How to remove Streaming Lab Tab from browsers
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Streaming Lab Tab?
Streaming Lab Tab is classified as a browser hijacker, since it changes certain browser settings to streaming-lab.com (the address of a fake search engine). It is also likely to gather browsing-related information.
Note that users often download and install browser hijackers unintentionally and, therefore, programs such as Streaming Lab Tab are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
Users who have Streaming Lab Tab installed on their browsers are forced to visit streaming-lab.com when they open a browser, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar, since this app changes browser settings such as the address of the homepage, new tab and default search engine to streaming-lab.com (the address of the fake search engine).
When users attempt to search using this site, it simply redirects them to search.yahoo.com and displays results generated by Yahoo. I.e., streaming-lab.com does not generate any unique search results. To remove it from browser settings, Streaming Lab Tab must first be uninstalled, since browser hijackers prevent users from modifying the settings that they have changed.
This is not the only reason to uninstall Streaming Lab Tab and other installed browser hijackers. Commonly, apps of this type collect browsing data such as IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of opened/visited pages, entered search queries, etc.
Furthermore, the developers misuse gathered data to generate revenue by selling it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or in other ways. It is possible that a browser hijacker may be designed to record personal, sensitive information as well.
With these apps installed, users risk becoming victims of identity theft, and experiencing problems relating to online privacy and browsing safety, or other problems such as identity theft. Therefore, browser hijackers such as Streaming Lab Tab should never be downloaded or installed.
Name | Streaming Lab Tab |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
Browser Extension(s) | Streaming Lab Tab |
Supposed Functionality | This app supposedly improves the browsing experience. |
Promoted URL | streaming-lab.com |
Serving IP Address (streaming-lab.com) | 104.24.107.160 |
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. |
Quite often browser hijackers are advertised as useful, they supposedly improve web browsing experience, include some features, etc, however, in most cases they are designed only to change browser settings and/or collect various user-system information.
Therefore, they are useless and can cause their users various issues. If an app of this type is installed on the browser and/or computer, then it should be uninstalled from it immediately. More examples of browser hijackers are Now News Online, MyNewsFree and Easy Print Recipes.
How did Streaming Lab Tab install on my computer?
PUAs are often distributed by including them into the download/installation setups of other, mainly free, programs. This distribution method is known as "bundling". They are included as 'additional offers', which can be declined through settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and "Manual".
Many users fail to check and change these settings when they download and/or install their programs, thereby allowing PUAs to infiltrate. PUAs are also downloaded/installed when people click deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Files and programs should not be downloaded from unofficial sites, via third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks (e.g., torrent clients, eMule), etc. Commonly, these are used to distribute PUAs and, in some cases, malicious apps. The same applies to third party installers. The safest way to download files and programs is to use official websites and direct links.
Check all settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced", and decline offers to download or install potentially unwanted applications, before completing the process.
Do not click advertisements that appear on untrusted websites (e.g., on pages relating to pornography, gambling, adult dating), since they can open other untrusted, potentially malicious websites or even cause download/installation of unwanted apps. Remove any unwanted, suspicious apps (extensions, plug-ins, add-ons) that are already installed on the browser.
The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Streaming Lab Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
streaming-lab.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):
Notification stating that Streaming Lab Tab can read and change certain data:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Streaming Lab Tab?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Streaming Lab Tab application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove streaming-lab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Streaming Lab Tab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove streaming-lab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove streaming-lab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Streaming Lab 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, "Streaming Lab Tab"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the streaming-lab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Streaming Lab 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://streaming-lab.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 "Streaming Lab Tab".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the streaming-lab.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 "Streaming Lab 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 "Streaming Lab Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.streaming-lab.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 "streaming-lab.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 streaming-lab.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 "Streaming Lab 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 "Streaming Lab Tab", remove hxxp://streaming-lab.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 streaming-lab.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 streaming-lab.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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