How to remove the Media Tab browser hijacker?

What is Media Tab?

Media Tab is a rogue browser extension, classified as a browser hijacker. It operates by promoting (i.e., causing redirections to) the mediatab.club fake search engine. Additionally, Media Tab spies on users' browsing activity.

Since most users download/install browser hijackers inadvertently, they are also deemed to be PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

Browser hijackers assign fake web searcher addresses (e.g., mediatab.club) as browsers' default search engine, homepage, and new tab/window URLs. These alterations may appear minor, yet they seriously affect the browser experience.

To elaborate, with Media Tab installed: new browser tabs/windows opened and search queries typed into the URL bar - redirect to the mediatab.club search engine. Illegitimate web searchers usually cannot provide search results, so they tend to redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) genuine search engines.

This applies to mediatab.club as well; it redirects to the Bing (bing.com) search engine. Furthermore, undoing the modifications made by browser hijackers is not as easy as it may seem.

This software can restrict or deny access to the affected browser's settings. Alternatively, browser hijackers can reset any changes users try to make to their browsers.

Therefore, recovering a browser is impossible without removing the software hijacking it. What is more, Media Tab has data tracking abilities, which is typical of browser hijackers.

They monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and gather sensitive information inferred from it (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 browsers/systems can lead to severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. It is highly recommended to eliminate all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	Media Tab
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Media Tab
Promoted URL	mediatab.club
Serving IP Address (mediatab.club)	172.67.198.140
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.

Pick Color, Simple Note, Food Tab, and MovieSearchZilla are a few examples of browser hijackers. They appear legitimate and offer various "handy" features. However, despite how good the advertised functionalities may sound - they are rarely operational.

In fact, this is true of practically all PUAs. Functionality and user safety are irrelevant, as the only aim of unwanted apps is to generate revenue for the developers. PUAs are designed to hijack browsers, cause redirects, deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns (adware), and collect private data.

How did Media Tab install on my computer?

Some PUAs (e.g., Media Tab) have "official" promotional/download webpages. These applications are also spread through downloaders/installers of other programs.

This deceptive marketing technique of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions - is called "bundling". The presence of undesirable supplements is often hidden within the "Custom/Advanced" download/installation settings or left entirely unmentioned.

Rushed download/installation processes (e.g., ignored terms, used "Easy/Express" settings, etc.) increase the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the device. Intrusive advertisements are used to proliferate PUAs as well. Upon being clicked, the ads can execute scripts to make downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is recommended to research software products before download/installation and/or purchase. Additionally, all downloads must be done from official and verified sources.

Untrustworthy download channels, e.g., unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders - commonly offer bundled and/or dangerous content.

When downloading/installing, it is advised to read terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and opt-out from additional apps, tools, functions, etc. Intrusive adverts appear ordinary and harmless; however, they redirect to various unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., pornography, gambling, adult-dating, and so forth).

In case of encounters with such ads and/or redirects, the system must be checked and all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins detected - immediately removed from it. If your computer is already infected with Media Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Media Tab browser hijacker asking for various permissions:

Website promoting Media Tab browser hijacker:

Appearance of mediatab.club redirecting to the Bing search engine (GIF):

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

Media 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, "Media Tab"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Media Tab 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 "Media 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 "Media Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.mediatab.club) 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 "mediatab.club", 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 mediatab.club 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 "Media 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 "Media Tab", remove hxxp://mediatab.club 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 mediatab.club 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 mediatab.club 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://mediatab.club 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 "Media Tab".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the mediatab.club 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.

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