R dot srvtrck dot com Redirects
R dot srvtrck dot com redirects are a side effect of a browser hijacker you most likely have installed on your system if you see a lot of your searches and queries being redirected through that domain for no apparent reason.
How the browser hijacker got on your system in the first place is a different question. Nowadays, there are a great number of ways to distribute similar potentially unwanted programs. The chief way for potentially unwanted program (PUP) distribution remains the bundle installer.
Bundle installers are software packages that are commonly distributed through free download portals. Inside a bundle installer, there might be one legitimate application and one or more potentially unwanted ones piggy-backing along with it inside the same install package.
Another way for browser hijackers to get into your system are malicious and fake pop-up notifications on websites or websites that serve advertising from dubious sources and unsafe networks. You may have encountered one of those fake "Click here to prove you are not a robot" messages. It is not uncommon to allow the installation of a PUP of some kind after you click on the fake pop-up. Finally, malicious ads served on various websites can also lead to the installation of browser hijackers.
Once a browser hijacker ends up on your system, it can do a number of things, all of them universally unpleasant. From slowing down your browsing experience to redirecting your search queries through third-party portals to generate revenue for the hijacker's author, to quietly changing your home page and default search engine without user consent, there is a reason why this type of program is called "potentially unwanted".
The best way to keep your system clean of similar nuisances is to avoid bundle installers and only download software from official developer or publisher websites, or well-curated portals such as the Apple App Store or the Microsoft Store. Another skill that is very useful in dodging similar PUPs is developing a good sense for potentially unsafe ads and fake pop-ups and confirmation boxes.
