How to remove the Search by QuickNewtab browser hijacker?

What is Search by QuickNewtab?

Search by QuickNewtab is the name of a browser hijacker. It operates by making changes to browser settings - in order to promote the quicknewtab.com fake search engine. The Search by QuickNewtab rogue browser extension likely has data tracking abilities, as such functionalities are common for this type of software.

Due to the questionable techniques used to distribute browser hijackers, they are also classified as PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Applications).

Browser hijackers assign fake web searcher addresses as browsers' default search engine, new tab/window, and homepage URLs. Search by QuickNewtab makes these alterations to browsers as well.

Hence, with this browser hijacker installed: new browser tabs/windows opened and web searches performed via the URL bar - redirect to quicknewtab.com. Illegitimate search engines are usually unable to provide search results, so they redirect or cause redirection chains leading to Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other genuine ones.

Quicknewtab.com is not an exception to this, yet where this web searcher redirects to - is determined by users' geolocations. This search engine has been observed redirecting both to Google (google.com) and (via my-search.com and trafficjunction.com to) Bing (bing.com).

Furthermore, browser hijackers can reset any changes users attempt to make to their browsers. Another way this software can ensure persistence is by restricting or denying access to the browser's settings.

Therefore, it is impossible to restore a hijacked browser without removing the software affecting it. As mentioned in the introduction, most browser hijackers can track data.

They record browsing activity (visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, etc.) and collect vulnerable data extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations, personally identifiable details, etc.). The collected information is then monetized by being shared with and/or sold 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 strongly advised to remove all dubious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	Search by QuickNewtab
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Search by QuickNewtab
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.
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Media Tab, DigitalPDFConverterSearch, Pick Color, Set Colors - are some examples of browser hijackers. They seldom appear suspect; this software tends to look legitimate and innocuous.

Users are lured into download/installation with offers of various "handy" features. However, the promised functions are usually nonoperational. This applies to practically all PUAs.

The sole purpose of unwanted apps is to generate revenue for the developers; hence, functionality and user safety are irrelevant. PUAs are designed to modify browsers, cause redirects, deliver intrusive advertisement campaigns (adware), and collect personal and sensitive data.

How did Search by QuickNewtab install on my computer?

Select PUAs (e.g., Search by QuickNewtab) have "official" promotional/download sites. These applications are also spread via download/installation setups of other programs. "Bundling" is the name of this false marketing method - packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions.

By rushing through download/installation processes (e.g., skipping steps and sections, using pre-set options, etc.) - users risk unintentionally allowing bundled content into their devices. Intrusive advertisements proliferate PUAs as well. Once clicked on, the adverts can execute scripts to download/install this software stealthily.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

It is important to always research software products prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Furthermore, 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 - often offer bundled and/or hazardous content. When downloading/installing, it is recommended to read terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opt-out from supplementary apps, tools, features, and other additions.

Intrusive ads appear ordinary and harmless; however, they redirect to highly questionable webpages (e.g., gambling, pornography, adult-dating, etc.). Should users experience advertisements and/or redirects of this type, they must inspect their devices and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins.

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

Websites promoting the Search by QuickNewtab browser hijacker:

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

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

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Quick menu:

• What is Search by QuickNewtab?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Search by QuickNewtab application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Search by QuickNewtab 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.

Search by QuickNewtab 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, "Search by QuickNewtab"), 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.

Search by QuickNewtab 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 "Search by QuickNewtab" 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 "Search by QuickNewtab", 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 quicknewtab.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 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 "Search by QuickNewtab", 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 "Search by QuickNewtab", 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 quicknewtab.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 quicknewtab.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.

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 "Search by QuickNewtab".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the quicknewtab.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.

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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