WeatherTab Browser Hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.findwide.com?
WeatherTab is a deceptive application that, according to the developers, provides the latest weather forecasts. Initially, this app may seem legitimate and useful, however, this potentially unwanted program (PUP) often infiltrates systems without permission and continually records various information.
Furthermore, WeatherTab is categorized as a browser hijacker - a form of unwanted software that modifies browser options without users’ permission.
Research shows that WeatherTab targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, WeatherTab assigns search.findwide.com (a fake Internet search engine) as the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage browser settings. Furthermore, WeatherTab prevents users from reverting these changes.
This PUP reassigns browser settings when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are encouraged to visit search.findwide.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar. This significantly diminishes the web browsing experience. Another significant downside is information tracking.
WeatherTab gathers various data that might include personal details. Developers later sell this collected information to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing private data. Therefore, data tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.
We strongly recommend that you uninstall the WeatherTab browser hijacker and scan the system with a legitimate anti-virus/anti-spyware suite to remove all remnants.
| Name | WeatherTab potentially unwanted program |
| 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. |
There are dozens of browser-hijacking applications similar to WeatherTab. For example, Musick Tab, Digital Coin, All in One Office, and many others. Although these applications offer different functionality, all have identical behavior. By offering 'useful features', PUPs attempt to give the impression of legitimacy and trick users to install.
In fact, the only purpose of all browser hijackers is to generate revenue for the developers, whilst regular users receive no real value. Rather than enabling the functions promised, PUPs cause unwanted redirects (thereby promoting various websites, most of which are fake search engines) and gather sensitive information.
In addition, fake search engines generate misleading search results and intrusive advertisements. These typically lead to malicious websites. Therefore, using a fake search engine can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.
How did search.findwide.com install on my computer?
Research shows that, although WeatherTab has an official download website, it often infiltrates systems without permission, since developers promote this PUP using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" together with intrusive advertisements. "Bundling" is stealth installation of third party applications with regular software/apps.
Developers hide "bundled" applications within the "Advanced/Custom" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes - they do not disclose this information properly.
Furthermore, many users rush these procedures, skip steps, and click advertisements without understanding the possible consequences. This behavior can lead to inadvertent installation of PUPs such as WeatherTab.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent system infiltration by PUPs, be very cautious during the download/installation processes. Carefully analyze each window of these dialogs and opt-out of all additionally-included programs. We also advise you to download your applications from official sources only using direct download links, rather than third party downloaders/installers.
These tools are monetized by promoting dubious software, and thus should never be used. Remember that criminals invest many resources into intrusive ad design - most seem legitimate, however, they redirect to gambling, adult dating, pornography, and other dubious sites. In most cases, intrusive ads are delivered by adware-type programs.
If you see suspicious advertisements, immediately remove all dubious applications and browser plug-ins. The key to computer safety is caution.
Website promoting WeatherTab browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.findwide.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall WeatherTab application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.findwide.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove WeatherTab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.findwide.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.findwide.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
WeatherTab 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, "WeatherTab"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.findwide.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
WeatherTab 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.findwide.com 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 "Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the weathertab potentially unwanted program, 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 "Weathertab for Chrome" 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 "Weathertab for Chrome", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.findwide.com) 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 "findwide.com", 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 weathertab potentially unwanted program, 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 "Search Web - Weathertab", 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 moz-extension://... 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: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with weathertab potentially unwanted program 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 weathertab potentially unwanted program, 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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