Removal instructions for the Snow New Tab browser hijacker

What kind of software is Snow New Tab?

Snow New Tab is a browser extension that we discovered while investigating suspicious websites. After installing it on our test system, we determined that it is a browser hijacker. Snow New Tab alters browser settings in order to endorse (via redirects) the snow-newtab.com fake search engine. It also collects sensitive user information.

Snow New Tab browser hijacker overview

Browser hijackers modify the following browser settings: homepages, default search engines, and new browser tabs/windows. Therefore, with such a piece of software installed, new browser tabs/windows opened and search queries entered into the URL bar – result in redirects to the promoted website (typically, a fake search engine).

In the case of Snow New Tab, it is snow-newtab.com. Illegitimate search engines usually cannot generate search results, so they lead users to genuine Internet search websites. At the time of research, snow-newtab.com led to the Bing search engine (bing.com). However, this webpage could land elsewhere, as factors like user geolocation might impact redirects.

Browser-hijacking software commonly employs persistence-ensuring mechanisms to complicate its removal and prevent users from restoring their browsers.

Snow New Tab also spies on users' browsing activity, and such data-tracking capabilities are standard for browser hijackers. Targeted information may include: URLs visited, webpages viewed, search queries typed, Internet cookies, account log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, etc. The gathered information can be monetized via sale to third-parties.

To summarize, the presence of software like Snow New Tab on devices may lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Snow New Tab
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Snow New Tab
Promoted URL	snow-newtab.com
Detection Names (snow-newtab.com)	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (snow-newtab.com)	172.67.192.241
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 numerous browser hijackers; Cook Book Tab, Music New Tab, and Classical Music New Tab are merely a couple of our latest finds.

Software within this classification usually appears legitimate and innocuous. It may also offer a broad range of "useful" and "advantageous" functionalities. 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 Snow New Tab install on my computer?

Snow New Tab has an "official" download webpage. Aside from such fraudulent promotional pages, browser hijackers are endorsed on various scam websites. These pages are mainly accessed via redirects generated by sites utilizing rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, misspelled URLs, spam browser notifications, or installed adware.

Some intrusive adverts can be triggered (i.e., by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform sneaky downloads/installations. These advertisements are also used to proliferate browser-hijacking software.

Additionally, browser hijackers can be bundled with (packed alongside) regular programs. The threat of unintentionally permitting access for bundled content into the device is increased by downloading from dubious channels (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and by rushing through installation processes (e.g., ignoring terms, using "Quick/Easy" settings, etc.).

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We recommend researching software before downloading or purchasing it. All downloads must be made from official and trustworthy sources. When installing, we advise reading terms, exploring available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all additional apps, extensions, features, tools, etc.

Another recommendation is to be vigilant while browsing since fraudulent and dangerous online content typically appears legitimate and harmless. For example, despite their innocuous appearance – intrusive advertisements redirect users to highly questionable websites (e.g., gambling, scam-promoting, adult dating, pornography, etc.).

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

Appearance of snow-newtab.com redirecting to the Bing search engine (GIF):

Permissions asked by Snow New Tab browser hijacker:

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

Snow New 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.

Snow New Tab browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove Snow New 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 "Snow New 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 "Snow New Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.snow-newtab.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 "snow-newtab.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 snow-newtab.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 "Snow New 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 "Snow New Tab", remove hxxp://snow-newtab.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 snow-newtab.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 snow-newtab.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 snow-newtab.com website?

Simply put, the motivation is profit. Cyber criminals (i.e., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers) generate revenue through redirects to sites like snow-newtab.com.

Is visiting snow-newtab.com a threat to my privacy?

Most likely, yes. Webpages classed as fake search engines (e.g., snow-newtab.com, etc.) usually gather visitor data. This information may then be sold to third-parties.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser-hijacking software is predominantly spread via bundled installers, deceptive promotional webpages, freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, online scams, spam browser notifications, and intrusive adverts.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Snow New Tab browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan devices and eliminate all browser-hijacking applications that are installed. It must be mentioned that manual removal (performed without security programs) might not be a perfect solution. In cases where multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system, after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. What is more, removal-related settings might be unmodifiable with this software present. Therefore, browser hijackers must be removed thoroughly and all at once.

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