How to remove greentabs.net from a hijacked browser?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of page is greentabs.net?
Greentabs.net is a fake search engine that does not generate its own search results. Usually, such search engines are promoted through browser-hijacking applications. A big part of these apps gets installed by users accidentally. Thus, browser hijackers fall into the category of potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
Greentabs.net in detail
Greentabs.net redirects users to bing.com - it displays search results generated by Bing, a legitimate search engine. Fake search engines can show results generated by untrustworthy search engines or redirect users to shady pages. It is strongly recommended not to use them.
Pretty often, users cannot remove a fake search engine (its address) from the settings of a hijacked browser without eliminating a browser hijacker. A removal guide for fake search engines and browser-hijacking PUAs can be found below.
| Name | greentabs.net browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Supposed Functionality | Accurate search results |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
| Detection Names (greentabs.net) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| 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. |
More details about browser hijackers and fake search engines
Typically, browser hijackers change the default search engine, homepage and (or) new tab page. Apps of this type (and fake search engines) can be designed to collect information about their users. More examples of fake search engines are happyquokka.xyz, rgoodsearch.online, and ginmule.xyz.
How a browser hijacker got installed on my computer?
Most of the browser-hijacking apps get installed through installers for other programs, certain advertisements, fake installers. Users install them alongside other programs when they install those programs without changing "Advanced", "Custom", or other settings available in their installers.
In other cases, users install PUAs by clicking on ads designed to run certain scripts or using fake installers downloaded from deceptive (or untrustworthy in another way) pages.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Download files and apps from trustworthy, official websites and via direct links. Deselect unwanted downloads or installations before downloading or installing programs bundled with PUAs. Do not click on ads that questionable web pages have on them.
If your computer is already infected with browser hijackers, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate it.
Greentabs.net redirects to bing.com (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:
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Quick menu:
- What is greentabs.net?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove greentabs.net browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove greentabs.net homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove greentabs.net redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
greentabs.net redirect 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the greentabs.net website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
greentabs.net redirect 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 all 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, look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.greentabs.net) 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 "greentabs.net" 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 greentabs.net browser hijacker, 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 all 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 remove hxxp://greentabs.net 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 greentabs.net browser hijacker 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 greentabs.net browser hijacker, 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 greentabs.net website?
The earnings of the greentabs.net page creators depend on the number its visitors.
Is visiting greentabs.net a threat to my privacy?
It could be a threat since web pages like greentabs.net could be designed to collect various information about their visitors.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Lots of browser hijackers are distributed using social engineering tactics like untrustworthy browser notifications, intrusive advertisements. It is also common for them to be bundled with other programs (included in downloaders and installers as optional downloads or installations).
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate existing browser-hijacking apps. It is important to mention that it may not be easy to remove apps of this type when several of them are present. They can be capable of reinstalling one another. All of these apps have to be removed at once.
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