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JKFISH's avatar
JKFISH
Copper Contributor
Sep 18, 2025

Microsoft Defender doesn't, Spy hunter shows a Hijacker

Spy Hunter indicates a "Elex Hijacker" and three other problems were as Defender and McAfee do not show any problem. Is Spy Hunter legitimate? I did have a Search engine redirect problem that has a...
Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence
Lucaraheller's avatar
Lucaraheller
MCT
Apr 16, 2026

Hi JKFISH​ ,

Yes, SpyHunter is a real commercial product, but it has had a controversial reputation for years in the security community because of aggressive detections, upsell tactics, and reports of false positives. That does not automatically make every detection wrong, but I would not treat it as the primary source of truth over Microsoft Defender.

In your case, the browser redirect issue is the most important clue.

ext.ladispatcher.com and search-load.com strongly suggest a browser hijacker / unwanted extension / modified browser settings, especially since it only happens in Chrome and not in Edge.

That usually means the issue is inside Chrome, not a deep Windows malware infection.

What I would do first:

  1. Check Chrome extensions

Open Chrome extensions page and remove anything unfamiliar, recently installed, fake ad blocker, coupon tool, search helper, PDF converter, etc.

  1. Reset Chrome settings

Chrome Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to original defaults

This often fixes hijackers immediately.

  1. Check search engine settings

Make sure default search engine is Google (or your choice) and remove suspicious custom engines.

  1. Check notifications permissions

Some malicious sites abuse browser notifications.

  1. Run Microsoft Defender full scan

Use Defender first. If clean, that is a good sign.

  1. Run Microsoft Defender Offline Scan

Useful if you suspect persistence.

About the “Elex Hijacker”

That name is commonly associated with browser hijacker families, adware, or PUPs rather than classic destructive malware.

So Defender or McAfee may ignore it if they classify it as low-risk unwanted software.

About the monitor flicker / collapse

That is much more likely to be:

  • Graphics driver issue
    • HDMI / DisplayPort cable issue
    • Refresh rate mismatch
    • GPU instability
    • Monitor hardware issue

Much less likely to be caused by a browser hijacker.

Try:

  • Reseat / replace cable
    • Update graphics driver
    • Test another monitor
    • Test another refresh rate

Short answer:

SpyHunter may be legitimate software, but I would trust Microsoft Defender more for core malware detection. Your redirect problem sounds like a Chrome browser hijacker, and your monitor issue is probably unrelated hardware/driver behavior.

Most likely fix:

Clean Chrome + remove extensions + reset settings.

If you tell me Windows version and Chrome extensions installed, I can also help identify the suspicious one quickly.