A recent case revealed how a seemingly harmless website, Surilour.co.in, hijacked a user’s browsing session, triggering a relentless wave of pop-up ads and suspicious redirects. This isn’t a rare occurrence—browser-based adware and notification hijackers like this have surged, exploiting browser permissions and luring victims into scams or worse. The impact? Constant interruptions, exposure to phishing schemes, and a growing risk of additional malware infections. Early action is essential.
Threat Overview
Surilour.co.in Ads fall into the category of browser hijackers and adware, exploiting browser notification features to flood victims with unwanted ads. By abusing push notification permissions, this threat targets anyone who unwittingly clicks “Allow” on a deceptive prompt. The result: relentless pop-ups, frequent redirects to questionable sites, and a significant erosion of privacy and security.
In-Depth Analysis
Infection Vector
Surilour.co.in typically infiltrates through:
- Deceptive websites: Adult content, free streaming, or illegal download sites often display fake alerts urging users to “Allow notifications to continue.”
- Bundled software: Freeware downloads may silently change browser settings or open malicious tabs.
- Malicious advertisements: Clicking on rogue ads can lead directly to Surilour.co.in’s push notification request.
Behavioral Profile
Step by step, the attack unfolds:
- Initial Contact: A user lands on a compromised or intentionally malicious webpage.
- Deceptive Prompt: The site immediately displays a fake system message—often claiming a required CAPTCHA, video access, or urgent security update—and asks to “Allow notifications.”
- Permission Abuse: If the user consents, Surilour.co.in gains browser-level permission to send notifications.
- Notification Spam: Aggressive ads begin to appear even when the browser is closed, typically promoting scams, tech support fraud, or additional malware.
- Redirection & Escalation: Clicking these notifications can lead to phishing pages, unwanted downloads, or even further hijackers.
- Persistence Mechanism: The hijacker may alter homepage or search settings, install dubious browser extensions, or resist easy removal.
Risk Assessment
- Privacy Threat: Frequent pop-ups often carry tracking scripts, logging user activity across the web.
- Financial Risk: Some notifications lead directly to phishing pages or fake sweepstakes, harvesting credentials or payment data.
- System Integrity: If additional malware is downloaded, the risk escalates to credential theft, ransomware, or even full system compromise.
- Real-world Example: During the 2020 spike in push notification abuse, several high-profile adware campaigns were linked to credential theft and ransomware dropper infections after victims allowed rogue notifications.
Artifact Text
Typical Surilour.co.in notification prompt:
"surilour.co.in wants to Show notifications
Click Allow to confirm you are not a robot."
Sample in-browser pop-up:
"Warning! Your system is infected. Click Allow to scan now."
Manual Removal Guide for Browser Hijackers
Step 1: Uninstall Suspicious Programs (Windows & Mac)
Before resetting your browser, remove any software that may have installed the hijacker.
Windows (10, 11, 8, 7)
- Press
Win + R
, typeappwiz.cpl
, and hit Enter. - Find Unwanted Applications
- Look for recently installed programs that seem suspicious (e.g., “EasySearch,” “QuickFind,” “Search Manager”).
- Uninstall
- Click on the suspicious program > Select Uninstall > Follow on-screen instructions.
Mac (macOS Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, etc.)
- Open Finder and go to Applications.
- Look for unknown or unwanted programs.
- Drag any suspicious apps to the Trash and empty the Trash.
Step 2: Remove Browser Hijacker from Web Browsers
Google Chrome
- Reset Chrome to Default Settings
- Open Chrome > Click ⋮ Menu (top-right corner) > Settings.
- Scroll down and select Reset settings > Click Restore settings to original defaults > Confirm.
- Remove Suspicious Extensions
- Open chrome://extensions/ and remove unknown extensions.
- Change Default Search Engine & Homepage
- Go to Settings > Search engine > Select Google or another trusted search engine.
- Under On Startup, remove any unwanted URLs.
Mozilla Firefox
- Reset Firefox
- Click the Menu (☰) > Select Help > Click More Troubleshooting Information > Refresh Firefox.
- Remove Unknown Extensions
- Open Add-ons Manager (
Ctrl + Shift + A
) > Remove any suspicious extensions.
- Open Add-ons Manager (
- Change Search Engine & Homepage
- Open Settings > Search > Choose Google or another safe search engine.
Microsoft Edge
- Reset Edge
- Click ⋮ Menu > Settings > Reset settings > Restore to default values.
- Remove Unwanted Extensions
- Open edge://extensions/ and remove any unfamiliar extensions.
Safari (Mac Only)
- Reset Safari & Clear Data
- Open Safari > Click Safari (top-left menu) > Select Clear History.
- Go to Preferences > Privacy > Click Manage Website Data > Remove All.
- Delete Suspicious Extensions
- Open Safari > Preferences > Extensions > Remove anything unfamiliar.
- Change Homepage & Search Engine
- Open Preferences > General > Change your homepage to a trusted site.
- In Search, set your search engine to Google or a preferred option.
Step 3: Check for Unauthorized System Changes
Windows – Check the Hosts File
- Open Notepad as Administrator (
Win + S
, type Notepad, right-click, Run as Administrator). - Click File > Open and navigate to:makefileCopyEdit
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
- If you see unknown IPs or URLs at the bottom, remove them.
- Save changes and restart your computer.
Mac – Check the Hosts File
- Open Terminal (
Command + Space
, typeTerminal
). - Type:bashCopyEdit
sudo nano /etc/hosts
- Look for suspicious entries and delete them.
- Press
Ctrl + X
, thenY
, thenEnter
to save.
Automatic Removal Using SpyHunter (Windows & Mac)
For those who prefer a quick, hassle-free removal process, using SpyHunter is highly recommended.
Step 1: Download SpyHunter
Click here to download SpyHunter: Download SpyHunter
Step 2: Install & Run SpyHunter
- Follow the instructions on the SpyHunter Download Page to install the software.
- Open SpyHunter and run a full system scan.
Step 3: Remove Browser Hijackers
- SpyHunter will detect all malware and potentially unwanted programs.
- Click Fix Threats to remove the detected hijacker.
- Restart your device to complete the cleanup process.
Step 4: Reset Browser Settings (If Necessary)
Even after SpyHunter removes the hijacker, you may need to reset your browser settings manually (refer to browser-specific instructions above).
Preventing Future Browser Hijacker Infections
- Be cautious when installing free software – opt for Custom Installation to avoid bundled malware.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious ads or pop-ups – they often distribute browser hijackers.
- Keep your operating system and software updated – outdated programs are more vulnerable to infections.
- Use a trusted anti-malware tool like SpyHunter to provide real-time protection against threats.
Conclusion
Surilour.co.in ads represent a persistent and increasingly sophisticated threat, leveraging social engineering and browser features to compromise user security. Blocking notification permissions, removing unwanted browser extensions, and scanning with trusted anti-malware software can break the infection chain. Early detection and swift removal prevent further compromise and protect personal information from exploitation.