Bing.vc

Bing.vc is a search engine site recently found to be a beneficiary of a browser hijacking campaign, with PC users installing free software and then finding all major browsers redirected to Bing.vc. Malware experts can't vouch for the accuracy or safety of Bing.vc's search results. However, they do note that this site is unaffiliated with Microsoft's Bing and that its browser hijackers show characteristics that may be associated with unwanted or even threatening software. Most Web surfers suffering from an unwanted exposure to Bing.vc should look to traditional anti-malware solutions, including software that include the system's Registry in their scans.

An Island Getaway for Homepage Hijackers

Bing.vc uses a domain suffix associated with an island chain just north of South America but hosts no content specific to that region. Instead, its content is that of a generic search site, offering results typically modified for including affiliated links, such as advertisements. A small number of PC security organizations have listed Bing.vc as a hostile site, but malware experts have failed to find any threatening software or associated attacks hosted directly on this domain. Instead, Bing.vc appears to be the primary recipient of Web traffic derived from a series of browser hijacking attacks caused by third-party programs.

Currently, these browser hijackers are tentatively associated with the freeware site Cnet.com, a domain malware experts have long confirmed for being a source of inadvertently-installed adware, toolbars, and other kinds of Potentially Unwanted Programs. Browser hijackers that promote Bing.vc may hijack the homepage and search engine simultaneously and use Registry changes for bypassing the browser's internal settings. Firefox, Internet Explorer and Chrome all may be vulnerable to these symptoms, which may occur in all of the above browsers at the same time.

Flinging an Unwanted Bing Site out of Your Browser

Bing.vc is operated by DGTSoft, a company that malware experts sometimes see promoting PUPs, such as questionable driver update software. Although this company has a poor reputation concerning its customer responsiveness, software development, and overall business practices, it has yet to be associated with illegal or threatening software practices. You should exercise your personal judgment when choosing whether or not to trust software from this company, but sites like Bing.vc never should be allowed to be persistent, unalterable aspects of your browser's Website preferences.

Most forms of browser hijackers responsible for redirecting your browser to Bing.vc may fail to display any independent uninstall entries, and act to circumvent your normal browser's settings. For most PC users, deleting a Bing.vc hijacker with anti-malware products or equivalent programs capable of detecting PUPs also should reset all browsers. However, avoiding Websites offering software with browser hijackers bundled in with their wares can offer you the simplest means of keeping Bing.vc from being a permanent homepage.