The Google redirect virus is a very broad term to describe 1. unwarranted redirects to the Google search engine, 2. general browser redirections, often caused by malware categorized as a browser hijacker (may occur when attemping to visit Google.com or use the browser's address bar) and/or 3. browser redirects that occur when using the Google Chrome internet browser, but please note that the Google redirect virus is a problem for many computer users who may use any internet browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera). The Google redirect virus may direct internet users to search engine results pages that may not relate to the user's search query, as well as dangerous websites that host malware and unethical websites, such as websites that designed to "trick" or ultimately entrap unsuspecting victims to destructive terms. The Google redirect virus may also refer to common browser hijackers and DNS changers that alter system and internet browser settings with or without consent, including the home pages, default, managed, and provided search engines, as well as browser shortcuts and Windows hosts files.