Linux Lite Forums
Software - Support => Installing Software => Topic started by: john9159 on October 02, 2016, 10:12:51 AM
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From time to time my pc gets invaded by Tavanero which annoys me as I cannot browse properly, or securely.
I've tried a few times to be rid of it by syncing Google but my latest attempts have failed so maybe I have forgotten how to do it this time round.
Has anyone a suggestion of how I can go about removal please?
Thank you
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Had to look-up what "Tavanero" was -- had never heard of it before. Looks like it's some kind of browser hijacker. You didn't say, but I'm assuming this is happening on LL (not Windows) and that you're browser is Chrome (since you mentioned syncing to Google). If assumptions are wrong, post back with details so people know exactly what you're talking about.
I don't use Chrome, but am guessing you can solve this same way I would if it were in Firefox. Just delete the config folder/file of the browser (or rename it so it doesn't get used on startup; eg. "chrome.bad" or chrome.conf.bad"). Then next time you start Chrome it will make and use a brand new profile without whatever was infecting the old one.
Browser config folder/file can probably be found under the ".config" folder in your home. Open file manager and hit CTRL+H to view hidden files. Open the ".config" folder and look for folder belonging to browser. Rename the folder so it wont get used, or delete it. Start browser again and it should be just like first time you used it. You'll lose and need to setup bookmarks, custom settings, and any addons you like -- but infection should be gone.
NOTE: Since I don't know how that hijacker works, I'm not recommending to use backed-up bookmarks and/or other settings in the new profile. Doing so may pull the hijacker back in with them. (Just a guess on my part.) I have no idea if syncing with Google can pull it back in or not -- I've never used any cloud syncing service.
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Yeah this is a fairly weak Chrome browser hi-jacker in Linux. Quick fix with Linux is just install Startpage as the home page in your browser instead of Google or Yahoo, and save your session and reboot, and it should stop showing up, because it can't use any of its Google redirects from their proxy. Haven't seen any specific Linux repair and removal tools for it, don't think it is a problem anymore. Try updating your Chrome version from a Linux update site found via Startpage's search proxy and not Googled directly from Google.
TC