How to remove the Quick Button browser hijacker?

What is Quick Button?

Quick Button is a piece of rogue software, which operates by promoting the quicknewtab.com fake search engine through modifications to browser settings. Due to this behavior, it is classified as a browser hijacker.

Additionally, Quick Button spies on users' browsing habits, and that makes it a serious privacy concern. Since most users download/install browser hijackers unintentionally, they are also categorized as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

Browser hijackers primarily target browsers with large user bases. Following successful infiltration, they reassign browsers' new tab/window, homepage, and default search engine URLs - to fake web searcher addresses (e.g., quicknewtab.com).

For example, with Quick Button installed: every new browser tab/window opened and search query typed into the URL bar - redirect to the quicknewtab.com search engine. Illegitimate web searchers usually cannot generate search results, so they redirect to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other genuine search engines.

This is true of quicknewtab.com as well, yet where it redirects to - depends on users' geolocations. At the time of research, quicknewtab.com either redirected straight to Google (google.com) or through my-search.com to Bing (bing.com).

Furthermore, browser hijackers can reset any changes users try to make to their browsers, if they permit access to the browser settings at all. Therefore, restoring a hijacked browser is impossible without removing the software affecting it.

What is more, Quick Button has data tracking abilities, which is typical of browser hijackers. Targeted information includes (but is not limited to): visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, IP addresses/ geolocations, personally identifiable details, etc.

Browser hijacker developers monetize the collected data by sharing it with and/or selling it to third-parties (potentially, cyber criminals). To summarize, the presence of data-tracking software on devices can lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Therefore, to ensure device integrity and user privacy, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	Quick Button
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Quick Button
Promoted URL	quicknewtab.com
Serving IP Address (quicknewtab.com)	104.21.40.106
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. ▼ 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.

ConverterSearchBox, VIPSportSearch, Note Mini - are a few examples of browser hijackers. They appear ordinary and innocuous.

Users are lured into download/installation with offers of "handy" features. However, the promised functions are seldom operational.

This applies to nearly all PUAs. The sole goal of unwanted apps is to generate revenue at user expense. PUAs are designed to hijack browsers, cause redirects, run intrusive advertisement campaigns (adware), and collect vulnerable and private data.

How did Quick Button install on my computer?

Some PUAs (e.g., Quick Button) have "official" promotional/download webpages. These applications can be downloaded/installed together with other programs.

This false marketing tactic of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions - is termed "bundling". Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., ignored terms, used "Easy/Express" settings, etc.) increase the risk of inadvertently allowing bundled content into the system.

Intrusive adverts proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the ads can execute scripts to make stealthy downloads/installations.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is important to always research software prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Additionally, only official and verified download channels must be used.

Since untrustworthy sources, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - commonly offer harmful and bundled content. When downloading/installing, it is advised to read terms, study all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt-out from additional apps, tools, functions, etc.

It is also recommended to exercise caution when browsing. Intrusive advertisements appear ordinary; however, they redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and so on). In case of encounters with ads and/or redirects of this kind, the system must be checked and all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - removed from it immediately.

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

Website promoting Quick Button browser hijacker:

Appearance of quicknewtab.com redirecting to the Google search engine (GIF):

Appearance of quicknewtab.com redirecting (via my-search.com) to the Bing search engine (GIF):

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

Quick Button 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, "Quick Button"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Quick Button browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

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 "Quick Button" 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 "Quick Button" (or simply "Quick"), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.quicknewtab.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 "quicknewtab.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 quick button 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Quick Button", 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 "Quick Button", remove hxxp://quicknewtab.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 quick button 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 quick button 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.

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://quicknewtab.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 "Quick Button".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the quick button 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.

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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on quick button redirect or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion