How to remove Speak Text browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on
What kind of application is Speak Text?
During our analysis of Speak Text, we learned that it functions as a browser hijacker that promotes search.speak-text-tab.com, a fake search engine. Speak Text hijacks a web browser by modifying its settings. In addition, Speak Text can read various data. Thus, it is recommended to avoid adding this app to a browser.
Speak Text browser hijacker overview
Once installed, Speak Text alters the browser's settings, such as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page, to redirect the user to a fake search engine, search.speak-text-tab.com. Search.speak-text-tab.com appears to be a legitimate search engine but is actually fake.
When users use search.speak-text-tab.com, they are redirected to bing.com, which is a legitimate search engine. However, the fake search engine may display ads or sponsored links that are not relevant to the user's search query or even contain malicious content.
Speak Text may also collect a variety of data from a web browser and browsing activity, including browsing history, search queries, IP address, and more. This information can be used for various purposes, such as displaying targeted ads or selling your data to third parties.
| Name | Speak Text |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Speak Text |
| Supposed Functionality | Converting text to speech |
| Promoted URL | search.speak-text-tab.com |
| Detection Names (search.speak-text-tab.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (search.speak-text-tab.com) | 54.189.235.93 |
| 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
Many browser hijackers promote fake search engines that appear to be legitimate but are actually designed to display ads and (or) collect data. They achieve it by changing the settings of affected browsers. Browser hijackers are often installed without the user's knowledge or consent.
Examples of different browser-hijacking apps are Sports Engine, Flash-Search, and Nature Wallpapers.
How did Speak Text install on my computer?
Speak Text can be downloaded from its official website. However, a big part of browser-hijacking apps is distributed and promoted using deceptive methods. These methods include software bundling, malicious pop-up ads, and fake software updates.
In software bundling, hijackers are packaged with legitimate software and get installed alongside it when users do not deselect optional installations. Usually, it happens when users leave "Advanced", "Custom", or similar settings unchanged.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Be cautious when downloading software or clicking on links from unfamiliar sources. Always download software from reputable websites and avoid clicking pop-up ads or suspicious links. Review downloaders and installers for additionally included apps and deselect undesired ones. Read app reviews before downloading and installing/adding apps.
If your computer is already infected with Speak Text, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Search.speak-text-tab.com redirects to bing.com (GIF):
Appearance of search.speak-text-tab.com:
Permissions asked by Speak Text browser hijacker:
Website promoting Speak Text browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Speak Text?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Speak Text application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Speak Text browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove search.speak-text-tab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove search.speak-text-tab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Speak Text 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 search.speak-text-tab.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Speak Text 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 "Speak Text" 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 "Speak Text", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.speak-text-tab.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 "search.speak-text-tab.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 search.speak-text-tab.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 "Speak Text", 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 "Speak Text", remove hxxp://search.speak-text-tab.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 search.speak-text-tab.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 search.speak-text-tab.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 search.speak-text-tab.com website?
The revenue earned by the creators of sportengine.info is directly proportional to the traffic on their website. Search.speak-text-tab.com generates more revenue with an increase in its user base.
Is visiting search.speak-text-tab.com a threat to my privacy?
There is a potential privacy risk associated with visiting search.speak-text-tab.com. Fake search engines often have the capability to gather personal information, search history, browsing activity, and other types of data.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers can be disseminated through multiple methods, such as software bundling, deceptive software updates, suspicious websites, links, ads on untrustworthy pages, and so on.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Speak Text browser hijacker?
Combo Cleaner is capable of scanning your computer and eliminating any browser-hijacking applications. Manual removal of such applications may not always be effective. The manual process of removing multiple browser hijackers can be challenging, particularly when they can reinstall each other.
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