How to uninstall the Task Manager Tab unwanted app
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Task Manager Tab?
Task Manager Tab is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) advertised as a tool that supposedly includes features such as an online calculator, calendar and 'to do' list. In fact, its primary goal is to change certain browser settings to taskmanagertab.com to promote a fake search engine.
These apps often collect information relating to users' browsing activities as well. Browser hijackers are categorized as PUAs, since people often download and install them inadvertently.
Task Manager Tab sets taskmanagertab.com as the homepage, default search engine and address of a new tab. In this way, it ensures that this address is opened when users open a browser, new tab, and enter search queries.
Note that taskmanagertab.com is classified as a fake search engine, since it displays results generated by Yahoo (it simply redirects to search.yahoo.com). It generate no unique results. Note that most browser hijackers prevent users from undoing changes that were made by them.
I.e., they prevent removal of the fake search engine address, and the only solution is to uninstall them. In this case, taskmanagertab.com can be removed only when Task Manager Tab is uninstalled from the browser. This is not the only reason to remove these dangerous apps.
As mentioned, browser hijackers often collect browsing-related data. For example, addresses of visited pages, entered search queries, IP addresses, geolocations, etc. In some cases, they target sensitive information as well. Criminals responsible for browser hijackers generate revenue by selling the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals), or in other ways.
Therefore, users who have apps of this type installed on browsers or computers can experience problems relating to online privacy, browsing safety, and even become victims of identity theft.
Name | Task Manager Tab |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
Browser Extension(s) | Task Manager Tab |
Supposed Functionality | This app supposedly includes a calculator, to do list, calendar and other features. |
Promoted URL | taskmanagertab.com |
Serving IP Address (taskmanagertab.com) | 104.18.37.237 |
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. |
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. |
Maps Pro Hub, Watch Sports Here and PDF Opener are some examples of other browser hijackers.
These apps supposedly include various features, improve the browsing experience, and are useful in other ways, however, they are designed only to help the developers to generate revenue and can cause serious problems. Therefore, PUAs should never be trusted, downloaded, or installed.
How did Task Manager Tab install on my computer?
In most cases, people download and/or install browser hijackers and other PUAs by clicking deceptive advertisements, which run certain scripts, or through the set-ups of other programs. Commonly, developers include PUAs into set-ups as 'additional offers'.
This distribution method is known as "bundling". In most cases, offers to download and install additionally-included apps are listed in settings such as "Advanced", "Custom", and "Manual", however, people often fail to check and change them when they download or install programs. This allows additional PUAs to infiltrate with their regular programs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
It is important to download all software only from official websites and via direct links. Third party downloaders, installers, unofficial pages, torrent clients, eMule or other Peer-to-Peer networks, free file hosting pages, etc., are often monetized by promoting PUAs.
Therefore, it is not safe to use them to download or install any software. Check all "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings and decline offers to download or install unwanted apps.
Additionally, you are advised to avoid clicking intrusive ads, especially if they are displayed on dubious websites - they can open other untrusted websites or even cause unwanted downloads and installations. Remove any unwanted, suspicious, unknown extensions, plug-ins, and add-ons installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the computer.
If your computer is already infected with Task Manager Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Notification stating that Task Manager Tab can read and change certain data:
Website promoting Task Manager Tab browser hijacker:
IMPORTANT NOTE! This deceptive site asks to enable web browser notifications.
Therefore, before commencing, perform these steps:
Google Chrome (PC):
- Click the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen
- Select "Settings", scroll down to the bottom and click "Advanced"
- Scroll down to the "Privacy and security" section, select "Content settings" and then "Notifications"
- Click three dots on the right hand side of each suspicious URL and click "Block" or "Remove" (if you click "Remove" and visit the malicious site once more, it will ask to enable notifications again)
Google Chrome (Android):
- Click on the Menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the screen and click "Settings"
- Scroll down, click on "Site settings" and then "Notifications"
- In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs and click on them one-by-one
- Select "Notifications" in the "Permissions" section and set the toggle button to "OFF"
Mozilla Firefox:
- Click the Menu button (three bars) on the right upper corner of the screen
- Select "Options" and click on "Privacy & Security" in the toolbar on the left hand side of the screen
- Scroll down to the "Permissions" section and click the "Settings" button next to "Notifications"
- In the opened window, locate all suspicious URLs, click the drop-down menu and select "Block"
Internet Explorer:
- Click the Gear button on the right upper corner of the IE window
- Select "Internet options"
- Select the "Privacy" tab and click "Settings" under "Pop-up Blocker" section
- Select suspicious URLs under and remove them one by one by clicking the "Remove" button
Microsoft Edge:
- Click the menu button (three dots) on the right upper corner of the Edge window
- Scroll down, find and click "Settings"
- Scroll down again and click "View advanced settings"
- Click "Manage" under "Website permissions"
- Click the switch under each suspicious website
Safari (Mac):
- Click "Safari" button on the left upper corner of the screen and select "Preferences..."
- Select the "Websites" tab and then select "Notifications" section on the left pane
- Check for suspicious URLs and apply the "Deny" option for each
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Task Manager Tab?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Task Manager Tab application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove taskmanagertab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Task Manager Tab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove taskmanagertab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove taskmanagertab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Task Manager 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, "Task Manager Tab"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the taskmanagertab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Task Manager 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://taskmanagertab.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 "Task Manager Tab".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the taskmanagertab.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 "Task Manager 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 "Task Manager Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.taskmanagertab.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 "taskmanagertab.com", 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 taskmanagertab.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 "Task Manager 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 "Task Manager Tab", remove hxxp://taskmanagertab.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with taskmanagertab.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 taskmanagertab.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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