HomeTab Adware

What is HomeTab?

HomeTab virus is a term used to describe a browser hijacker, which modifies computer users' Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage, new tab, and default search engine settings to search.hometab.com (or search.newhometab.com).

This browser hijacker is distributed using free software downloads, and at time of research, the HomeTab browser add-on was 'bundled' with VLC, PDF Creator, Zapp!, and 1Zip downloads.

Note that developers of these free programs have no connection with HomeTab. The browser plugin is distributed via customized 'download clients', which offer installation of the HomeTab add-on together with the bundled programs. The best way to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications is to download free software directly from the developers' websites.

Internet users who use free software download websites are at risk of installing adware, since, today, most freeware download sites use 'download clients' (such as vitalia download manager, Somoto BetterInstaller, etc.) to promote dubious free browser plugins.

Commonly, these promoted browser extensions lead to unwanted ads or browser redirect issues. Technically, HomeTab is not a virus or malware, however, it is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted program (PUP). After successful installation, it causes browser redirects, unwanted ads, and may lead to serious privacy issues.

For these reasons, you are advised to eliminate it from your Internet browser/s (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox).

The HomeTab browser add-on is similar to other adware distributed using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling', including for example, Fast Address Bar, Smart Address Bar, Smart Suggestor amongst many others. These programs modify users' Internet browser settings and cause unwanted ads, and furthermore, install without the user's consent.

To avoid installation of such adware, Internet users should express caution when downloading free software, particularly when using free software download websites. If your download is managed by a download client, opt-out out of installation of any promoted browser add-ons by clicking the 'decline' button.

If your browser homepage has been changed to search.hometab.com or search.newhometab.com, use the removal instructions provided to eliminate the HomeTab adware from your computer.

Deceptive free software installers used in HomeTab adware distribution:

HomeTab adware installer:

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Quick menu:

• What is HomeTab?
• STEP 1. Uninstall HomeTab application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.hometab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove search.hometab.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.hometab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.hometab.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

HomeTab browser hijacker removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for "HomeTab", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling potentially unwanted programs (which cause browser redirects to the search.hometab.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries that this program detects to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.

Search.hometab.com homepage and default search engine removal from browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for the "HomeTab" (two entries), select them and click "Remove".

Change homepage:

To change your homepage from search.hometab.com to your preferred domain: click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove about:newtab and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about:blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change default search engine:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Web Search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hometab redirect, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions".  Locate "HomeTab" select it and click the trash can icon.

Change homepage:

Change the Google Chrome homepage from search.hometab.com to your preferred domain - click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In "On startup" section click "set pages", hover your mouse over chrome://newtab/... and click the x symbol. Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings", in the "Search" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Web Search" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hometab redirect, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove the "HomeTab".

Change homepage:

To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "hometab"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with hometab redirect removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hometab redirect, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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