Lightning newtab Adware

What is Lightning newtab?

The Lightning newtab browser extension claims to quickly load new browser tabs and allow users to select their preferred interface. Although some userts may find this functionality legitimate and useful, Lightning newtab is classed as adware and a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

This application is distributed as a 'bundle' along with other software, and therefore, infiltrates systems without users' consent (this is one of the reasons for these negative associations). Furthermore, this app causes unwanted browser redirects and monitors users' Internet browsing activity.

Lightning newtab interacts, and is distributed, with the following browser hijackers: omniboxes.com, luckysearches.com, webssearches.com, omiga-plus.com, istartsurf.com, mystartsearch.com, key-find.com, sweet-page.com, oursurfing.com, and v9.com.

These browser hijackers modify Internet browser settings and use Lightning newtab adware as a 'helper object'. This adware promotes the aforementioned websites by periodically generating intrusive online advertisements.

In addition, both Lightning newtab, and these other browser hijackers, track Internet browsing activity and gather various information including Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, websites visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other collected data that may be personally identifiable.

This data can be misused by third parties, and thus, having Lightning newtab (or other browser hijackers) installed on your system might cause serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to uninstall this adware.

Lightning newtab Privacy Policy regarding data collection:

We gather certain information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser user agent, referring page, date/time stamp and cookies automatically. We use such information to analyze trends, to administer the site, to track users' movements around the site and to gather demographic information to better provide our services.

Research shows that many adware-type applications have similar behavior. For instance, Lightning newtab, Shopperz, CrossBrowse, MovieDea, and hundreds of other PUPs also claim to provide a wide range of useful features to significantly enhance the Internet browsing experience.

These false claims are merely attempts to give the impression of legitimacy. Adware-type applications never provide the features promised - their purpose is to generate revenue by displaying advertisements (via the 'Pay Per Click' - PPC - advertising method) and gathering personally identifiable information (which is later sold to third parties).

How did Lightning newtab install on my computer?

Lightning newtab is distributed as a 'bundle' along with other browser hijackers. These applications infiltrate the system when users do not pay enough attention during the software download and installation processes.

Users are often unaware that potentially unwanted programs are hidden within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings - they skip this section, thereby inadvertently installing bogus apps. Since developers are only concerned with the amount of revenue generated, they do not properly disclose installation of PUPs.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Computer infections can be prevented by closely observing the download and installation processes. Analyze each step when downloading and installing software and decline all offers to install additional programs. In addition, select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options when installing downloaded software - this will reveal any bundled third party apps listed for installation and enable you to opt-out.

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Quick menu:

• What is Lightning newtab?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Lightning newtab application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Lightning newtab adware from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Lightning newtab add-on from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Lightning newtab plugin from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Lightning newtab extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Lightning newtab adware 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 (for example, "oursurfing uninstall", "istartsurf uninstall"), select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Lightning newtab ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Lightning newtab adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

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 "GoodTab Class", and "LuckyTab Class" select these entries and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the lightningnewtab pup, 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 "Lightning newtab", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the lightningnewtab pup, 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", in the opened window, remove "deskCut 0.0.10".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with lightningnewtab pup 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the lightningnewtab pup, 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:

Commonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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