Published October 4, 2026
Browser Hijacked? How to Remove ixtok.com Redirects Step by Step
Homepage changed itself, searches redirect, settings won't stick? Step-by-step cleanup for the ixtok.com browser hijacker pattern.
If your homepage changed on its own, searches route through strange domains, or settings revert after you fix them, you are likely dealing with a browser hijacker — the pattern security vendors associate with ixtok.com. Here is how to clean it up.
Step 1: revoke notification permissions
In Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications — remove every site you do not recognize. In other browsers the path is similar. This stops the spam pop-ups.
Step 2: remove unknown extensions
Open your browser’s extensions page and remove anything you did not deliberately install — especially “search helpers,” “video downloaders,” or new-tab replacements. When in doubt, remove it; you can reinstall the legitimate ones later.
Step 3: reset search and homepage
Set your search engine back to Google/Bing/DuckDuckGo and your homepage back to normal in browser settings. If the change will not stick, an extension or installed program is re-applying it — repeat step 2 ruthlessly.
Step 4: check installed programs
On Windows: Settings → Apps — uninstall anything unfamiliar installed around the time the problems started. On Android: Settings → Apps — same. Then run a reputable malware scan (Windows Defender, Malwarebytes, or your phone’s built-in scanner).
Step 5: change exposed passwords
If you typed any password, email, or card number into the shady flow, change those credentials now — starting with email and banking — and enable two-factor authentication.
Learn to spot the next one with our 5 red flags.
Independent safety guide.