Persistent new tabs and homepage hijacks? CrossPilot is the culprit—and here’s how to eliminate it for good.
Quick Overview of CrossPilot Pop‑Up
| Threat Type | Adware / Browser Hijacker |
|---|---|
| Detection Tool / Fix | SpyHunter 5 (removes and prevents reinstallation) |
| Symptoms | Chrome repeatedly opens unwanted crosspilot.io tabs; “Managed by your organization” banner; locked browser settings |
| Damage & Distribution | Hijacks browser policies, scheduled tasks, registry, and hides files to reinstall itself |
| Danger Level | Medium to high—persistent, invasive, and tricky to remove manually |
| Removal Tool | SpyHunter |
How CrossPilot Affects Your Browser
CrossPilot hijacks Chrome by injecting policies that override your settings, locking your homepage and forcing new tabs to open crosspilot.io. It also disables the ability to reset browser defaults. Some users may see “Managed by your organization” banners even on personal devices. These changes are enforced by system-level modifications, not just within the browser.
Where CrossPilot Comes From
This adware usually sneaks in bundled with free software, fake Chrome extensions, or deceptive download buttons. It may also be dropped by other potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) or script-based installers. CrossPilot often arrives alongside seemingly harmless utilities that conceal its installation steps.
Is CrossPilot a Real Threat?
Yes—while it doesn’t encrypt files like ransomware, it behaves like a browser hijacker and adware hybrid. It’s highly persistent, can create scheduled tasks, write Registry entries, and reinstall itself unless every trace is removed. The more time it stays on your machine, the more chances it has to alter your browser and install other threats.
Manual Adware Removal (Windows & Mac)
Step 1: Identify Suspicious Applications
For Windows Users
- Press
Ctrl + Shift + Escto open the Task Manager. - Check the “Processes” tab for unfamiliar or suspicious programs consuming excessive CPU or memory.
- If you find any, note their names and close them.
- Open
Control Panel>Programs>Programs and Features. - Locate the suspicious application, right-click it, and select “Uninstall.”
For Mac Users
- Open
Finderand navigate toApplications. - Look for any suspicious or unknown applications.
- Drag them to the
Trash, then right-click on theTrashand selectEmpty Trash. - Open
System Preferences>Users & Groups>Login Itemsand remove any unrecognized startup programs.
Step 2: Remove Adware-Related Browser Extensions
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and go to
Menu(three dots in the top-right corner) >Extensions. - Locate suspicious extensions and click “Remove.”
- Reset Chrome: Go to
Settings>Reset settings> “Restore settings to their original defaults.”
Mozilla Firefox
- Open Firefox and go to
Menu(three lines in the top-right corner) >Add-ons and themes. - Locate and remove suspicious extensions.
- Reset Firefox: Go to
Help>More troubleshooting information> “Refresh Firefox.”
Safari (Mac)
- Open Safari and go to
Preferences>Extensions. - Locate and remove any unknown extensions.
- Reset Safari: Go to
History> “Clear History.”
Microsoft Edge
- Open Edge and go to
Menu(three dots in the top-right corner) >Extensions. - Remove suspicious extensions.
- Reset Edge: Go to
Settings>Reset settings> “Restore settings to their default values.”
Step 3: Delete Adware-Related Files and Folders
For Windows Users
- Press
Win + R, type%AppData%, and press Enter. - Look for suspicious folders and delete them.
- Repeat for
%LocalAppData%,%ProgramData%, and%Temp%.
For Mac Users
- Open Finder, press
Shift + Command + G, and enter~/Library/Application Support/. - Locate and delete suspicious folders.
- Repeat for
~/Library/LaunchAgents/,~/Library/LaunchDaemons/, and~/Library/Preferences/.
Step 4: Flush DNS Cache (Recommended)
For Windows Users
- Open
Command Promptas Administrator. - Type
ipconfig /flushdnsand press Enter.
For Mac Users
- Open
Terminal. - Type
sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponderand press Enter.
Step 5: Restart Your Computer
Restart your device to complete the manual removal process.
Automatic Adware Removal Using SpyHunter (Windows & Mac)
For a hassle-free and effective removal, use SpyHunter, a robust anti-malware tool designed to detect and remove adware efficiently.
Step 1: Download SpyHunter
Download SpyHunter from the official website: Click here to download SpyHunter.
Step 2: Install SpyHunter
Follow the installation instructions based on your operating system:
For Windows Users:
- Open the downloaded
.exefile. - Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
- Launch SpyHunter and allow it to update its malware definitions.
For Mac Users:
- Open the downloaded
.dmgfile. - Drag and drop SpyHunter into the Applications folder.
- Launch SpyHunter and allow it to update its malware definitions.
Step 3: Perform a System Scan
- Open SpyHunter.
- Click on
Start Scan. - Wait for the scan to complete.
- Review the detected threats and click
Fix Threatsto remove adware.
Step 4: Restart Your Device
After SpyHunter removes the threats, restart your computer to finalize the process.
For the most secure and effective removal, we recommend downloading and using SpyHunter: Download SpyHunter Here.
Stay safe and keep your system clean!
Conclusion
CrossPilot is one of the more stubborn browser hijackers in circulation. It embeds itself deep in system settings and browser configurations to keep reappearing even after basic removal. To fully eliminate it, every component—including registry entries, scheduled tasks, and browser policies—must be removed. For users who want a reliable and automated cleanup, SpyHunter offers a streamlined and thorough solution.
