Remove Instant Translation from your browser
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Instant Translation?
Instant Translation is a browser hijacker, endorsed as an application for quick access to various free translation tools. It is supposedly capable of immediately providing dictionaries and translating any web page, however, it operates by changing browser settings to promote its fake search engine (search.getfreetranslationstab.com).
Instant Translation also has data tracking abilities. Many users install this application inadvertently and it is therefore classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).
Browser hijackers operate by reassigning the homepage, default search engine, and new tab/window URL to a fake web searcher. They target Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and other popular browsers.
Once installed, Instant Translation redirects to search.getfreetranslationstab.com when a new tab/widow is opened or a search query is typed into the URL bar. Most fake search engines are unable to generate unique results, and therefore they redirect (or cause redirection chains ending with) a legitimate search engine such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.
As search.getfreetranslationstab.com cannot provide any results, it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com. Note that this browser hijacker is often distributed with another PUA called Hide My Searches.
Instant Translation also monitors browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, etc.) and gathers users' personal information (IP addresses, geolocations, and private details). This data tracking is a threat, as the collected information is then shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).
Therefore, PUAs can cause browser and system infiltration/infections and lead to severe privacy issues/financial loss (even identity theft). To protect device integrity and user safety, all dubious applications and/or browser extensions should be removed immediately upon detection.
| Name | Instant Translation. |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Detection Names | Avast (Win32:AdwareSig [Adw]), DrWeb (Adware.Spigot.145), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Kaspersky (Not-a-virus:HEUR:AdWare.Win32.WebSearch.gen), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
| Browser Extension(s) | Translations, Instant Translation. |
| Supposed Functionality | Website translations and dictionary access. |
| Promoted URL | search.getfreetranslationstab.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.getfreetranslationstab.com) | 3.224.86.188 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Additional Information | Instant Translation is distributed with another browser hijacker called Hide My Searches. |
| 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. |
There are thousands of PUAs online, including many browser hijackers. Get Free Translations, Download Forms Now, and ProductManualsFinder are applications similar to Instant Translation.
Most unwanted apps seem legitimate and offer "useful" features to entice users to install, however, the only purpose of this unwanted software is to generate revenue for the developers.
The features they boast are usually nonoperational. Rather than working as advertised, PUAs hijack browsers, cause redirects to sale-oriented, untrustworthy and malicious websites, deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns (pop-ups, banners, surveys, coupons, etc.) and gather private data.
How did Instant Translation install on my computer?
When intrusive ads are clicked they can execute scripts designed to make rogue downloads/installs of PUAs. Unwanted applications are often inadvertently installed by users. Some of these apps have "official" web pages from which they can often be downloaded for "free".
This is the case with Instant Translation. Furthermore, by rushing through the download/installation processes (ignoring terms, using pre-set options, skipping steps and sections, etc.), users can unintentionally allow "bundled" content onto devices. "Bundling" is a deceptive marketing tactic, by which regular software is packed with unwanted or malicious programs.
This method is favored by PUA developers and is frequently successful in proliferating their products.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Verify software and files before downloading/installing. Use only trustworthy and verified sources for downloading. Peer-to-Peer sharing networks (e.g. BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.), unofficial and free file-hosting sites, third party downloaders and similar channels are untrustworthy and should not be used.
Download and installation processes should be treated with caution. Study terms and possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt-out of downloading/installing additional apps, tools, features, and similar.
Ads hosted by dubious websites typically seem normal and innocuous, however, they often redirect to dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, adult-dating, pornography, etc.). If you encounter suspicious ads and redirects, inspect the device for suspect applications or browser extensions and remove them immediately.
If your computer is already infected with Instant Translation, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Instant Translation browser hijacker installer set-up:
Instant Translation browser hijacker asking for various permissions:
Website promoting Instant Translation browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Instant Translation?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Instant Translation application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.getfreetranslationstab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Instant Translation browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.getfreetranslationstab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.getfreetranslationstab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Instant Translation 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, "Instant Translation"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.getfreetranslationstab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Instant Translation 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.getfreetranslationstab.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 "Instant Translation".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.getfreetranslationstab.com redirect, 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 "Instant Translation" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Hide My Searches"), 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 "Instant Translation" or "Hide My Searches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://search.getfreetranslationstab.com or hxxps://hidemysearches.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 "hxxp://search.getfreetranslationstab.com" and "hxxp://hidemysearches.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 search.getfreetranslationstab.com redirect, 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 "Instant Translation" (or simply "translations"), as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Hide My Searches").
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 "Instant Translation" (or simply "translations") or "Hide My Searches", remove hxxp://search.getfreetranslationstab.com or hxxp://hidemysearches.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 search.getfreetranslationstab.com redirect 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 search.getfreetranslationstab.com redirect, 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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