How to remove Racing Cars Tab browser hijacker and the redirects it causes

What is Racing Cars Tab?

Racing Cars Tab is a rogue browser extension discovered by our research team during a routine inspection of untrustworthy websites. After investigating this piece of software, we learned that it is a browser hijacker promoting the racingcarstab.com fake search engine.

Racing Cars Tab browser hijacker overview

Browser-hijacking software modifies browsers by changing their homepages, default search engines, and new tab/window URLs to the address of promoted websites (typically, those of illegitimate search engines). Racing Cars Tab altered these settings to racingcarstab.com when installed onto our test machine. Therefore, new browser tabs/windows opened and web searches performed via the URL bar – resulted in redirects to the racingcarstab.com site.

It is pertinent to mention that browser hijackers may be capable of denying access to removal-related settings and/or undoing user-made changes. Racing Cars Tab is not an exception since it also uses persistence-ensuring techniques.

Fake search engines usually cannot provide search results, so they redirect to genuine ones. Racingcarstab.com redirected to Bing (bing.com) at the time of research. However, it might land elsewhere since redirects can be dictated by various factors (e.g., user geolocation, etc.).

Furthermore, Racing Cars Tab likely spies on users' browsing activity. Browser hijackers typically collect the following data: URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related information, and so forth. The gathered data can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

To summarize, the presence of software like Racing Cars Tab on devices may lead to system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Racing Cars Tab
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Racing Cars Tab
Promoted URL	racingcarstab.com
Detection Names (racingcarstab.com)	alphaMountain.ai (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (racingcarstab.com)	172.67.219.207
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).
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.

Browser hijacker examples

We have analyzed thousands of browser hijackers; Nature NewTab Extension, Nautica, SearchIT New Tab, and Worldwide Clock Extension are merely some examples of our newest finds.

Browser-hijacking software seldom appears immediately suspicious. It tends to look ordinary and innocuous. Users are enticed into download/installation with promises of "handy" features, which are rarely operational. Even if the functionalities work as advertised – that is not proof of the software's legitimacy or safety.

How did Racing Cars Tab install on my computer?

We obtained Racing Cars Tab from its "official" promotional webpage. In addition to such pages, browser hijackers are endorsed by scam websites. Users typically enter these deceptive webpages via redirects caused by mistyped URLs, sites that use rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, intrusive ads, or installed adware.

Browser-hijacking software is also proliferated using the "bundling" marketing technique – packing regular program installers with unwanted/malicious additions. Downloading from dubious sources (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations – increase the risk of inadvertently permitting bundled content into the device.

Intrusive advertisements are used to spread browser hijackers as well. Once clicked on, some of these adverts can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We recommend researching software and downloading it from official/verified channels. Installation must be treated with caution, e.g., by reading terms, studying possible options, using the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings, and opting out of supplementary apps, extensions, features, etc.

Another recommendation is to be careful when browsing since fake and malicious content usually appears harmless. For example, intrusive advertisements may look legitimate yet redirect to highly questionable websites (e.g., adult dating, pornography, gambling, etc.).

In case of encounters with such ads/redirects, check the device and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Racing Cars Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Permissions asked by Racing Cars Tab browser hijacker:

Website promoting Racing Cars Tab browser hijacker:

Appearance of racingcarstab.com redirecting to the Bing search engine (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:
▼ 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 Racing Cars Tab?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Racing Cars Tab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove racingcarstab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove racingcarstab.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Racing Cars 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Racing Cars 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 "Racing Cars Tab" and other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Racing Cars Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.racingcarstab.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 "racingcarstab.com", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the racingcarstab.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 extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate "Racing Cars Tab", as well as all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable "Racing Cars Tab", remove hxxp://racingcarstab.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 "Accept the Risk and Continue".

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 racingcarstab.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 racingcarstab.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 to visit racingcarstab.com website?

Through redirects to websites like racingcarstab.com – cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) generate revenue.

Is visiting racingcarstab.com a threat to my privacy?

Most likely, yes. Sites like racingcarstab.com typically collect visitor data.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are most commonly spread through dubious download channels (e.g., freeware and third-party sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.), bundled installers, online scams, malvertising, and spam browser notifications.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Racing Cars Tab browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate all the browser-hijacking apps present. It must be mentioned that manual removal (unaided by security software) might be ineffective, especially when multiple browser hijackers are present. Since after one is removed – the others may simply reinstall it. What is more, browser-hijacking software might prevent access to removal-related settings and/or undo user-made changes. Hence, browser hijackers must be eliminated thoroughly and all at once.

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