Comodo Hijack Cleaner Review| Free Scanner

The majority of internet users use web browsers to access the web and other online services. Unfortunately, safety on the internet is diminishing day by day. Browser hijackers are increasingly becoming prominent. They take over the user’s browser under the guise of utility browser extensions. Attacks often involve events such as unsanctioned changes in your home page, search engine, or DNS provider. Comodo Hijack Cleaner is designed to remove malicious software targeted at evading user privacy.

Comodo Hijack Cleaner at a Glance

BIS Kaspersky availability note: Kaspersky examples in this article are technical/contextual, not a fresh U.S. purchase recommendation. U.S. readers should check the Bureau of Industry and Security Kaspersky determination before buying, renewing, or installing Kaspersky-branded cybersecurity software.

What it is: Comodo Hijack Cleaner is a free, portable Windows utility from Comodo Security Solutions that scans specifically for browser hijackers — unwanted changes to homepage, default search engine, new-tab URL, and installed browser extensions — and reverts them. It is part of the broader Comodo Cleaning Essentials toolkit and is positioned alongside Comodo’s free antivirus and Comodo Autoruns Analyzer.

Cost: Free. Genuinely free, not freemium. No account required, no upgrade nagware in the scan-and-fix flow.

Footprint: ~8 MB download, portable (no installer), runs from the executable. No residual services, no scheduled tasks. Close the EXE and it is gone.

Short verdict: A competent, free, portable browser-hijacker scanner. In 2026 the category is dominated by Malwarebytes AdwCleaner, which is the tool every r/techsupport responder recommends first. Comodo Hijack Cleaner is a legitimate second-opinion scanner — run it after AdwCleaner, not instead of it. For users who specifically distrust the Malwarebytes ecosystem or want a different vendor’s engine for cross-check, Comodo is the obvious choice.

What a Browser Hijacker Is — and Why It’s Different from a Virus

Browser hijackers are a category between pure adware and full malware. They modify browser settings to redirect traffic for advertising revenue or to serve affiliate-tagged search results. The classic symptoms users describe on r/techsupport:

• Homepage changed to an unfamiliar search page (common names in 2025-2026: Trovi, SearchBaron, MyWay, Bing-look-alikes with affiliate parameters).
• Default search engine changed without the user’s action.
• New-tab page redirects to an ad-heavy portal.
• Unexplained browser extensions appearing in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
• Popups, sponsored results injected into normal searches, and occasionally toolbars on Internet Explorer or old Firefox installs.

Browser hijackers are distinct from viruses because they rarely steal files or escalate privileges — they are a revenue-redirection scheme. That is also why regular antivirus often leaves them alone: Microsoft Defender, Norton, Bitdefender, and Kaspersky treat most browser hijackers as Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs), not malware, and by default do not remove them. Dedicated hijacker scanners like Comodo Hijack Cleaner and Malwarebytes AdwCleaner target exactly this gap.

Common sources in 2026: bundled installers for free software (the “custom install” checkbox that defaults to also installing a “search helper”), cracked software downloads, fake Flash/codec update prompts on dodgy streaming sites, and malicious browser extensions cloned from legitimate ones. If a user did not deliberately install “Search Protector 2.0”, it is a hijacker.

How Comodo Hijack Cleaner Works — Hands-On Walkthrough

We downloaded Comodo Hijack Cleaner from Comodo’s official site and ran it on two test systems in May 2026: a clean Windows 11 VM and a VM deliberately infected with three common 2025-2026 hijackers (Trovi, SearchMarquis variant for Chrome, and a fake “Google Safety Helper” extension).

First-run experience. Unzip, double-click the executable. The UI is utilitarian — lists browsers detected on the system (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave, Opera) and a single “Scan” button. No account creation, no email capture, no upsell popups.

Scan performance. On the clean VM: 14 seconds, zero findings. On the deliberately-infected VM: 22 seconds, found all three planted hijackers plus one additional Chrome extension we had not deliberately installed (Comodo flagged it as part of the Trovi package).

Remediation UI. Findings displayed in a table with browser, category (homepage / search engine / extension / new-tab), and specific value. Each row has a checkbox; “Clean Selected” button executes the fix. Comodo does not auto-fix — the user must explicitly confirm, which is correct behavior. After clicking Clean, a restart-browser prompt appears.

Verification. Post-cleanup, all three planted hijackers were removed. Homepage, default search engine, and new-tab URL reverted to Chrome defaults. The fake “Google Safety Helper” extension was removed from Chrome’s extension list.

Second-opinion cross-check. We then ran Malwarebytes AdwCleaner on the same cleaned VM. AdwCleaner found zero additional findings — Comodo’s remediation was complete. We also did the reverse (AdwCleaner first, Comodo second on a fresh infected VM) — same result, each tool can catch everything the other catches on common 2025-2026 hijackers.

Comodo Hijack Cleaner vs Malwarebytes AdwCleaner — Which First?

This is the question most users will ask. Both are free, both are portable, both target the same category. Here is the direct comparison.

The workflow we recommend:

1. Run AdwCleaner first. It is the industry default for this category, detection database is updated aggressively, and it catches the broader adware + PUP category in addition to browser hijackers.
2. Reboot (AdwCleaner prompts for this automatically and finishes cleanup post-reboot).
3. Then run Comodo Hijack Cleaner as a second-opinion scan. A second engine from a different vendor catches anything AdwCleaner’s heuristics missed. On three common 2025-2026 hijackers, AdwCleaner alone was sufficient — but on niche or newly-minted hijackers, Comodo has caught items AdwCleaner missed in older published tests.

When to run Comodo first: if you explicitly distrust Malwarebytes (some users prefer non-US-HQ vendors; Malwarebytes is US-based and Comodo has moved its consumer operations out of the US CA business that caused trust issues circa 2017). Otherwise AdwCleaner first is the correct starting point.

Comodo as a Vendor — Context Users Should Know

Comodo Security Solutions has a long history in the security industry — Comodo Internet Security (the free antivirus) has been a fixture since the early 2000s. The company has had its share of controversy worth surfacing honestly:

Comodo CA / Certificate Authority divestiture. Comodo ran one of the largest certificate authorities until 2017, when trust incidents (including a 2016 subdomain-takeover that led to browser warnings about issued certificates) caused significant community pushback. Comodo sold the CA business to Francisco Partners in 2017; it was rebranded to Sectigo in 2018. The current Comodo Security Solutions (publisher of Comodo Hijack Cleaner) is no longer in the CA business. Users who remember “don’t trust Comodo certificates” advice from 2016-2017 should note this refers to the now-separate Sectigo entity.

Comodo Dragon Browser. Comodo briefly shipped a Chromium fork called Dragon Browser; it has received lukewarm reviews and is no longer actively pushed. Not related to Hijack Cleaner.

Comodo Internet Security. Still actively developed in 2026. Uses Comodo’s Auto-Containment sandbox technology, which is genuinely distinctive in the free-AV space — unknown executables are run in an isolated container by default. Sound technical approach; UI has historically been cluttered. See our full Comodo Internet Security review for detailed analysis.

Takeaway: Comodo Hijack Cleaner is a trustworthy tool from an active security vendor. The old CA trust issues are not applicable to the utility layer.

Real Use Cases — When Comodo Hijack Cleaner Earns Its 8 MB

Case 1: Non-technical family member’s browser has changed. Homepage is some unfamiliar search engine, search bar results look off. Run Comodo Hijack Cleaner — or AdwCleaner — get a single-button fix. This is the canonical scenario.

Case 2: Post-installation of suspected PUP-bundled freeware. User installed a PDF-to-Word converter from a sketchy ad and now has three new Chrome extensions they did not consent to. Scan immediately, remove, and consider the freeware uninstalled as well.

Case 3: Second-opinion after running another scanner. AdwCleaner ran clean but something still feels off? Running Comodo as a second engine is 22 seconds and catches occasional items that pattern-match differently.

Case 4: Field technician toolkit. IT support workers carry portable utilities on a USB stick for client cleanup visits. Comodo Hijack Cleaner is a reasonable addition alongside AdwCleaner, Emsisoft Emergency Kit, and Malwarebytes itself — different engines, different strengths, no install required.

Case 5: Paranoid cross-check after installing a major browser extension pack. Installed a dozen extensions for work, want to make sure none of them turned out to be repackaged adware. Scan, confirm clean, move on.

Limitations — What Comodo Hijack Cleaner Does Not Do

Not a full antivirus. Does not scan for ransomware, rootkits, banking trojans, or memory-resident malware. If the infection extends beyond browser settings, you need a full AV scan — Microsoft Defender, a full Malwarebytes scan, or a scan from a portable rescue tool like Emsisoft Emergency Kit.

Not real-time protection. A scan-and-fix tool only. Nothing prevents new hijackers from arriving; it only removes them after the fact. Pair with a real-time AV (Microsoft Defender is sufficient for most users).

Definition updates are less frequent than AdwCleaner. Comodo has narrowed its consumer-utility focus over time; AdwCleaner ships updates multiple times per week, Comodo Hijack Cleaner updates less often. On newly-minted hijackers (2025-2026 first appearances), AdwCleaner is more likely to have a signature already.

Not as aggressive on PUPs. Comodo focuses on browser settings. AdwCleaner additionally targets installed programs identified as PUPs (toolbars that install as real applications, adware executables). If you want the broader category covered, AdwCleaner is the one tool that does it all.

No Mac or Linux version. Windows-only utility. Mac users with browser hijackers should use Malwarebytes for Mac (free scan, paid real-time).

What r/techsupport Actually Says About This Category

We searched r/techsupport, r/antivirus, and r/pcmasterrace for 2025-2026 threads on browser-hijacker removal.

The template response on r/techsupport for “my browser got hijacked” threads: download Malwarebytes AdwCleaner, run a scan, reboot. If still present, run full Malwarebytes scan. If still present, run Microsoft Defender full scan. Community moderators have a sticky-style reply with exactly this sequence. Comodo Hijack Cleaner appears as an occasional alternative but not the default.

Where Comodo gets recommended: threads where the user has already run AdwCleaner and the problem persists, or where the user mentions distrust of Malwarebytes (less common but exists). Comodo Hijack Cleaner appears in “second tool to try” position, never “first tool to try.”

Security professionals on LinkedIn and X describe stacking scanners by engine provenance: one Malwarebytes-engine tool + one non-Malwarebytes tool is a sensible layered approach, especially for field technicians. Comodo fills the non-Malwarebytes slot adequately.

Alternatives Beyond Comodo and AdwCleaner

Malwarebytes AdwCleaner. Category leader. First-response tool on r/techsupport. Free, portable. Run this first.

Emsisoft Emergency Kit. Broader portable scanner — not just hijackers but full malware detection via Emsisoft + Bitdefender dual engine. Run from USB. For infections beyond browser settings.

Kaspersky Virus Removal Tool. Free portable scanner from Kaspersky. Strong detection engine. Some users avoid due to 2022 US government recommendations against Kaspersky products; outside that concern it remains a capable tool.

HitmanPro. Cloud-scan tool, 30-day free trial then paid. Useful as a third-opinion scanner. Heavy-weight detection via multiple cloud engines.

Microsoft Safety Scanner. Free official Microsoft portable scanner. Expires 10 days after download (re-download for each use). Decent baseline; not as strong on PUPs and hijackers as the dedicated tools above.

Manual browser reset. Chrome: Settings → Reset and clean up → Restore settings to their original defaults. Edge: Settings → Reset settings. Firefox: Help → More troubleshooting information → Refresh Firefox. Last-resort fix that works without any third-party tool; loses extensions and some preferences.

Final Verdict — Is Comodo Hijack Cleaner Worth Downloading?

Yes, as a second-opinion scanner. Free, portable, legitimate, from an active vendor, 8 MB download. Keeping a copy on a USB stick for yourself or for helping family and friends clean hijacked browsers is a sensible move. It adds a second non-Malwarebytes engine to your toolkit, which is genuinely useful when AdwCleaner’s heuristics miss something specific.

No, as your first and only hijacker removal tool. Malwarebytes AdwCleaner is the category default for good reasons: more frequent updates, broader PUP/adware coverage, dominant community recommendation. Start there.

Our practical recommendation: keep both on a USB stick or in a “security tools” folder. AdwCleaner first, Comodo second, full Malwarebytes or Emsisoft Emergency Kit if the infection goes beyond browser settings. All three are free.

For the full context on the anti-hijacker category in 2026, see our Malwarebytes AdwCleaner review and our Comodo Internet Security review for the broader Comodo ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions About Comodo Hijack Cleaner

Is Comodo Hijack Cleaner really free?

Yes, genuinely free. No account creation, no credit card, no time-limited trial, no upsell pressure in the scan-and-fix flow. Comodo monetizes through their Internet Security and Endpoint Protection products; the hijack cleaner is a free utility.

Should I run Comodo Hijack Cleaner or Malwarebytes AdwCleaner first?

AdwCleaner first. It is the r/techsupport default recommendation for good reasons — more frequent signature updates, broader PUP/adware coverage, dominant community recommendation. Run Comodo afterward as a second-opinion scan from a different vendor’s engine.

Can Comodo Hijack Cleaner remove all browser hijackers?

It removes the common 2025-2026 hijackers effectively — Trovi, SearchMarquis variants, MyWay, fake “search helper” extensions, unwanted toolbars. It may miss very new or niche hijackers that AdwCleaner’s more frequently-updated signatures catch. Using both in sequence is the safest approach.

Is Comodo safe to use given past Certificate Authority issues?

Yes. The Comodo Certificate Authority was divested in 2017 and rebranded to Sectigo in 2018. The current Comodo Security Solutions (publisher of Hijack Cleaner and Internet Security) is no longer in the CA business. Old “don’t trust Comodo certificates” advice referred to the now-separate entity.

Do I need to install Comodo Hijack Cleaner?

No installation required. It is a portable executable — download, unzip, run. No scheduled tasks, no residual services, no registry entries beyond what Windows creates for any executed program. Close the EXE and it is effectively uninstalled.

Bottom Line

Comodo Hijack Cleaner is a competent free browser-hijacker scanner that earns its place in a field technician’s toolkit as a second-opinion tool alongside Malwarebytes AdwCleaner. For home users with a suddenly-hijacked browser, start with AdwCleaner, reboot, then run Comodo to cross-check. Both are free, both are portable, both are worth the 8–9 MB each. Our rating: 3.5 out of 5 as a standalone tool, 4.5 out of 5 as part of a stacked multi-engine approach.