How to remove Save Turtle Tab browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is Save Turtle Tab?
While analyzing the app, we found that Save Turtle Tab (despite offering turtle-themed wallpapers for the homepage) operates as a browser hijacker. Once added to a browser, the Save Turtle Tab extension modifies the settings to promote a counterfeit search engine.
Save Turtle Tab browser hijacker overview
Save Turtle Tab is crafted to endorse saveturtletab.com by making it as the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page. Essentially, this means that Save Turtle Tab adjusts the browser's settings, ensuring that users are forced to visit saveturtletab.com whenever they open the browser or a new tab.
When users perform searches using the browser's search function, they are directed through saveturtletab.com, which subsequently redirects them to google.com. Saveturtletab.com itself does not offer search results. Instead, users are presented with Google search results, indicating that saveturtletab.com functions as a fake search engine.
Using fake search engines like saveturtletab.com poses significant risks to user privacy and security. These platforms often lack transparency and reliability, manipulating search results and potentially collecting user data without consent. This data collection can lead to privacy breaches and expose users to targeted advertising or even more malicious activities.
Moreover, fake search engines may redirect users to harmful websites or display deceptive ads, compromising their online safety and overall browsing experience. Therefore, it is essential to avoid using such platforms to protect personal information and maintain a secure online environment.
| Name | Save Turtle Tab |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Save Turtle Tab |
| Supposed Functionality | Customized homepage |
| Promoted URL | saveturtletab.com |
| Detection Names (saveturtletab.com) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (saveturtletab.com) | 104.21.46.112 |
| 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. |
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Save Turtle Tab may offer appealing turtle wallpapers for users' browsers, its underlying function as a browser hijacker raises significant concerns. This extension compromises user preferences and introduces potential privacy and security risks by promoting saveturtletab.com.
Given the deceptive nature of fake search engines and their potential to manipulate search results and collect user data, it is advisable to avoid using Save Turtle Tab and similar browser hijackers to safeguard online privacy and maintain a secure browsing experience.
Examples of other browser hijackers are Pyropage, Mycool Search, and Your Search Bar.
How did Save Turtle Tab install on my computer?
Browser hijackers often accompany other software installations, especially free programs. Users may unknowingly install them if they do not carefully review installation options, like those in "Advanced" or "Custom" settings, or deselect pre-checked boxes.
Furthermore, these apps are often disguised as legitimate tools, concealing their hijacking features. Additionally, browser hijacking can occur via deceptive ads, fake updates, downloads from third-party downloaders, peer-to-peer networks, unofficial app stores, etc.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
Download apps and files from reliable sources (official websites and app stores) and pay close attention to installation settings to avoid accidentally adding or installing extra applications. Avoid interacting with links, buttons, pop-ups, ads, and similar elements on suspicious pages, and do not allow such pages to send notifications.
Keep your operating system and applications up to date. Have a reputable security tool installed on your computer and perform system scans regularly to remove potentially unwanted software. If your computer is already infected with Save Turtle Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Saveturtletab.com redirects to google.com (GIF):
Permissions asked by Save Turtle Tab browser hijacker:
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 Save Turtle Tab?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Save Turtle Tab application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove Save Turtle Tab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove saveturtletab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove saveturtletab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Save Turtle 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 saveturtletab.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Save Turtle Tab browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove Save Turtle Tab browser hijacker using Combo Cleaner:
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate "Save Turtle 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 "Save Turtle Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.saveturtletab.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 "saveturtletab.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 saveturtletab.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 "Save Turtle 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 "Save Turtle Tab", remove hxxp://saveturtletab.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 saveturtletab.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 saveturtletab.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 saveturtletab.com website?
The aim of directing users to visit saveturtletab.com is likely to generate traffic and increase visibility for the website, potentially resulting in financial gains for its operators.
Is visiting saveturtletab.com a threat to my privacy?
Yes, visiting saveturtletab.com could pose a threat to your privacy. Such websites may track your browsing activities and collect personal information without your consent.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
A browser hijacker may have infiltrated your computer or browser through the installation of software bundled with unwanted apps, malicious links or ads, files obtained from untrustworthy sources, shady websites, P2P networks, notifications from unreliable pages, etc.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Save Turtle Tab browser hijacker?
Combo Cleaner scans and removes browser hijackers. Manual removal is not always perfect, especially with hijackers capable of reinstalling each other, so removing all apps of this type at once is necessary.
Outstanding!
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