Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi has allegedly installed malware on users’ phones that hijacks their web browser and sets itself as the default search engine. The information comes in from several platforms, such as X and Reddit, where users report that a site named “Mintnav” is taking over their Google Home page, interrupting their browsing experience.
Mintnav Has Been Around For Quite Some Time
The first reported occurrence dates back to March 2023, when a Reddit user posted a thread titled “mintnav on chrome home page.” The thread explained how the Google Home page on the user’s Xiaomi phones changed to a site named “mintnav.” The claim was corroborated by several users who wrote that the same thing happened to them.
Some noted that their home page changed after upgrading to MIUI 14. One user reported that Avast’s anti-malware app didn’t notice the change. While the problem ceased over time, it seems to have surfaced again. An X user has recently shared tagged the Indian Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, saying that Xiaomi is installing “browser hijacker” malware on Chrome and other internet browsers.
In other words, instead of landing on the Google search engine home page on browsers, some Xioami users are redirected to Mintnav, a web browser. It doesn’t seem to cause any harm to users, but it could affect their browsing experience by showing them unrelated ads. Users facing this issue should install anti-malware apps or reset their browser’s settings to default.
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