How to eliminate the Cat Tab HD browser hijacker

What kind of software is Cat Tab HD?

Cat Tab HD is an extension that promises to display feline-themed browser wallpapers. Upon examination, we determined that it is a browser hijacker. Cat Tab HD makes changes to browser settings in order to promote (via redirects) thecattab.com fake search engine. Additionally, this browser extension has data-tracking abilities.

Cat Tab HD browser hijacker overview

Cat Tab HD reassigns browsers' default search engines, homepages, and new tab/window URLs to thecattab.com website. Therefore, users are redirected to this page whenever they enter a search query into the URL bar or open a new browser tab/window.

It is noteworthy that browser-hijacking software often employs persistence-ensuring techniques, such as undoing user-made changes or denying access to removal-related settings – to complicate its removal and prevent browser recovery.

In most cases, fake search engines cannot generate search results and lead to legitimate Internet search sites for this purpose. Thecattab.com is not an exception; it redirects to the Google search engine (google.com). It is pertinent to mention that this webpage could land elsewhere, as factors like user geolocation may impact redirects.

Furthermore, Cat Tab HD has data-tracking functionalities, which are standard for browser hijackers. Targeted information may include: visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so forth. The collected information can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

In summary, the presence of software like Cat Tab HD on devices may result in system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Cat Tab HD
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Cat Tab HD
Supposed Functionality	Cat-themed browser wallpapers
Promoted URL	thecattab.com
Detection Names (thecattab.com)	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (thecattab.com)	172.67.142.96
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 investigated thousands of browser hijackers; Happy Dolphin Club, Purging Properly, and Save Turtle Tab are just a couple of examples.

Software within this classification typically appears ordinary and harmless. It entices users into download/installation by promising various functionalities. However, these functions seldom work as advertised, and in most cases – they do not work at all. It must be stressed that operational features do not prove a software's legitimacy or safety.

How did Cat Tab HD install on my computer?

Browser hijackers are endorsed on legitimate-looking promotional webpages and scam sites. Most visitors enter these pages via redirects generated by websites using rogue advertising networks, spam browser notifications, intrusive adverts, misspelled URLs, or installed adware.

Additionally, browser-hijacking software can be bundled with regular programs. Download from untrustworthy channels (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations (e.g., ignored terms, used "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.) – increase the risk of unintentionally permitting access for bundled content into the device.

Intrusive advertisements also spread browser hijackers. Once clicked on, some of these ads can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user permission.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

It is essential to research software and download it only from official/verified sources. We recommend treating installation processes with caution, e.g., by reading terms, investigating available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all additional apps, extensions, tools, and so on.

We advise being careful while browsing since fake and malicious online content usually appears legitimate and harmless. For example, while intrusive adverts may look innocuous – they redirect to unreliable and questionable websites (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.).

If you keep encountering advertisements and/or redirects of this kind, inspect the device and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Cat Tab HD, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Appearance of thecattab.com redirecting to the Google search engine (GIF):

Permissions asked by Cat Tab HD 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:
▼ 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 Cat Tab HD?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Cat Tab HD browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove thecattab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove thecattab.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Cat Tab HD 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.

Cat Tab HD 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 "Extensions" and click "Manage Extensions". Locate "Cat Tab HD" 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 "Cat Tab HD", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.thecattab.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 "thecattab.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 thecattab.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 "Cat Tab HD", 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 "Cat Tab HD", remove hxxp://thecattab.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 thecattab.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 thecattab.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 thecattab.com website?

Cyber criminals (e.g., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers, etc.) generate revenue through redirects to websites like thecattab.com.

Is visiting thecattab.com a threat to my privacy?

Most likely, yes. Sites like thecattab.com usually gather (and sell) information about their visitors.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

The most widely used distribution methods include deceptive promotional webpages, bundled installation setups, online scams, freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive ads.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Cat Tab HD browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate detected browser-hijacking applications. Keep in mind that manual removal (unaided by security tools) might be ineffective, especially when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. Furthermore, removal-related settings might be inaccessible with this software present. Therefore, browser hijackers must be eliminated thoroughly and all at once.

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