Removal instructions for software causing redirects to gaming-news-tab.com

What kind of website is gaming-news-tab.com?

Gaming-news-tab.com is the address of a fake search engine promoted (via redirects) by the Gaming News Tab browser hijacker. This rogue browser extension is endorsed as an easy-access tool to the latest updates, reviews, and other gaming-related news.

Our research team discovered Gaming News Tab's promotional webpage while investigating a Torrenting site that uses rogue advertising networks.

Gaming News Tab browser hijacker overview

Browser-hijacking software typically operates by reassigning browsers' default search engines, homepages, and new browser tab/window URLs to the addresses of promoted websites. Due to these modifications, users can be forced to visit the endorsed site whenever they open a new browser tab/window or enter a search query into the URL bar.

In the case of Gaming News Tab, these redirects land on the gaming-news-tab.com page. Gaming-news-tab.com is a fake search engine, and as such – it cannot provide search results. At the time of research, this website led users to the genuine Bing search engine (bing.com). Keep in mind that gaming-news-tab.com could land elsewhere, as factors like user geolocation might influence redirects.

It is pertinent to mention that browser hijackers often rely on persistence-ensuring mechanisms, such as denying access to removal-related settings or undoing user-made changes – to prevent browser recovery.

Furthermore, software within this category usually possesses data-tracking functionalities, and this might apply to the Gaming News Tab browser extension.

Information of interest may include: visited URLs, viewed pages, searched queries, Internet cookies, usernames/passwords, personally identifiable details, finance-related data, etc. The collected information can be sold to third-parties or otherwise abused for profit.

In summary, the presence of browser-hijacking software like Gaming News Tab on devices may lead to system infections, serious privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft.

Threat Summary:

Name	Gaming News Tab
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Gaming News Tab
Supposed Functionality	Quick access to gaming news
Promoted URL	gaming-news-tab.com
Detection Names (gaming-news-tab.com)	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (gaming-news-tab.com)	104.21.58.90
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 inspected numerous browser hijackers; Energy Pro Tab, Anime Nook, and Lax Search are just a couple of our latest finds. Browser-hijacking software usually appears genuine and useful. However, the promised features seldom operate as advertised, if they work at all.

Remember that even if a browser extension or application operates exactly as indicated by its promotional material – that alone does not prove legitimacy or safety.

How did Gaming News Tab install on my computer?

We acquired Gaming News Tab from its "official" promotional webpage. In addition to such sites, browser hijackers are endorsed on scam sites that use scare tactics or different false claims to push this software.

Users primarily access these pages via redirects generated by websites utilizing rogue advertising networks, intrusive ads, spam browser notifications, mistyped URLs, and adware.

Browser-hijacking software can also be bundled with ordinary programs. The threat of inadvertently permitting access for bundled content into the system is increased by downloading from untrustworthy sources (e.g., freeware and third-party sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.) and by treating installation processes with negligence (e.g., using "Easy/Express" settings, etc.).

Browser hijackers are proliferated by intrusive advertisements as well. Some of these adverts can be triggered (by being clicked) to execute scripts that perform sneaky downloads/installations.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

We highly recommend researching software before downloading or purchasing. All downloads must be made from official and verified channels. When installing, we advise reading terms, inspecting 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 fake and dangerous online content typically appears legitimate and harmless. For example, while intrusive ads may look innocuous – they redirect to unreliable and questionable sites (e.g., scam-promoting, pornography, gambling, adult dating, etc.).

In case of continuous encounters with advertisements and/or redirects of this kind, check the device and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with Gaming News Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Appearance of gaming-news-tab.com redirecting to the Bing search engine (GIF):

Permissions asked by Gaming News Tab browser hijacker:

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

Gaming News 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.

Gaming News Tab browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove Gaming News 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 "Gaming News 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 "Gaming News Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.gaming-news-tab.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 "gaming-news-tab.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 gaming news tab browser hijacker, 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 "Gaming News 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 "Gaming News Tab", remove hxxp://gaming-news-tab.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 gaming news tab browser hijacker 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 gaming news tab browser hijacker, 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 gaming-news-tab.com website?

The purpose of forcing users to visit sites like gaming-news-tab.com is profit. In other words, cyber criminals (e.g., developers of fake search engines and browser hijackers, etc.) generate revenue through such redirects.

Is visiting gaming-news-tab.com a threat to my privacy?

To a certain extent, yes. Websites like gaming-news-tab.com usually collect (and sell) visitor data.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

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

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Gaming News Tab browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner can scan computers and eliminate installed browser-hijacking applications. Keep in mind that manual removal (performed without security tools) might not be an ideal solution, particularly when multiple browser hijackers are present. In these cases, after one is removed – the others may simply reinstall it. Additionally, removal-related settings might be inaccessible when this software is installed. Hence, it is crucial to eliminate browser hijackers thoroughly and all at once.

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