Search.searchttab.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.searchttab.com?
search.searchttab.com is another fake search engine that falsely claims to enhance the browsing experience by generating improved results and providing quick access to popular websites. Its appearance suggests that search.searchttab.com is legitimate and useful, however, this website is promoted using a browser-hijacking app called TubeTab.
In addition, search.searchttab.com and TubeTab record information relating to browsing activity.
TubeTab targets Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. After successful infiltration, this browser hijacker sets search.searchttab.com as the homepage, default search engine, and new tab URL options. These changes may seem significant, however, TubeTab prevents users from reverting them.
This browser hijacker reassign browser options when attempts are made to change them. Therefore, unless TubeTab is uninstalled, returning browsers to their previous states becomes impossible and users are encouraged to visit search.searchttab.com when they open a new browser tab or search via the URL bar.
This significantly diminishes the browsing experience. Note that after entering a search query, users are redirected to search.yahoo.com and end up searching the web via Yahoo (a legitimate web search engine), Therefore, search.searchttab.com is useless.
TubeTab and search.searchttab.com are also designed to record information relating to web browsing activity. The information (website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, Internet Protocol addresses, and so on) usually includes personal details that are shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who misuse personal details to generate revenue.
Therefore, information tracking can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you uninstall the TubeTab browser hijacker and never return to search.searchttab.com.
Name | TubeTab 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. |
The internet is full of fake search engines that share similarities with search.searchttab.com including go.querymo.com, search.gg, feed.moviegoat.com, etc. The list is long. Fake search engines are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
Rather than giving any real value for regular users, these sites cause unwanted redirects and gather information, thereby diminishing the browsing experience and posing a threat to your privacy. Some fake search engines also feed users with false results and intrusive advertisements, leading to dubious websites. Using them might lead to high-risk computer infections.
How did TubeTab install on my computer?
Browser-hijacking apps such as TubeTab typically infiltrate systems without users' consent, since developers proliferate them using "bundling" and intrusive advertising methods. "Bundling" is essentially stealth installation of unwanted software with regular apps.
These applications are hidden within "Custom/Advanced" settings (or other sections) of the download/installation processes, since developers are not honest enough to adequately disclose these installations.
Furthermore, intrusive advertisements redirect to infectious websites and execute scripts that download/install unwanted apps (or even high-risk malware). Furthermore, many users skip download/installation steps and click various advertisements. This behavior can lead to inadvertent installation of unwanted apps.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Lack of knowledge and careless behavior are the main reasons for computer infections. The key to safety is caution. Therefore, pay attention during download/installation processes and when browsing the internet. Select "Custom/Advanced" settings and study all steps of the download/installation procedures.
Opt-out of third party applications and decline offers to download/install them. Software should be downloaded from official sources only, using direct download links. Intrusive advertisements may seem legitimate, but they typically lead to gambling, adult dating, pornography, survey, and other untrustworthy sites.
They are usually displayed by adware-type apps. If you encounter these ads, immediately remove all suspicious software and browser plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with TubeTab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
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Quick menu:
- What is search.searchttab.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall TubeTab application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.searchttab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove TubeTab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.searchttab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.searchttab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
TubeTab 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, "TubeTab"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.searchttab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
TubeTab 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.searchttab.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 tubetab 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 "TubeTab" and other 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.search.searchttab.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on 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 "search.searchttab.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 tubetab 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 on "Extensions" and remove "TubeTab", 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.searchttab.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: "search.searchttab.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with tubetab 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 tubetab 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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