Myfirsttab.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is myfirsttab.com?
myfirsttab.com is a fake search engine relating to search.mediatabtv.online and photorito.me Judging on appearance alone, myfirsttab.com barely differs from Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other legitimate search engines.
Therefore, many users believe that myfirsttab.com is also legitimate and useful. In fact, this website is promoted using rogue download/installation set-ups that modify browser options without consent. Furthermore, it gathers data relating to web browsing activity.
Rogue set-ups target Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. Following infiltration, they modify the new tab URL, default search engine, and homepage options by assigning them to myfirsttab.com.
Immediately following this, set-ups stealthily install a number of "helper objects" (third party applications and/or browser plug-ins) to prevent users from reverting the aforementioned changes - they simply reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them.
Therefore, as long as "helper objects" are installed, returning browsers to their previous states is impossible and users are encouraged to visit myfirsttab.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar. This diminishes the web browsing experience.
Once a search query is entered, myfirsttab.com redirects to search.yahoo.com and users simply end up searching the web via the Yahoo search engine, thus making myfirsttab.com irrelevant. Another important issue is data tracking. Research shows that myfirsttab.com (and "helper objects") continually records information regarding browsing habits.
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other collected data often includes personal details that are shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who generate revenue by misusing personal information.
This behavior can lead to serious privacy issues. If you encounter redirects to myfirsttab.com, immediately eliminate all dubious applications and browser plug-ins.
Name | My FirstTab 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. |
myfirsttab.com shares many similarities with searchfortplus.com, search.safefinderds.com, stabers.club, findgofind.co, and dozens of other fake web search engines.
As with myfirsttab.com, all offer improved results and other 'useful features' (quick access to popular sites, weather forecasts, etc.), however, by delivering these bogus promises, fake search engines attempt to give the impression of legitimacy. All are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and none give any real value for regular users.
Fake search engines cause unwanted redirects and gather sensitive data. Furthermore, some generate intrusive ads (coupons, banners and similar) and false results, typically leading to malicious websites. Therefore, using fake search engines often leads to high-risk computer infections.
How did myfirsttab.com install on my computer?
As mentioned above, developers promote myfirsttab.com via rogue downloaders/installers - a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". They know that users often rush download/installation processes and, thus, hide details regarding modification of browser options within various sections (typically "Custom/Advanced" settings) of these procedures.
By rushing and skipping steps, users inadvertently grant set-ups permission to modify browser settings. In addition, they expose their systems to risk of various infections and compromise their privacy.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) are distributed using the "bundling" method and intrusive ads. Therefore, pay close attention when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet. Select "Custom/Advanced" settings and carefully analyze each step of the download/installation processes.
During these procedures, decline offers to download/install additional applications and opt-out of those already included. You are also advised to download software from official sources only, using direct download links. Third party downloaders/installers are monetized by promoting PUPs, and thus should never be used.
Developers invest many resources into intrusive ad design. Most seem legitimate, but they redirect to untrustworthy websites (pornography, adult dating, gambling, and so on). Intrusive ads are often delivered by adware-type PUPs. If you experience dubious redirects, immediately check the list of installed apps/browser plug-ins and uninstall any suspicious entries.
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Quick menu:
- What is myfirsttab.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall myfirsttab.com application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove myfirsttab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove myfirsttab.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove myfirsttab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove myfirsttab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
myfirsttab.com 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the myfirsttab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
myfirsttab.com 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://myfirsttab.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 "myfirsttab".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the my firsttab 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 all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.myfirsttab.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 "myfirsttab.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 my firsttab 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 all 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://myfirsttab.com 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: "myfirsttab.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with my firsttab 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 my firsttab 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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