How to remove Newtab plus browser hijacker?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Newtab plus?
A browser hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA) that forces users to use a fake search engine (visit its address). It hijacks a browser by changing its settings. Newtab plus is designed to promote the quicknewtab.com address, a fake search engine. This app is a PUA because users rarely download, install browser hijackers knowingly.
Newtab plus in detail
Usually, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by changing settings such as the address of a default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Also, apps of this type do not allow to revert those changes unless users uninstall them. Newtab plus changes the aforementioned settings to quicknewtab.com.
Quicknewtab.com is a fake search engine designed to show results generated by other search engines (e.g., Google, Bing). It is noteworthy that fake search engines like quicknewtab.com can generate misleading results (include links to questionable, potentially malicious websites in their results). Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to use fake search engines.
Another common problem with apps like Newtab plus is that they collect geolocations, addresses of visited websites, IP addresses, and other details related to browsing habits. In some cases, browser hijackers gather personal information, for example, passwords, credit card details.
It is not safe to have browser hijackers designed to collect personal information installed on browsers (or computers). It is possible that gathered information could be sold to third parties, used to steal identities, online accounts, make fraudulent purchases, transactions, and so on.
| Name | Newtab plus |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Newtab plus |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| 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. |
Browser hijackers in general
To summarize, a browser hijacker is a type of app designed to promote fake search engine (its address) by making changes in web browser's settings. Quite often, it collects various information about its users too. More couple of examples of other browser hijackers are GetSearchConverters, SuperVideoSearch, and Movie Bar.
How did Newtab plus install on my computer?
It is very common that potentially unwanted applications are distributed by bundling them together with other programs. In other words, by including PUAs in downloaders, installers for other programs as optional offers. Typically, users deselect additionally included apps via available options.
Usually, unwanted offers can be opted out via "Custom", "Advanced", or similar settings, or by unticking ticked checkboxes. When users leave those settings unchanged, bundled applications get permission to be downloaded and installed alongside desired programs. As a rule, potentially unwanted apps usually are bundled with free programs.
Sometimes users cause unexpected downloads, installations by clicking deceptive advertisements. There are advertisements that can cause downloads, installations by running certain scripts. Typically, advertisements of this type do not appear on legitimate websites.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
It is advisable to download software, files only from official, trustworthy websites and use direct links. Third-party downloaders, installers, Peer-to-Peer networks (like torrent clients, eMule), unofficial pages, etc., can be used to trick users into downloading and installing unwanted applications or even malware.
Also, it is recommended not to finish downloads and installations without checking whether downloaders, installers have "Advanced", "Custom" or other settings that could be used to decline unwanted offers. Ads on shady pages should not be clicked as well - they can be designed to open other unreliable pages or install PUAs.
Any unwanted extensions, add-ons, or plug-ins that are installed on a browser should be removed. Software of this kind that is installed on the operating system should be uninstalled too. If your computer is already infected with Newtab plus, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Quicknewtab.com redirects to google.com (GIF):
Website promoting Newtab plus browser hijacker:
Notification saying that Newtab plus can read browsing history and change search settings:
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Newtab plus?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Newtab plus application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Newtab plus 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.
Newtab plus 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, "Newtab plus"), 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.
Newtab plus 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 "Newtab plus" 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 "Newtab plus", 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 "Newtab plus", 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 "Newtab plus", 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.
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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