Search.freshtab.net Redirect

What is search.freshtab.net?

search.freshtab.net is a fake Internet search engine that supposedly generates improved results and allows users to change their homepage wallpapers.

This functionality may seem legitimate and useful, however, search.freshtab.net is promoted using a browser-hijacking application called FreshTab. Furthermore, search.freshtab.net and FreshTab collect various data relating to web browsing habits.

Immediately after infiltration, FreshTab hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox, assigning search.freshtab.net as the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options. Although these changes may seem insignificant, users are unable to revert them.

Research shows that FreshTab continually reassigns browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are automatically redirected to search.freshtab.net when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar. This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience.

As mentioned above, search.freshtab.net and FreshTab record various user-system information such as, for example, IP addresses, search queries, URLs visited, and so on. The collected data is likely to contain personal details. In addition, it is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) misuse private information to generate revenue.

This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. If you encounter redirects to search.freshtab.net, immediately eliminate the FreshTab browser hijacker and scan the system with a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite to remove all remnants. Never return to this website.

Threat Summary:

Name	FreshTab browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

The Internet is full of fake search engines virtually identical to search.freshtab.net. The list of examples includes (but is not limited to) easyziptab.com, chrome-tab.com, i-searchresults.com, and chromesearch.online. 

As with search.freshtab.net, all fake search engines falsely claim to enhance the web browsing experience, however, these claims are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. Fake search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and deliver no real value for regular users.

They cause redirects and record sensitive information. Note that some generate results and intrusive advertisements leading to malicious websites. Therefore, using fake search engines risks various computer infections.

How did search.freshtab.net install on my computer?

FreshTab has an official download website, however, due to the lack of knowledge and careless behavior of many users, it often infiltrates systems without permission. Research shows that browser-hijacking applications are promoted using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling", and intrusive advertisements.

"Bundling" is stealth installation of third party software together with regular (typically, free) programs. Developers do not disclose these installations properly - they hide "bundled" apps within various steps of the download/installation processes.

Furthermore, many users rush these procedures, skip steps, and click suspicious ads/links without understanding the possible consequences. This behavior typically leads to inadvertent installation of potentially unwanted programs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent system infiltration by potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) such as search.freshtab.net, be very cautious when downloading and installing software and browsing the Internet. Select "Custom/Advanced" settings and closely observe each step of the download/installation processes.

Furthermore, download your applications from official sources only, using a direct download link. Third party downloaders/installers are used to proliferate rogue applications (the "bundling" method), and thus, these tools should not be used. Criminals invest many resources into intrusive ad design and, therefore, most look legitimate.

Once clicked, however, they redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious sites. The ads are often delivered by adware-type PUPs. If you encounter redirects to dubious sites, immediately eliminate all suspicious applications and browser plug-ins. The key to computer safety is caution.

Website promoting FreshTab browser hijacker:

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Quick menu:

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

FreshTab 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 any recently-installed suspicious applications (for example, "FreshTab"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.freshtab.net website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

FreshTab browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.freshtab.net 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 your default search engine:

Click 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 "freshtab".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the freshtab browser hijacker, 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Beautiful Photos New Tab - FreshTab" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Beautiful Photos New Tab - FreshTab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.freshtab.net) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.

Change your 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 engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "freshtab.net", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the freshtab browser hijacker, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove "FreshTab", as well as all other recently-installed browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

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

Change your 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: "search.freshtab.net"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with freshtab browser hijacker 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 freshtab browser hijacker, 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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