How to remove CleanHub Tabs browser hijacker and the redirects it causes
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of software is CleanHub Tabs?
CleanHub Tabs is a browser extension that we discovered while browsing suspicious websites. This software is endorsed as a tool that allows users to customize their browser backgrounds.
Upon examination, we learned that CleanHub Tabs hijacks browsers. It makes changes to browser settings in order to promote (via redirects) the search.tab-hub-simple.online illegitimate search engine.
CleanHub Tabs browser hijacker overview
CleanHub Tabs modifies browsers' homepages, default search engines, and new tabs/windows. Due to these modifications, users are forced to visit the search.tab-hub-simple.online webpage. It is classified as a fake search engine since it cannot provide search results and redirects to a legitimate Internet search site.
At the time of research, search.tab-hub-simple.online landed on the Bing search engine (bing.com). It must be mentioned that this webpage could land elsewhere, as factors like user geolocation might influence redirects.
Oftentimes, browser-hijacking software ensures persistence by denying access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes.
Furthermore, browser hijackers usually have data-tracking abilities, and this might be true of CleanHub Tabs. Targeted information may include: visited URLs, viewed webpages, searched queries, Internet cookies, account log-in credentials, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, and so forth. The collected information can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.
To summarize, software like CleanHub Tabs may lead to system infections, severe privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.
| Name | CleanHub Tabs |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | CleanHub Tabs |
| Supposed Functionality | Customizing browser background |
| Promoted URL | search.tab-hub-simple.online |
| Detection Names (search.tab-hub-simple.online) | N/A (VirusTotal) |
| Serving IP Address (search.tab-hub-simple.online) | 88.198.23.190 |
| 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. |
Browser hijacker examples
City Weather Forecast Hub, A Quote A Day, and Currency Converter Tab are just a few examples of browser hijackers we have investigated recently. Software within this classification rarely appears illegitimate or otherwise suspicious – it tends to look ordinary and harmless.
Browser hijackers may also offer a wide variety of "useful" functions, which are usually nonoperational. Remember that merely because a piece of software works as indicated by its promotional material – that does not prove its legitimacy or safety.
How did CleanHub Tabs install on my computer?
CleanHub Tabs has an "official" promotional webpage. In addition to such pages, browser hijackers are endorsed by scam websites. They are primarily accessed via redirects caused by sites employing rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, misspelled URLs, spam browser notifications, or installed adware.
The bundling marketing technique – packing regular program installers with unwanted/malicious supplements – is also used to distribute this software.
Download from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks, etc.) and rushed installations (e.g., skipped steps, used "Easy/Express" settings, etc.) – pose a threat of bundled content infiltrating the system.
Browser-hijacking software is proliferated by intrusive adverts as well. When clicked on, some of these advertisements can execute scripts to perform downloads/installations without user consent.
How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?
We strongly advise researching software and downloading it only from official/verified channels. Additionally, installation processes must be treated with caution by reading terms, inspecting available options, using the "Custom/Advanced" settings, and opting out of all supplements (e.g., apps, extensions, etc.).
Another recommendation is to be vigilant while browsing since fraudulent and malicious online content typically appears legitimate and innocuous. For example, intrusive adverts may look harmless – however, they redirect users to highly questionable websites (e.g., gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.).
In case of continuous encounters with such ads/redirects, check the system and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with CleanHub Tabs, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Appearance of search.tab-hub-simple.online redirecting to the Bing search engine (GIF):
Permissions asked by CleanHub Tabs browser hijacker:
Website promoting CleanHub Tabs 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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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 CleanHub Tabs?
- STEP 1. Uninstall unwanted applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove CleanHub Tabs browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 3. Remove search.tab-hub-simple.online homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 4. Remove search.tab-hub-simple.online redirect from Safari.
- STEP 5. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
CleanHub Tabs 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.
CleanHub Tabs browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove CleanHub Tabs 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 "CleanHub Tabs" 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 "CleanHub Tabs", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.tab-hub-simple.online) 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.tab-hub-simple.online", 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.tab-hub-simple.online 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 "CleanHub Tabs", 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 "CleanHub Tabs", remove hxxp://search.tab-hub-simple.online 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.tab-hub-simple.online 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.tab-hub-simple.online 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 search.tab-hub-simple.online website?
Redirects to webpages like search.tab-hub-simple.online are generated because cyber criminals (e.g., developers of browser hijackers and fake search engines, etc.) profit through them.
Is visiting search.tab-hub-simple.online a threat to my privacy?
To some extent, yes. Sites categorized as fake search engines (e.g., search.tab-hub-simple.online, etc.) usually gather information about their visitors. The collected data can then be sold to third-parties.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
The most commonly used distribution methods include: bundled installers, online scams, freeware and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks, intrusive ads, and spam browser notifications.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove CleanHub Tabs browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your system and eliminate all browser-hijacking apps present. It is worth mentioning that manual removal (performed without the aid of security tools) might not be ideal, especially when multiple browser hijackers have infiltrated the system. Since after one is removed – the others may reinstall it. Furthermore, browser-hijacking software may be capable of restricting access to removal-related settings and/or undoing user-made changes. Hence, it is paramount to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.
Outstanding!
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