How to remove the Cook Book Tab browser hijacker

What kind of software is Cook Book Tab?

Cook Book Tab was discovered by our researchers during a routine investigation of suspicious websites. This rogue browser extension promises easy access to favorite cooking recipes.

However, Cook Book Tab modifies browser settings to cause redirects that land on the cookbooktab.com fake search engine. This behavior is why Cook Book Tab is classed as a browser hijacker.

Cook Book Tab browser hijacker overview

Cook Book Tab makes changes to browsers' default search engine, homepages, and new tabs/windows. Therefore, users are forced to visit the cookbooktab.com search engine. It is considered fake as it cannot provide search results and redirects to the genuine Bing search engine (bing.com). However, this webpage may redirect elsewhere since this might be impacted by factors like user geolocation.

Browser hijackers often employ persistence-ensuring mechanisms, such as denying access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes – to prevent browser recovery.

Cook Book Tab likely spies on users' browsing activity. Browser-hijacking software typically targets: visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, browser cookies, log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so on. The gathered information can then be shared with and/or sold to third-parties.

To summarize, the presence of software like Cook Book Tab on devices can lead to system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Cook Book Tab
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Cook Book Tab
Supposed Functionality	Quick access to cooking recipes
Promoted URL	cookbooktab.com
Detection Names (cookbooktab.com)	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (cookbooktab.com)	104.21.11.33
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; Music New Tab, Classical Music New Tab, and Dogs Humans Facts are merely a couple of examples.

Software within this classification usually appears legitimate and harmless. Users may be enticed into downloading/installing browser hijackers by promising various features. However, these functionalities are rarely operational.

It must be emphasized that even if a browser extension or an app works as advertised – that is not a guarantee of either legitimacy or safety.

How did Cook Book Tab install on my computer?

Cook Book Tab has an "official" promotional page. In addition to such webpages, browser hijackers are endorsed on scam sites. They are primarily entered via redirects caused by websites utilizing rogue advertising networks, misspelled URLs, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, or installed adware (with browser force-opening abilities).

Browser-hijacking software is also distributed using the bundling marketing tactic – packing regular program installation setups with unwanted/malicious supplements.

Downloading from freeware and third-party websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, and other dubious channels – poses a risk of bundled content infiltrating the system. This threat is increased by treating installations with negligence (e.g., ignoring terms, studying possible options, using "Easy/Express" setting, etc.).

Intrusive advertisements spread browser hijackers as well. Some of the adverts can execute scripts to perform stealthy downloads/installations upon being clicked.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We strongly recommend researching software and downloading it only from official/trustworthy sources. When installing, it is important to read terms, explore possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opt out of all additional apps, extensions, tools, and so on.

Another recommendation is to be careful while browsing, as fake and dangerous online content typically appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, intrusive ads may look harmless – yet redirect to highly questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.).

If you keep encountering adverts/redirects of this kind, check the system and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Cook Book Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Appearance of cookbooktab.com redirecting to the Bing search engine (GIF):

Permissions asked by Cook Book Tab browser hijacker:

Website promoting Cook Book 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:
▼ 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 Cook Book Tab?
• STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Cook Book Tab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 3. Remove cookbooktab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 4. Remove cookbooktab.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Cook Book 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.

Cook Book Tab browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove Cook Book 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 "Cook Book 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 "Cook Book Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.cookbooktab.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 "cookbooktab.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 cookbooktab.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 "Cook Book 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 "Cook Book Tab", remove hxxp://cookbooktab.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 cookbooktab.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 cookbooktab.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 cookbooktab.com website?

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

Is visiting cookbooktab.com a threat to my privacy?

Most likely, yes. Websites classified as fake search engines (e.g., cookbooktab.com, etc.) usually gather and sell information about their visitors.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are mainly distributed via bundled installers, online scams, deceptive promotional webpages, freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, spam browser notifications, and intrusive advertisements.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Cook Book Tab browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate detected browser-hijacking applications. It must be mentioned that manual removal (performed without security tools) might be ineffective, particularly when multiple browser hijackers are present. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may simply reinstall it. What is more, the removal-related settings might be inaccessible with this software installed. Therefore, it is paramount to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.

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