Kittens New Tab Browser Hijacker

What is searchpage.com?

Developers claim that the Kittens new tab app allows users to search and access their bookmarks and applications using a customized homepage/search engine. Using this app, is possible to change the background image by choosing from over 30 HD pictures.

 Kittens is presented as a useful application with various features, however, it is classified as a browser hijacker, a potentially unwanted application (PUA).

Most people download and install apps of this type unintentionally. Furthermore, Kittens new tab promotes a dubious (fake) search engine, searchpage.com. It also changes browser settings and collects information relating to users' browsing habits.

Typically, apps of this type (browser hijackers) can be installed on browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer. When installed, Kittens new tab makes changes to browser settings: it assigns the default search engine, new tab URL, and homepage to searchpage.com. It also prevents users from undoing these modifications.

The only way to reassign the URL to an address other than searchpage.com is to uninstall the Kittens new tab browser hijacker. Therefore, people who have this app installed on their systems are forced to visit searchpage.com when they open a browser, new tab or search via the URL bar (enter search queries).

Note that searchpage.com is presented as a search engine, however, it uses search results generated by the Yahoo search engine - it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com. Therefore, searchpage.com does not provide any unique results, thus rendering this search engine useless.

Furthermore, Kittens new tab and searchpage.com records data including, for example, search queries, IP addresses, geo-locations, URLs of visited websites, etc. These apps also gather personal data. Developers continually share the information with other parties (often criminals) who misuse it to generate revenue.

Therefore, having these apps installed or using fake search engines that operate as information tracking tools can lead to problems with privacy and browsing safety. There is also a risk of becoming a victim of identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Kittens New Tab potentially unwanted application
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). Users 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 browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious 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.

Most browser hijackers are promoted as legitimate, since their developers offer tools, supposedly 'useful features', and so on. Unfortunately, these promotions are merely attempts to trick people into downloading potentially unwanted apps. Once installed, PUAs deliver none of the features promised, tools, or any other value.

Some examples of other PUAs categorized as browser hijackers are bestMovies Now, New Browse, and FootbalScores24. There are many more.

How did Kittens new tab install on my computer?

Kittens new tab is available for download on a supposedly official website, however, most browser hijackers infiltrate without users' knowledge - most people download and install them unintentionally.

This happens when they click intrusive advertisements, or when software developers use a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" to trick users into downloading/installing PUAs with other software that they download/install intentionally.

They bundle PUAs with other software (usually, freeware) set-ups - developers hide information regarding the inclusion of these apps in "Custom", "Advanced" and other options. Furthermore, many people download/install software without checking the settings and leave them unchanged. In doing so, they inadvertently download and install their software together with PUAs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Download software from trustworthy, official websites and using direct links. Do not use third party software downloaders/installers, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, unofficial websites, or other such tools. Check "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings included in software download and installation setups.

Do not skip setup steps without checking these settings and deselecting offers to install PUAs. Avoid clicking advertisements that are displayed on unofficial or dubious websites - they often cause redirects to websites such as gambling, pornography, adult dating, and other potentially malicious pages.

If you encounter intrusive ads or redirects to dubious websites, it is possible that PUAs are installed on the computer or browser. Check your browser for unwanted extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons, and remove all unwanted, suspicious entries immediately. The same applies to programs installed on your computer.

If your computer is already infected with Kittens new tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Kittens new tab browser hijacker:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. 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.

Quick menu:

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

Kittens new tab 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, "Kittens new tab"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the searchpage.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Kittens new tab 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://searchpage.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 "searchpage.com".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the kittens new tab potentially unwanted application, 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 "Kittens new tab" 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, disable "Kittens new tab", look for browser hijacker's URL (hxxp://www.searchpage.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 "searchpage.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 kittens new tab potentially unwanted application, 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 "Kittens new tab", 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, disable "Kittens new tab", remove hxxp://searchpage.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: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with kittens new tab potentially unwanted application 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 kittens new tab potentially unwanted application, 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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