How to Remove Metalonica extension from Chrome \ Edge Browser?
What is Metalonica Extension? (March 2025 Threat Analysis)
Metalonica is a malicious browser extension classified as stubborn browser hijacker by cybersecurity analysts. This malware combines adware payloads with sophisticated registry manipulation, primarily targeting Chrome and Edge through malicious extensions signed with stolen enterprise certificates. Unlike basic hijackers, Metalonica employs DNS shadowing to redirect search queries while maintaining legitimate domain resolutions, making detection harder. Its key characteristics include:
- Silent installation via fake software updates
- “Remove” button is unclickable or out of function
- Modified Group Policy templates enforcing browser extensions through HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist
- Search engine redirects using HTTPS 307 Temporary Redirects to bypass browser security
- Memory-resident components that regenerate extensions if removed
Users infected with Metalonica extension will suffer from Google search redirection, sudden browser crashes (particularly when accessing security sites), unexplained CPU spikes from “Chrome Helper” processes, and search queries prefixed with affiliate tracking codes.
Expierience shared by Metalonica users
“I woke up to every Google search redirecting to Bing. Chrome showed ‘Managed by your organization‘ even though I own this personal laptop. When I checked chrome://extensions, there was a greyed-out ‘Metalonica‘ marked installed by enterprise policy. Remove button cannot be clicked -.” – Torres
“I’ve been struggling with an extension named Metalonica that I can’t seem to get rid of. Every time I attempt to remove it by pressing the “Remove” button in my browser’s extension settings, absolutely nothing happens—it just stays put. Has anyone else encountered this issue or know of a more effective way to uninstall stubborn extensions like this one? Any detailed guidance or methods to forcefully remove it would be greatly appreciated.– Mehta,
How Metalonica Hijacks Browsers [Codes Detected]
// Malicious background.js from Metalonica extension
chrome.webRequest.onBeforeRequest.addListener(
function(details) {
if (details.url.includes('google.com/search')) {
const affiliateTag = '&rc=metalonica2025';
return {redirectUrl: details.url + affiliateTag};
}
},
{urls: ["<all_urls>"]},
["blocking"]
);
// Modifies Windows Registry to enforce extension persistence
const { execSync } = require('child_process');
execSync('REG ADD HKCU\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome /v ExtensionInstallForcelist /t REG_SZ /d "efinkmjplolochekcfnbkcoompdpndkk;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx" /f');How to Remove Metalonica extension? (Windows + Mac OS)
Section A – Metalonica extension Removal Steps For Windows OS
(NOTE – Please bookmark this page first, because some steps will require you to restart your web browser or computer.)
Step 1. End suspicous process run by malware.
1. Hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys at the same time to open Windows Task Manager:
2. Find malicious process related with Metalonica extension or malware, and then right-click on it and click End Process or End Task.
Step 2. Uninstall malicious programs from Windows.
Press “Win + R ” keys together to open the Run screen;
Type control panel in the Run window and click OK button;
In Control Panel, click Uninstall a program under Programs;
Look for malicious app related with Metalonica extension; Right-click on the malicious program and click Uninstall.
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Many malware may re-install themselves multiple times if you don’t delete thier core files. To get rid of Metalonica extension completely, we recommend downloading SpyHunter Aniti-malware to scan entire system and delete all malicious files. Download SpyHunter For Windows (Free Trial) *OFFER – The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac. Check Terms & Conditions of SpyHunter Free Trial , EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy. |
Step 3. Delete extension installed by Metalonica extension and related malware.
Chrome
On Chrome
Click the Chrome menu button >> Click Tools >> Select Extensions:
Find extension that may be related with Metalonica extension or potential threat >> Click the trash can icon to delete them.
Microsoft Edge
On Microsoft Edge
Start Edge: Click the More (…) button ahe tog right corner and click Extensions:
Select the extensions you want to remove and click Remove:
Firefox
On Firefox
Click the menu button and choose Add-ons. The Add-ons Manager tab will open.
In the Add-ons Manager tab, select the Extensions panel >> find extension that may be related with Metalonica extension or potential threat >> Click Remove button.
IE
On Internet Explorer
Open the IE, click the Tools button , and then click Manage add-ons.
Choose Toolbars and Extensions on left side of the window >> Find extension that may be related with Metalonica extension or potential threat>> Click Disable button
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Malicious extensions may re-install itself on web browser if you don’t delete core files of Metalonica extension and related malware. To get rid of Metalonica extension completely, we recommend downloading SpyHunter Aniti-malware to scan entire system and delete all malicious files. Download SpyHunter For Windows (Free Trial) *OFFER – The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac. Check Terms & Conditions of SpyHunter Free Trial , EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy. |
Step 4. Remove malicious files created by malware.
1. Hit Windows + R keys at the same time to open Run window and input a regedit and click OK:
2. In the Registry Editor, hit Windows key + F key together to open Find window → Enter virus name → Press Enter key to start search.
3. When the search is completed, right click the folders related with Metalonica extension and click Delete button:
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Please Read This Before You Remove Registry Files PLEASE Be Carefully, Do Not Delete Healthy Registry Entries, Or Your Computer May Be Damaged. If you are not able to determine which regsitry files are malicious, we recommend downloading SpyHunter Anti-malware to scan entire system and find out all malicious files. It can avoid mistakes and may reduce the cleanup time from hours to minutes. Download SpyHunter For Windows (Free Trial) *OFFER – The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac. Check Terms & Conditions of SpyHunter Free Trial , EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy. |
Step 5. Reset Web Browsers to remove Hijackers Brought by Metalonica extension.
Chrome
Reset Chrome:
- Click the Chrome menu button, represented by three horizontal lines;
- Click Settings when the drop-down menu appears;
- In the Settings screen, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link;
- Click on the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- A confirmation dialog appears, click on the “Reset Settings” button.
Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge:
- Click on Microsoft Edge’s main menu button, represented by three horizontal dots;
- Click on “Settings“ button when the drop-down menu appears;
- Click on “Reset Settings”On the left side of the window;
- Click on “Restore settings to their default values”
- Click on the “Reset” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
Firefox
Reset Firefox:
- Click the menu button of firefox, represented by three horizontal lines;
- Click on “Help“ button when the drop-down menu appears;
- Click on “Troubleshooting Information“ from the Help menu;
- Click the “Refresh Firefox” button in the upper-right corner of the “Troubleshooting Information” page.
- Click on the “Refresh Firefox” button in the new confirmation window that opens.
IE
Reset IE :
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the gear icon in the upper-right part of your browser, then select “Internet Options“.
- Now select the “Advanced” tab, then click on the “Reset” button
- In the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” section, select the “Delete personal settings” checkbox, then click on the “Reset” button.
NOTE – If the steps above doesn’t help, please rescan entire infected PC with Spyhunter anti-malware and let it help you fix all problems.
Section B – Metalonica extension Removal Steps For Mac OS
Step 1 – Remove nasty extension and browser hijacker related with Metalonica extension or malware.
Chrome
– Click the setting button “≡” at the top right of the browser window, choose “More Tools” and choose “Extensions“.
– Click the “trash can icon” button to remove extension related with Metalonica extension or malware:
Safari
Safari:
– Choose Safari > Preferences
– On the ‘Extensions’ tab, find out the extension related with adware or hijacker and click Uninstall or Disable
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox:
– Click the settings button (three horizontal bars) in the top-right corner and then select ‘Add-ons’.
– Click “Extensions” tab under Add-on Manager page to view the extensions.
– Find the suspicious add-on you want to disable and click its “Disable” button.
– If you want to delete an extension entirely, click “Remove.”
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Malicious browser extensions hijack your Google Search and redirect you to unwanted websites. To get rid of related search hijacker, you need to delete core files of Metalonica extension and related malware. We recommend downloading SpyHunter Mac Antimalware to remove all malicious apps and hijacker for you. This may save you hours and ensure you don’t make mistakes that harm your system Download SpyHunter For Mac (Free Trial) *OFFER – The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac. Check Terms & Conditions of SpyHunter Free Trial , EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy. |
Step 2 – Uninstall harmful Apps related with malware
– Open Finder at the Dock
– Select Applications and find out suspicious apps related with Metalonica extension , then right click on the app and click Move to Trash:
– Right click on Trash icon to select Empty Trash
Step 3 – Remove malicious files generated by Metalonica extension or malware from your Mac
Malware geneates lots of malicious files and folders on infected Mac, to avoid Metalonica extension reinstalling itself, you need to find out and remove all malicious files:
1. Click the Finder icon from the menu bar >> choose “Go” then click on “Go to Folder“:
2. In the Go to Folder… bar, type “/Library/LaunchAgents” and click Go:
3. In LaunchAgents folder, search for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash.
Here are some examples of files generated by malware:
“installmac.AppRemoval.plist”, “com.genieo.completer.download.plist” “com.genieoinnovation.macextension.plist” “com.genieo.engine.plist” “com.adobe.fpsaud.plist” , “myppes.download.plist”, “mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist”
4.Repeat the process on the following folders:
~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/Application Support
/Library/LaunchDaemons
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Many malware may re-install themselves multiple times if you don’t delete thier core files. To find and remove all malicious files , We recommend downloading SpyHunter Mac Antimalware to scan your Mac. This may save you hours and ensure you don’t make mistakes that harm your system Download SpyHunter For Mac (Free Trial) *OFFER – The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac. Check Terms & Conditions of SpyHunter Free Trial , EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy. |
Step 4 – Download SpyHunter Antimalware For Mac to Scan For Malicious Apps and Files.
Lots of Malware keep generating malicious files on infected computer deeply, thus it’s quite difficult for common computer users to find out and remove all harmful items related with Metalonica extension. Meanwhile, there will be possibility that users remove core system files by mistake and then the entire computer will be harmed seriously.
To avoid the risks, We recommend all users downloading SpyHunter Antimalware For Mac, a professional automatic malware removal tool which keeps your Mac away from virus and malware attack and avoid online spam and phishing websites and protect your privacy and files well.
1. Click Download button here to download SpyHunter For Mac:
Download SpyHunter For Mac (Free Trial)
(*OFFER – The SpyHunter Trial version includes, for one device, a one-time 7-day Trial period for SpyHunter 5 Pro (Windows) or SpyHunter for Mac. Check Terms & Conditions of SpyHunter Free Trial , EULA and Privacy/Cookie Policy.)
2. Double-click SpyHunter-1.2-15-7043-Installer.dmg to install Spyhunter For Mac:
3. Once SpyHunter For Mac is installed, run a scan and register its full version to remove all malicious objects on your Mac.
4. In case Metalonica extension is still infecting your Mac, Submit a Support Ticket and the support agent will conact to help you.
