How to remove favtab.com from a browser?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is favtab.com?
Favtab.com is both the address of a fake search engine and the name of a browser hijacker used to promote that address. Most users download and install browser hijackers inadvertently. Thus, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs). Apps of this type hijack browsers by changing their settings.
favtab.com in detail
Browser hijackers change the homepage, default search engine, and new tab page. This particular browser hijacker changes those settings (addresses) to favtab.com. Favtab.com redirects users to bing.com, google.com, and possibly other addresses. This search engine shows results generated by other search engines.
Fake search engines are useless and can be used to promote potentially malicious pages. Therefore, it is strongly recommended not to use them. Typically, users cannot remove a fake search engine from the settings of a browser until a browser hijacker is removed. A removal guide for browser hijackers/fake search engines is provided below.
| Name | favtab.com |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | favtab.com, unitab.me |
| Supposed Functionality | Improved browsing experience |
| Promoted URL | favtab.com |
| Detection Names | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| 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
Browser hijackers can be capable of accessing and collecting various information. That information could be misused for malicious purposes or sold to third parties. A couple of examples of other apps that fall into the category of browser hijackers are My Togo, HistCleaner, and Key Omni.
How did favtab.com install on my computer?
Users download and install browser hijackers by clicking certain advertisements, together with other programs, or through fake installers downloaded from deceptive, untrustworthy web pages. Advertisements cause unwanted downloads or installations when they are designed to execute certain scripts.
Downloaders and installers used to distribute PUAs have "Custom", "Advanced", or other settings. Users download or install PUAs alongside other programs when they do not change those settings (when they do not deselect optional downloads or installations).
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Downloaders and installers with ticked checkboxes, "Custom" and "Advanced", or similar settings should be checked for optional downloads or installations. Programs (and files) should be downloaded only from official websites and via direct links.
Advertisements appearing questionable sites have on them should not be clicked as well. Those ads can be used to trick users into causing unwanted downloads, installations. If your computer is already infected with favtab.com, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Favtab.com redirects to bing.com (GIF):
Website promoting favtab.com browser hijacker:
Browser notification saying that favtab.com can read and change data, open downloaded files, manage downloads:
A deceptive third-party website promoting favtab.com browser hijacker:
Screenshot of another browser-hijacking extension (unitab.me) promoting favtab.com website:
Screenshot of a website promoting the unitab.me extension:
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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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 favtab.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall favtab.com application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove favtab.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove favtab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove favtab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
favtab.com 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, "favtab.com"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the favtab.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
favtab.com 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 "favtab.com" 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 "favtab.com", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.favtab.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 "favtab.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 favtab.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 "favtab.com", 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 "favtab.com", remove hxxp://favtab.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 favtab.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 favtab.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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit favtab.com website?
Individuals behind favtab.com make money/earn revenue through website traffic.
Is visiting favtab.com a threat to my privacy?
It could be. Web pages (and applications) like favtab.com can be designed to collect various information. Gathered data could be misused for malicious purposes, sold to third parties.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
A big part of browser hijackers is distributed using social engineering tactics, like browser notifications, shady advertisements. They also are distributed through downloaders or installers for other programs (by bundling them together).
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove favtab.com browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate favtab.com or other existing browser hijackers. When multiple apps of this type are present, they can reinstall one another. Thus, users cannot remove them manually. Also, browser hijackers can prevent users from changing the affected settings.
Outstanding!
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