How to remove Art Tab browser extension
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is Art Tab?
Our analysis of the Art Tab application has revealed that it is a browser extension that has been created to hijack web browsers. The app forcibly pushes a fake search engine (srchinart.com) by altering the settings of the browser. Additionally, Art Tab has the ability to read certain data.
Art Tab browser hijacker overview
Art Tab changes the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to srchinart.com, thereby forcing users to use this fake search engine to browse the Internet. We have tested srchinart.com and discovered that it presents results generated by bing.com, a reputable search engine.
It is important to note that using shady search engines can lead to visiting untrustworthy websites. These search engines can promote various scams, malicious sites, potentially dangerous applications, and more. Therefore, it is highly recommended to avoid using them.
Moreover, Art Tab has the ability to detect the user's physical location and access a list of frequently visited websites. This information may be used for marketing purposes, sold to third parties, or exploited in other ways, which can pose risks to online privacy.
| Name | Art Tab |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Art Tab |
| Supposed Functionality | Customized homepage |
| Promoted URL | srchinart.com |
| Detection Names | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (srchinart.com) | 13.249.85.23 |
| 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
The purpose of browser hijackers is to promote various search engines (both legitimate and untrustworthy ones). Not all apps of this type alter the settings of web browsers to promote search engines. Usually, users cannot remove unwanted search engines from the settings of their web browsers while browser-hijacking apps are present.
Examples of browser hijackers are Racing Cars Tab, Nature NewTab Extension, and Worldwide Clock Extension.
How browser hijackers are distributed?
Browser hijackers often come bundled with other software that users download from the Internet. They are included as an option in the installation process and are automatically installed unless users uncheck certain boxes or decline unwanted installations.
Also, browser hijackers are distributed through fake software update notifications, shady websites, and untrustworthy web pages. In most cases, users download and install/add browser hijackers inadvertently.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Download apps (and files) from trustworthy sources such as official websites and stores. Avoid downloading from third-party sources, unofficial pages, P2P networks, and other similar sources. Be cautious when clicking on ads on suspicious pages, and do not permit these pages to send notifications.
Before completing downloads and installations, carefully inspect downloaders and installers. Ensure that there are no unwanted apps included and deselect them if necessary. If your computer is already infected with Art Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Srchinart.com redirects to bing.com (GIF):
Permissions asked by Art Tab browser hijacker:
Website promoting Art Tab browser hijacker:
Another website promoting Art Tab:
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 Art Tab?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Art Tab application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Art Tab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove srchinart.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove srchinart.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Art 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 (which cause browser redirects to the srchinart.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Art 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 "Art 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 "Art Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.srchinart.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 "srchinart.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 srchinart.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 "Art 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 "Art Tab", remove hxxp://srchinart.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 srchinart.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 srchinart.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 srchinart.com website?
Fake search engines are designed to show more ads or promote certain products and services, generating income for their creators. Also, a higher number of visitors means more revenue.
Is visiting srchinart.com a threat to my privacy?
It can be said that using fake search engines can pose a threat to privacy since they can be designed to gather a variety of information about their users.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are frequently promoted/distributed using social engineering techniques like pop-up ads, shady browser notifications, and software bundles.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Art Tab browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate all browser-hijacking applications. It is recommended to remove apps of this type using specialized software. Pretty often, apps of this type can reinstall one another (when more than one of them is present). In such cases, manual removal becomes a difficult task.
Outstanding!
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