Note (September 2026): Nova.rambler.ru is the search page of Rambler, a legitimate Russian web portal; the problem is unwanted bundled software that forces it as your homepage or search engine, not a virus in the site itself. Zemana AntiMalware, recommended below, has had no new version since March 2021, so this guide now adds actively maintained tools and a browser reset step.
To remove the Nova.rambler.ru redirect, uninstall any unfamiliar program installed around the time the problem started (Settings > Apps > Installed apps), scan the computer with Malwarebytes Free or AdwCleaner, then reset your browser: in Chrome or Edge open Settings > Reset settings. The reset restores the default search engine, homepage and startup tabs and disables extensions.
Key Takeaways
- Nova.rambler.ru is the search page of Rambler, a Russian search engine and portal founded in 1996; a browser hijacker, not Rambler itself, forces it onto your browser.
- Hijackers usually arrive bundled with free software, so the first fix is uninstalling the program that brought it.
- Malwarebytes Free and Malwarebytes AdwCleaner are free tools that remove adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers.
- Resetting Chrome or Edge restores the search engine and homepage while keeping bookmarks and saved passwords.
- Zemana AntiMalware’s latest release is from March 2021, so use it only as a secondary scanner.
The Nova.rambler.ru redirect is a browser hijacker: unwanted software, usually bundled with free programs you download, that changes your browser settings without clear permission. Once the bundled software is installed, your browser’s homepage and default search engine are switched to nova.rambler.ru, the search page of the Russian web portal Rambler.
How to Remove Nova.rambler.ru redirect
The hijacker usually gets in because some free software installers do not clearly disclose that additional programs will be installed along with them.
This lack of honest disclosure is how unwanted programs end up on the computer. Hence, it is very important for you to install or download only authentic and reliable software on your system.
Symptoms of the Nova.rambler.ru browser hijacker
Not every free program carries unwanted extras, and a slow or misbehaving browser is not always a sign of infection. Then how will you recognize that whether it is your system’s malfunctioning or your system has actually been attacked by a virus?
So here are some of the common signs that will help you to determine if your system has actually been high jacked by the nova.rabler.ru virus or not.
- Your browser’s default search engine and homepage change to nova.rambler.ru, and searches typed into the address bar are redirected there.
- New extensions, add-ons or toolbars appear in the browser that you do not remember installing.
- The new tab page changes, and changing the settings back may not stick.
Precautions to be followed before installing new software
Since it is always better to have precautions before hands rather than looking for cures afterward, hence, it is always important to make sure the security and authenticity of any software before downloading or installing it. Before installing a new software one must check if there is any attached software or files with it.
Such bundled files can include unwanted programs such as browser hijackers that set nova.rambler.ru as your homepage. The user must make sure that the software comes from a trusted and authentic source.
One must only install and download the software that is trusted and reliable as well as secured. Also, it is highly recommended to go for the custom installation option and then deselect any of the programs or software that you do not find useful and trusted.
Taking these steps reduces the chance of installing a browser hijacker and hence saves your time, energy and resources of the system. If you do not take these precautions, you might have to face the consequences at the expense of the data and content on your device as well as the device itself.
How to get rid of the Nova.rambler.ru redirect
If you have already downloaded or installed software and you are experiencing inconvenience in the functioning of your device then you must beware. This might be due to a system malfunction or due to invasion of some malicious program into your system.
To confirm that the problem is the Nova.rambler.ru hijacker, check for the symptoms listed above. If you find them in your system and browser, then you can proceed further.
The steps below end and uninstall the unwanted program first, then scan with anti-malware tools, and finally reset the browser settings (Step 4). You are supposed to follow all the steps and in the same sequence as it is mentioned in the article.
Step 1- The uninstalling step
In the very first step, we identify the harmful malware programs, target them and remove them from the system by uninstalling them. This can be done as follows.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc together to open Task Manager.
- A list will then open up on the screen. Try to look for or find any malicious program from this list. If you found one just right click on that shady program and then choose open file location option.
- Select End task to stop the process, then uninstall the program it belongs to from Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features). Ending a process alone does not remove the program.
Step 2- Scanning with an anti-malware tool (Zemana AntiMalware)
Zemana AntiMalware is a Windows scanner that its maker says detects and removes unwanted browser add-ons, adware and unwanted apps. According to Zemana’s own release notes, its latest version is 3.2.28, released March 31, 2021, so as of September 2026 it has not been updated for years; Malwarebytes or AdwCleaner is the safer first choice. To make use of this anti-malware application you must have it downloaded or installed in your system. In this step following functions are to be performed.
- Firstly you must download the zemana anti-malware portable application on your system from the link-https://www.zemana.com/antimalware.
- After downloading, double-click the downloaded Zemana file to open it. Doing this will start the scanning process of your system once you click on the scan button.
- Scan time depends on the size of the drive and the number of files; detected items are listed when the scan ends. All such programs will be displayed on your screen.
- After the display, the anti-malware program will commence the removal of these harmful programs and this might take some time to finish.
- Once this process is finished, restart the computer.
Step 3- Cleaning the system with Malwarebytes
This step runs a second scan with a different, actively maintained tool to catch anything the first scanner missed. In this step, the system is scanned once again. Then cleansed to remove any possibility of harm to your system. In this step following procedure is to be followed in the sequence as given below.
- First, download Malwarebytes (its free version scans for and removes existing infections) from the official site: https://www.malwarebytes.com/.
On clicking on this link a completely new page of malware bytes will appear on your screen.
- Run the installer; once installation finishes, open Malwarebytes and let it update its detection database.
- After this click on the scan button to start the scanning process which takes a few minutes for completion.
- After the scan, review the results, quarantine the detected items, and restart the computer if prompted.
Step 4- Reset the browser settings
Scanners remove the program, but the changed homepage and search engine can remain in the browser profile, so finish by resetting the browser. If the setting comes back after a reset, the unwanted program is still installed; repeat Steps 1 to 3.
Google Chrome: according to Google’s Chrome Help, open More (the three dots) > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults, then confirm with Reset settings. This resets the default search engine, homepage and startup tabs, new tab page, pinned tabs, site permissions, cookies and site data, and extensions and themes. Saved bookmarks and passwords are not deleted.
Microsoft Edge: open Settings and more (the three dots) > Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their default values > Reset. This resets the startup page, new tab page, search engine and pinned tabs, disables extensions and clears browsing data such as cookies; favorites, history and passwords are kept.
Other browsers: remove any unfamiliar extension or add-on, then set the homepage and default search engine back manually in the browser’s settings. For more hardening tips, see this guide on improving security settings in Chrome and Firefox.
What Is Nova.rambler.ru?
Nova.rambler.ru is a search page run by Rambler, a Russian search engine and one of the largest Russian web portals. Rambler was established in 1996 in Moscow, and Sberbank’s Sber group took full control of it in October 2020. The site itself is a legitimate portal; the trouble starts when a browser hijacker sets it as your homepage or search engine without asking.
A browser hijacker is unwanted software that changes a web browser’s settings without the user’s permission, typically to push advertising. BleepingComputer’s removal guide describes Nova.rambler.ru hijackers as redirecting searches made through Google and other engines to nova.rambler.ru, where results are shown alongside ads, most likely to generate advertising revenue. Hijackers are a type of potentially unwanted program rather than classic self-spreading viruses, which is why they come back if the installer that brought them is still on the system. For background on related threats, read what spyware is and how to protect yourself.
Which Removal Tools Can You Use?
| Tool | Cost | What it does | Status (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malwarebytes Free | Free | Scans for and removes existing infections, including adware and Trojans; real-time protection needs Premium | Offered by Malwarebytes |
| Malwarebytes AdwCleaner | Free | Targets adware, potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers | Offered by Malwarebytes |
| Zemana AntiMalware | Free demo; premium paid | Detects and removes browser add-ons, adware and unwanted apps | Latest version 3.2.28, released March 31, 2021 |
| Browser reset (Chrome, Edge) | Built in | Restores search engine, homepage and startup tabs; disables extensions | Available in current versions |
Download any scanner only from its maker’s official website, because fake “cleaner” downloads can bring more unwanted software. If you are unsure what a security tool does, this explainer on what virus protection does covers the basics, and online virus scanners can give a second opinion on a single suspicious file.
How to Stop the Hijacker From Coming Back
- Choose the Custom or Advanced option in software installers and untick any extra program, toolbar or search setting you did not ask for.
- Download software from the developer’s official site rather than third-party download portals.
- Review the browser’s extensions list from time to time and remove anything you do not use.
- If the search engine changes again after a reset, look for a recently installed program in Installed apps and remove it before resetting again.
- If nothing works, back up your files and ask a qualified technician for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is nova.rambler.ru a virus?
No. Nova.rambler.ru is the search page of Rambler, a Russian search engine and portal founded in 1996. It becomes a problem when a browser hijacker, usually bundled with free software, sets it as your homepage or search engine without permission.
Why does my browser keep opening nova.rambler.ru?
A program or extension installed on the computer keeps changing the browser settings. Uninstall recent unfamiliar programs, remove unknown extensions, scan with Malwarebytes or AdwCleaner, then reset the browser.
Will resetting Chrome delete my bookmarks and passwords?
No. According to Google, resetting Chrome settings does not delete or change saved bookmarks and passwords, but it does reset the search engine, homepage, startup tabs, extensions and themes, and clears cookies and site data.
Is Zemana AntiMalware still updated?
Zemana’s release notes list version 3.2.28, dated March 31, 2021, as the latest release. As of September 2026 no newer version is listed, so an actively maintained scanner such as Malwarebytes is the better first choice.
Is ending the process in Task Manager enough?
No. Ending a process only stops it for now. The program must be uninstalled through Settings > Apps > Installed apps or Control Panel, and the browser settings reset, to remove the redirect.
