather frowned-upon way of installation.
How do browser hijackers install
Browser hijackers, adware, and similar infections use a method known as software bundling to install. The method is quite controversial because it allows certain programs to install without explicit permission from users. The way it works is adware can come attached to a free program as an extra offer. These extra offers, while optional, are set to install alongside automatically. If users don’t pay enough attention to how they install programs, they end up allowing these infections to install as well. Programs downloaded from third-party download sites usually have added offers. So if you frequently install freeware, you need to learn how to correctly install them. This will prevent unwanted installations. Your computer will also not be filled with junk programs that can be troublesome to get rid of later on.
To correctly install free programs, you need to pay attention during the process. To be more specific, you need to opt for Advanced (Custom) settings when given the option. The installation window will recommend using Default but those settings will hide the offers and allow their installation. However, if you opt for Advanced, all added offers will be made visible, and you will have the option to deselect all of them. All you need to do is uncheck the boxes of those offers.
We always recommend deselecting all offers. Software bundling is not a reliable installation method, and programs that use it should not be permitted to install.
In some cases, users install browser hijackers thinking they’re useful programs. If that happened in your case as well, you should do more research before installing programs in the future. A simple search with Google can provide enough information for you to make a decision whether a program is safe to install or not. You should also download programs from their official websites instead of third-party sites.
“Managed By Your Organization” Browser Hijacker (Windows) removal
If the “Managed By Your Organization” message appears because an administrator in your organization is managing your Google Chrome browser, you don’t need to do anything. It’s there for a reason. However, if you’re dealing with a browser hijacker you’ll need to get rid of it. It’s not a dangerous infection so you can try to remove “Managed By Your Organization” Browser Hijacker (Windows) manually. Though hijackers can be quite troublesome to deal with manually. It would be easier to use an anti-virus program. Some programs also undo setting changes so you wouldn’t need to do anything. Once the hijacker is gone, the “Managed By Your Organization” message will disappear and you’ll be able to change your browser’s settings as normal.