Home.tb.ask.com Redirect

What is home.tb.ask.com?

Home.tb.ask.com is a legitimate Internet search website. Despite this, users are often redirected to this website by many browser toolbars (for example, DiscoverAncestry, GameTrekkers, MindDabble, WeatherBlink, and MyScrapNook) that are categorized as browser hijackers.

The developers of these toolbars (Mindspark Interactive Network Inc.) employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to infiltrate these rogue extensions on most popular Internet browsers such as Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.

After these plug-ins infiltrate the browser, the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL settings are assigned to home.tb.ask.com. Furthermore, several browser extensions/apps (called 'helper objects') are installed to prevent users from reverting these changes.

These toolbars usually offer a wide range of 'useful' features (for example, search of family-related information, photo editing, games to improve memory, etc.) - this is to give the impression of legitimate software, and thus, tricking users into installation.

Toolbars developed by Mindspark Interactive Network Inc. are mostly distributed together with free software downloadable on freeware download websites including downloads.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, etc. Download websites monetize their traffic and free services via small programs called 'download managers' (also called 'installers', 'download tools', 'download clients', etc.), which supposedly 'ease and speed up' the download procedure.

These programs, however, are used simply to offer installation of third party apps with the chosen software. In some instances, installation is simply hidden with no details of the installed software reported. Despite claims that this promoted software is '100% legitimate and virus-free', programs distributed via download managers are commonly adware or malware.

After successful infiltration, they generate unwanted browser redirects, display intrusive ads, and collect Internet browsing-related information. Advertisements displayed by rogue apps (banner, pop-up, coupon, transitional, interstitial, in-text, and many others) often redirect to harmless online stores or websites offering various services.

Be aware that they may also redirect to untrusted websites containing infectious content, thereby causing high-risk computer infections. Furthermore, gathered information is later shared with third parties, and since the details may be personally identifiable, having a bogus app installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft.

Home.tb.ask.com is not a virus or malware, however, the applications that cause redirects to this site are categorized as browser hijackers, and therefore, you should uninstall them.

Research shows that browser hijacking apps share many similarities - most are bundled with various software. For instance, as with toolbars developed by Mindspark Interactive Network, Inc., hotsearches.info, myweatherxp.com, and 321oyun.com also hijack Internet browsers and modify identical settings.

Users are then redirected to the aforementioned websites. These apps provide none of the features promised - they are developed to generate revenue by displaying intrusive ads, collecting personal data, and causing unwanted redirects, thereby generating traffic to other websites.

These are the main reasons why you should never accept offers to install unrecognised third party software. If your browser continually redirects you to home.tb.ask.com, and an unrecognised toolbar appears in your browser, follow the removal guide provided to uninstall this browser hijacker.

How did home.tb.ask.com install on my computer?

Applications that redirect to this website are mostly distributed with free software. There is a high probability that installation is caused by users not paying enough attention when downloading and installing free software. Most users skip the download and installation steps, and use the 'Quick' or 'Typical' installation options, rather than 'Custom' or 'Advanced'.

Rogue apps are often hidden within these settings, and therefore, selecting 'Quick' installation often causes computer infections.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Your chosen software should be downloaded from official websites only. If you must download from a freeware download website, use the direct download link, rather than the download app.

It is likely that you will be forced to use the download manager - in this case, closely analyse each step of the free software download procedure and opt-out any third party software included. Furthermore, install with the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options - this will reveal any third party applications listed for installation and allow you to decline them.

Sample of a website promoting installation of home.tb.ask.com browser hijacker:

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Quick menu:

• What is home.tb.ask.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall home.tb.ask.com application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove home.tb.ask.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove home.tb.ask.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove home.tb.ask.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove home.tb.ask.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Home.tb.ask.com 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 apps (for example: "TelevisionFanatic" and "ListingsPortal"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the home.tb.ask.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Home.tb.ask.com browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions (e.g., "ListingsPortal", "TelevisionFanatic", and "Toolbar BHO"), select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://home.tb.ask.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Ask Web Search" and "Ask.com".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the home.tb.ask.com browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://home.tb.ask.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

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" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Ask Search", "Ask.com", and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the home.tb.ask.com 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove recently-installed browser plug-ins (e.g. "ListingsPortal").

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://home.tb.ask.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 "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "ask.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with home.tb.ask.com 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 home.tb.ask.com 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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