Edge Managed by Your Organization Browser Hijacker (2024)

What is the "Managed by Your Organization" feature?

"Managed by Your Organization" is a feature on Microsoft Edge browsers. Its purpose is to enable administrators/managers to tailor browser operation within an establishment. For example, within an organization, this functionality allows for various policies to be set for browsing and browsers.

However, the "Managed by Your Organization" feature is often misused by malicious extensions, like browser hijackers, adware, and other unwanted software. In this context, said functionality is utilized to get a stronger foothold on browsers, greater control over their settings, and access to stored data.

"Managed by Your Organization" feature overview

"Managed by Your Organization" is a multi-faceted Edge browser management tool. It is commonly used to implement policies in various establishments. This feature can be utilized to create blocked website lists, set default browser homepage URLs, install extensions, restrict users from changing browser settings, and so on.

However, it is abused by malicious browser-targeting software. "Managed by Your Organization" enables malignant extensions to use all its capabilities to manage victims' browsers. It is also employed as a persistence-ensuring mechanism that prevents users from removing the unwanted/harmful software.

"Managed by Your Organization" is often utilized by browser hijackers. They make modifications to browser settings (e.g., default search engine, homepage, new tab/window URL, etc.) to generate rogue redirects. Browser-hijacking typically promotes fake search engines through the redirects.

These websites are usually incapable of providing search results, so they land on legitimate Internet search sites (e.g., Bing, Google, Yahoo, etc.). In rare instances, fake search engines generate inaccurate search results laced with sponsored, unreliable, deceptive, and even dangerous content.

Software that implements the "Managed by Your Organization" feature may also have adware-type capabilities (i.e., displaying undesirable/malicious ads) or other harmful functionalities.

Browser hijackers and other unwanted extensions typically collect sensitive user data. Information of interest may include: visited URLs, viewed webpages, search queries, Internet cookies, log-in credentials (usernames/passwords), personally identifiable details, credit card numbers, and so on. The gathered data can then be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

In summary, the presence of malicious software on devices can result in system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

If you detect the "Managed by Your Organization" entry in the main menu of your Edge browser, check the browser/system for unwanted software and eliminate it without delay.

Threat Summary:
Name	Microsoft Edge - Managed by Your Organization
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling).
Damage	Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.
Malware Removal (Mac)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Browser hijacker examples

Aside from Microsoft Edge browsers, "Managed by your organization" is a feature on Google Chrome browsers – and it is likewise abused by rogue software. Platyhelminthes, SaxifragaGranulata, Bovidae, AnasPlatyrhynchos, EryopsMegacephalus, and Cirrus are just some examples of malicious extensions that utilize this function on Edge browsers.

It is noteworthy that browser hijackers and other unwanted software often appear legitimate and harmless. They may also offer a broad range of "handy" and "advantageous" functionalities. However, these functions seldom work as advertised, and in most cases – they do not work at all.

It must be stressed that even if a browser extension or an application operates exactly as indicated by its promotional material – that is not a guarantee of either legitimacy or safety.

How did software using the "Managed by Your Organization" feature install on my computer?

The bundling marketing technique – parking regular program installation setups with unwanted/malicious additions – is used to distribute rogue software.

The risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the device is increased by downloading from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and by treating installations with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, skipping steps, using "Easy/Quick" settings, etc.).

Dubious software is also promoted on legitimate-looking download webpages and scam sites. Most users access these pages via redirects generated by misspelled URLs, websites employing rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, or installed adware.

Additionally, intrusive advertisem*nts proliferate such software. When clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We highly recommend researching software before downloading or purchasing it. Furthermore, all downloads must be made from official and verified channels. Installation processes must be treated with caution. Therefore, we advise reading terms, inspecting available options, using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opting out of all additional apps, extensions, tools, features, etc.

Another recommendation is to be careful while browsing since fraudulent and dangerous online content typically appears legitimate and harmless. For example, intrusive ads may look innocuous – however, they redirect to unreliable and questionable websites (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, p*rnography, adult dating, etc.).

In case of continuous encounters with adverts and/or redirects of this kind, inspect the device and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate malicious software.

Deceptive website promoting a malicious installer for software using the "Managed by Your Organization" feature:

"Managed by your organization" entry can be removed from Microsoft Edge by:

Step 1: Resetting the Microsoft Edge (note that the entire browsing history and saved data [e.g., account credentials, website preferences, etc.] will be eliminated and the browser will be restored to its initial state).

Terminate Microsoft Edge using Windows Task Manager:

Navigate to "C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local" folder and delete the "Edge" folder.

Step 2: Deleting unwanted entries (if present) in Windows Registry Editor:

Open the Windows "Run" tool by right-clicking the Windows icon in the taskbar or pressing the "CTRL" and "R" buttons simultaneously.
Enter "regedit" and press Enter.

Navigate to "Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft" and delete "Edge".
Navigate to "Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft" and delete "Edge".

Step 3: Deleting the group policy folders.

Enable the "Hidden Files" (instructions on how to enable this feature) view, if it is not already enabled.
Navigate to the "\Windows\System32\" folder and delete "GroupPolicy", as well as "GroupPolicyUsers" folders (deleting requires Administrator's permissions).

Open the Windows "Run" tool by right-clicking the Windows icon in the taskbar and selecting "Run", or pressing the "CTRL" and "R" buttons simultaneously.
Enter "cmd" and press enter.

Unwanted software removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Malicious extension removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable the suspect extension, look for the promoted URL below the "Open a specific or set of pages" option. If present click on the three vertical dots icon and select "Remove".

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for the promoted URL, when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisem*nts - Reset Google Chrome.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the "managed by your organization" feature, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable the suspect extension, remove the promoted URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with "managed by your organization" feature removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the "managed by your organization" feature, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL.Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on "managed by your organization" feature or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What harm can software using the "Managed by Your Organization" feature cause?

Software that utilizes the "Managed by Your Organization" feature may promote deceptive/malicious content by displaying advertisem*nts and/or causing redirects – this could lead to a multitude of serious problems (e.g., system infections, privacy issues, financial losses, etc.). It is likely that this software has data-tracking abilities – hence, it is considered to be a threat to user privacy.

What does software using the "Managed by Your Organization" feature do?

Software that uses this feature may alter browsers' appearance and behavior. Users might experience redirects to suspicious sites, encounter harmful adverts, be unable to make changes to their browser settings, etc. The software could also exploit existing vulnerabilities to further the infection. Data tracking is standard as well.

How do the developers of this generate revenue?

The developers could generate revenue through affiliate programs by promoting websites, applications, extensions, services, products, etc. The endorsem*nt could occur through delivered ads or generated redirects. Additionally, vulnerable information collected could be sold to third-parties.

Will Combo Cleaner remove software using the "Managed by Your Organization" feature?

Yes, Combo Cleaner is capable of removing all manner of threats, including browser hijackers, adware, PUAs, and other unwanted/malicious software. Keep in mind that manual removal (performed without security tools) might be ineffective. In some instances, various file remnants stay hidden within the system after the software has been manually removed. The remaining components might continue to run and cause issues. Furthermore, removal-related settings might be inaccessible with rogue software installed. Therefore, thorough removal is essential.

▼ Show Discussion