4newtab.com Hijacker Removal

Can’t Remove 4newtab.com hijacker virus? This page includes detailed 4newtab.com Removal instructions!

What has happened to your browser’s homepage? Was it mysteriously replaced by the 4newtab.com website? If such is the case, we must confirm your fears. Your computer has a browser hijacker infection. The 4newtab.com hijacker is a malicious ad-generating program which has managed to enter your OS unnoticed. You are dealing with one extremely intrusive parasite. It is programmed to generate ad revenue via pay-per-click marketing. Have you heard about this marketing system? Basically, when you click on a commercial provided by the hijacker, its owners will get paid. So,  they cannot risk you clicking their competitors’ content. The hijacker creates a virtual-layer which blocks its competitors’ commercials and replaces them with its own. Nothing too bad here. It is limiting your sources of information, but that is not that crucial. Yet, the hijacker is classified as malicious. Why? Well, this app does not display just random commercials. It is spying on its victims and uses the collected data for better ad-targeting. The problem is, sensitive information may also get recorded. The 4newtab.com hijacker will not use this information for marketing purposes only. It will sell it to third parties. The potential buyers range from desperate marketing agents to dangerous hackers. Be careful what you do online. Don’t give the crooks a way to blackmail you. Keep in mind that the Incognito mode of your browser will not hide you from the hijacker’s watchful eye. The only way to protect yourself is to remove the parasite. Spare yourself many future headaches. Remove the 4newtab.com hijacker immediately!

remove 4newtab.com

How did I get infected with?

The 4newtab.com hijacker is distributed via various methods. Torrents, spam emails, fake software updates and, of course, software bundles. The key to a secure and infection-free PC is caution. Whenever you are installing a program, opt for the Advanced option in the Setup Wizard. Under it, you will be given the opportunity to deselect all unwanted applications. You will be surprised how often free online apps come bundled with additional software. If you use the Standard installation, the additional apps will be installed without your explicit approval. So, take your time, use the Advanced Setup and deselect the unwanted apps. Keep in mind that you can deselect all extras and still install the program you originally planned to set up. This is your computer. You are in charge of what is being installed on it. It is again your responsibility to prevent malicious apps from being installed on it. Read the terms and conditions/EULA. If you spot anything out of the ordinary, abort the setup process immediately. The Internet is a dangerous place. Only your caution can protect you. Keeping a powerful anti-virus app on board is also a good idea.

Why is this dangerous?

The 4newtab.com hijacker is a menace. Once on board, it will drown you in a sea of commercials. Every website you open will be covered in coupons, discounts, and great deals. The hijacker will redirect your browser to third-party websites constantly. It will even pause your online videos for commercial breaks. You will hate the experience. If you decide to ignore this parasite, hell will rise. The 4newtab.com hijacker is not just annoying, it is also dangerous. The parasite does not verify its commercials. Anyone willing to spend some money can use the hijacker to promote. All sorts of crooks take advantage. Think twice before you click on the next “great deal.” It may as well be corrupted. One click is all it takes for a virus to be downloaded. An unverified advert may also redirect you to scam websites. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably isn’t. Question everything. With the 4newtab.com hijacker on board, you are very likely to be exposed to scams. Your best course of action is the immediate removal of the parasite. The sooner it is gone, the better!

How to Remove 4newtab.com virus

The 4newtab.com infection is specifically designed to make money to its creators one way or another. The specialists from various antivirus companies like Bitdefender, Kaspersky, Norton, Avast, ESET, etc. advise that there is no harmless virus.

If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the 4newtab.com infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.

STEP 1: Track down 4newtab.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate 4newtab.com startup location

STEP 3: Delete 4newtab.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down 4newtab.com related processes in the computer memory

  • Open your Task Manager by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keys simultaneously
  • Carefully review all processes and stop the suspicious ones.

end-malicious-process

  • Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate 4newtab.com startup location

Reveal Hidden Files

  • Open any folder
  • Click on “Organize” button
  • Choose “Folder and Search Options”
  • Select the “View” tab
  • Select “Show hidden files and folders” option
  • Uncheck “Hide protected operating system files”
  • Click “Apply” and “OK” button

Clean 4newtab.com virus from the windows registry

  • Once the operating system loads press simultaneously the Windows Logo Button and the R key.

win-plus-r

  • A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

regedit

Depending on your OS (x86 or x64) navigate to:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run] or
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]

  • and delete the display Name: [RANDOM]

delete backgroundcontainer

  • Then open your explorer and navigate to: %appdata% folder and delete the malicious executable.

Clean your HOSTS file to avoid unwanted browser redirection

Navigate to %windir%/system32/Drivers/etc/host

If you are hacked, there will be foreign IPs addresses connected to you at the bottom. Take a look below:

hosts-redirect-virus

STEP 3 : Clean 4newtab.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

  • Open Google Chrome

  • In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
  • Remove the 4newtab.com by clicking on the little recycle bin
  • Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind

disable 4newtab.com from chrome

  • Open Mozilla Firefox

  • Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
  • Disable the unwanted Extension
  • Go to Help
  • Then Troubleshoot information
  • Click on Reset Firefox

remove 4newtab.com from firefox

  • Open Internet Explorer

  • On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
  • Click on Internet options
  • go to Toolbars and Extensions and disable the unknown extensions
  • Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset

remove 4newtab.com from ie

  • Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by 4newtab.com

This particular Virus may alter your DNS settings.

Attention! this can break your internet connection. Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS for 4newtab.com, be sure to write down the current server addresses on a piece of paper.

To fix the damage done by the virus you need to do the following.

  • Click the Windows Start button to open the Start Menu, type control panel in the search box and select Control Panel in the results displayed above.
  • go to Network and Internet
  • then Network and Sharing Center
  • then Change Adapter Settings
  • Right-click on your active internet connection and click properties. Under the Networking tab, find Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4). Left click on it and then click on properties. Both options should be automatic! By default it should be set to “Obtain an IP address automatically” and the second one to “Obtain DNS server address automatically!” If they are not just change them, however if you are part of a domain network you should contact your Domain Administrator to set these settings, otherwise the internet connection will break!!!

You must clean all your browser shortcuts as well. To do that you need to

  • Right click on the shortcut of your favorite browser and then select properties.

safebrowsing-biz-shortcut-removal

  • in the target field remove 4newtab.com argument and then apply the changes.
  • Repeat that with the shortcuts of your other browsers.
  • Check your scheduled tasks to make sure the virus will not download itself again.

How to Permanently Remove 4newtab.com Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your whole system or network and let all doors wide open for many other infections. To make sure manual removal is successful, we recommend to use a free scanner of any professional antimalware program to identify possible registry leftovers or temporary files.

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