UltraWebFormat Takes Over Your Browser to Generate Traffic
UltraWebFormat is a browser hijacker that targets Mac users. With the increase of browser hijackers, adware, potentially unwanted programs and other threats intended for Mac, threat developers are trying to benefit from the current threat trends as much as possible. They release practical clones one after the other. After all, UltraWebFormat is very similar to FunctionLoginInput and several other browser hijackers we have discussed before. So, what is the reason behind these rapid browser hijacker releases?
For one, all these browser hijackers tend to have their own promoted domains. In the case of UltraWebFormat, the browser hijacker promotes search.7ax6.com. This domain clearly cannot provide users with relevant search results, but browser hijacker developers do not care about that. Browser hijackers with such promoted URLs tend to have a short lifespan. So, when UltraWebFormat and search.7ax6.com eventually get taken down, you can be sure that another Mac threat will take its place. It is just a matter of time before another browser hijacker pops up seemingly out of nowhere.
What Does UltraWebFormat Do to Your Mac?
UltraWebFormat functions like all the other browser hijackers that affect Mac browsers. It changes the default homepage, search engine, and new tab settings. Users often agree to perform these modifications themselves, although they are seldom aware of it. If UltraWebFormat reaches users through random pop-ups, users tend to click those pop-ups without reading them carefully because they want the annoying window to disappear. If UltraWebFormat arrives bundled with freeware, users simply do not see that they add more than one program to their computer because they seldom pay attention.
As a result, the browser hijacker changes default browser settings, and user’s search queries get redirected through search.7ax6.com. UltraWebFormat makes use of the Google search engine to make itself look reliable, but by redirecting users’ queries through its own URL, it monitors and tracks users’ online activity. While browser hijackers cannot collect sensitive personal information, data on browser history can, later on, be used for custom online advertising or shared with unreliable third-party associates. When such security threats are present on a computer, UltraWebFormat should be removed as soon as possible.
