When you want to visit a website, in most cases, you simply type in the address, and take a look at your site. What if the address you typed in, though, didn't take you to the site you wanted to visit? What if you were suddenly staring at a very different site? Situations like these are called browser hijacks.



It is possible for some individuals to literally control which sites you can and cannot visit by simply taking control of your browser, and in many cases, that can spell danger for your computer. If your browser has been hijacked, you may notice that your browser start page is different, you have new icons added to your desktop, or there are new entries in your browser's favorites menu. Additionally, you might find that you can no longer reach certain sites like security software sites. Unfortunately, a browser hijack is almost always accompanied by several pop up ads and sluggish computer performance.

If you'd like to protect your PC against browser hijacks, these five steps can help.

1. Practice safe surfing behavior. In all cases, you should avoid concerning websites. Sites that are more likely to be engaged in illegal activity are the ones most likely to have browser hijacks available, so while downloading that new film or song might sound like a good idea, those kinds of sites are where you can get in the most trouble.

2. Be careful with downloads of all types. Whether it's free security software, screensavers, ringtones, or even PDF files, downloads can be dangerous. Most operating systems have a dialog box that says ?File Download ? Security Warning.? It asks you if you want to run or save the file, and in almost every case, you need carefully consider whether this is a file you actually want on your computer. Make certain you want the application or file before you allow it to run.

3. Don't click on pop up advertisements of any kind. Pop ups can come in many forms. Sometimes they look like advertising pop ups always do, and sometimes they look like notifications from your operating system. Knowing the difference between the two is essential to avoiding problems like browser hijacks. You may even want to consider installing a pop up blocker or using the pop up blocker add-on for your particular browser to help prevent some problems before the begin.

4. Make sure you have great security software installed on your computer. The tools you give your computer are your first line of defense against problems like this, so you'll want to buy or download the best possible software solutions, and use them on a regular basis.

Wondering what security software is necessary for a computer these days? Most experts recommend a 3 part system that includes antivirus software, antispyware software, and a firewall. A firewall can be a software application or a hardware application, and both are equally effective. Before you choose your security software, though, you'll need to do a bit of research.

Do talk to friends, family members, and colleagues about which security software applications they use.

Do read independent reviews and consumer message boards about various security software applications. They can help you determine the good applications from the bad ones.

Do look for software that has both the features and ease of use you need to help protect your computer.

Don't rely solely on the recommendation of one individual, an email, or the reviews posted at the software application's site. Keep in mind that not everyone wants to be in the business of protecting you, so you have to remain on guard at all times.

Don't purchase software you found in a pop up advertisement on your computer. In most cases, those are rogue security applications that will do more harm than good for your computer. In fact, they may introduce browser hijack problems.

5. Keep your operating system, browser, and your security software updated frequently. Because browser hijackers get smarter and more complex on a regular basis, your software will have to stay updated to make certain you can protect yourself against problems like these. Schedule automatic updates of your machine, and in the case of programs like your antivirus and antispyware programs, use their scanners on at least a weekly basis to make certain you haven't allowed any problem programs onto your computer. You may even want to set the software and operating system to update itself. In many cases, you can schedule scans with the help of your antivirus software and antispyware softer so that you don't have to remember to handle it on your own.

Browser hijacks will probably still exist in the years to come, but using these tips and a bit of common sense may help you protect your computer.