I wrote this article to help you remove Aqovd. This Aqovd removal guide is working for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Aqovd is a search provider and entertainment platform. The search options include language settings and filters for images, videos, news, games and shopping. Aqovd has a forum and a specialized engine for hotels and reservations. The website publishes news articles and provides shopping deals. Another feature is a links bar with quick access buttons to a selection of popular platforms. Aqovd is aimed at users from the following countries: United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Australia, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Israel, South Africa, Nigeria, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Aqovd has a cheerful user interface which hides a sinister danger. The domain is a pawn of a browser hijacker.

What threats does the hijacker behind Aqovd expose users to?

The insidious program behind Aqovd aims to attain control over your web browser. The hijacker can penetrate Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Edge. When it enters your computer, it will install a rogue extension or add-on to your browser. The Aqovd hijacker makes unauthorized changes to the DNS settings. Your homepage and default search engine will be reset to aqovd.com. The shady program manipulates the search results by adding supported websites amid the pages which genuinely match your queries. This is done to raise revenue. The owners of the hijacker receive commissions for taking users to sponsored domains.

Another method of promoting sponsored websites is direct advertising. The Aqovd hijacker generates pop-up windows similar to the embedded advertisements on the site. Their primary focus is shopping offers. The secluded program shows exclusive deals for garments, accessories, technological devices, household items, sports gear, books, games and other consumer goods. The people behind the hijacker agree to support the content of all paying parties without running it through a security check. The ads could take you to malicious websites and get your system infected with malware.

Perhaps the most severe threat around the Aqovd hijacker is having your personal information stolen. The clandestine program is developed to track your sessions and record data from your browser. This encompasses your browsing history, keystrokes, IP address, geographic location, zip code, telephone number, email, user names, passwords and financial details. The only way to put a halt to the tracking activity is by uninstalling the Aqovd hijacker.

How did the hijacker behind Aqovd penetrate my system?

If you got the impression that the Aqovd website is responsible for the hijacker entering your system, you are incorrect. The domain is only a tool for the furtive program. It enables the hijacker to perform its designated tasks. The distribution methods involve a third party. Programs and emails can play the role of the carrier. The Aqovd hijacker gets merged with freeware, shareware and pirated applications. The host includes the malevolent program in its terms and conditions. The default option is to have it installed. You have to change the setting. Be sure to review the end user license agreement (EULA).

The other way for the hijacker behind Aqovd to get access to your machine is with the help of a spam email. The furtive program can hide behind an attached file which the message will direct you to. The attachment will be described as an important document, like a receipt, an invoice, a notice, a bill or a fine. Spammers often write on behalf of reputable companies and organizations to throw users off. To check if an email is legitimate, proof the sender’s contacts.

Aqovd Removal

Before starting the real removal process, you must reboot in Safe Mode. If you are familiar with this task, skip the instructions below and proceed to Step 2. If you do not know how to do it, here is how to reboot in Safe mode:

For Windows 98, XP, Millenium and 7:
Reboot your computer. When the first screen of information appears, start repeatedly pressing F8 key. Then choose Safe Mode With Networking from the options.

For Windows 8/8.1
Click the Start button, next click Control Panel —> System and Security —> Administrative Tools —> System Configuration.‌

Check the Safe Boot option and click OK. Click Restart when asked.
For Windows 10
Open the Start menu and click or tap on the Power button.

While keeping the Shift key pressed, click or tap on Restart.

Here are the steps you must follow to permanently remove from the browser:

Remove From Mozilla Firefox:

Open Firefox, click on top-right corner , click Add-ons, hit Extensions next.

Look for suspicious or unknown extensions, remove them all.

Remove From Chrome:

Open Chrome, click chrome menu icon at the top-right corner —>More Tools —> Extensions. There, identify the malware and select chrome-trash-icon(Remove).

Remove From Internet Explorer:
Open IE, then click IE gear icon on the top-right corner —> Manage Add-ons.

Find the malicious add-on. Remove it by pressing Disable.

Right click on the browser’s shortcut, then click Properties. Remove everything after the .exe” in the Target box.

Open Control Panel by holding the Win Key and R together. Write appwiz.cpl in the field, then click OK.

Here, find any program you had no intention to install and uninstall it.

Run the Task Manager by right clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Start Task Manager.

Look carefully at the file names and descriptions of the running processes. If you find any suspicious one, search on Google for its name, or contact me directly to identify it. If you find a malware process, right-click on it and choose End task.

Open MS Config by holding the Win Key and R together. Type msconfig and hit Enter.

Go in the Startup tab and Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.

Still can not remove Aqovd from your browser? Please, leave a comment below, describing what steps you performed. I will answer promptly.