Handy-tab.com Hijacker Removal

Can’t Remove Handy-tab.com hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Handy-tab.com Removal instructions!

Handy-tab.com offers an app that customizes your browser for free. Everything looks good on paper. Once you install the app, however, ads flood your browser. The handy-tab.com website promotes a browser hijacker – a parasite that throws its victims into a whirlwind of reshuffles and ads. Once on board, the hijacker wastes no time and takes control of your browser. It replaces your homepage, as well as your default search engine. The parasite locks its modifications and forces you to use its questionable search tool. And if you are not sure, that’s dangerous. Handy-tab.com uses a customized search engine that inserts unmarked sponsored links among the results it provides. You can never be sure which search results are organic and which are placed there on purpose. And that can be a huge problem as these third-party links, quite often, redirect web traffic to deceptive and malicious websites. You are in for trouble! The hijacker has no filters nor security mechanisms. Its “Ads by Handy-tab.com” arise unwarranted expectations at best. At worst, they lure people into downloading malware, sharing sensitive information, or subscribing to unneeded and overpriced services. Do not risk falling into online traps. The hijacker is a pest that has no place on your computer. Your best course of action is its immediate removal. Don’t hesitate. Find where this intruder hides and delete it upon detection!

How did I get infected with?

The handy-tab.com website spreads a hijacker. This parasite, however, doesn’t rely merely on malvertising. It also uses bundles, fake updates, corrupted links, pirated software, and spam messages. The hijacker has numerous tricks up its sleeve. Its tricks, however, have a common flaw – they rely on your negligence and naivety. The hijacker can’t get installed without your (the user’s) permission. The parasite needs you to approve its access. That’s the rule: no permission, no admission! There’s, of course, a catch! Having to ask is not the same as having to do so outright. The hijacker is a trickster that hides in the fine print. It infects your computer when you “forget” to deselect it. The hijacker travels the web as an extra to other apps and gets installed if you don’t deselect it. Don’t make mistakes! No anti-virus app can protect you if you throw caution to the wind. Only your actions can keep your PC free of infections. So, don’t be lazy! Make the right decision – choose caution over carelessness. Always take the time to do your due diligence! Don’t visit questionable websites. Download software and updates from reliable (preferably official) sources only. And opt for the advanced/custom setup option! Make sure that no bonus apps get installed without your approval. Always take the time to deselect the unwanted extras, as well as to go through the terms and conditions. Don’t hesitate to abort the installation if you notice anything suspicious!

Why is this dangerous?

The browser hijacker is a menace. It follows instructions to flood your browser with ads and sponsored content. The parasite doesn’t miss a chance to do so. It inserts banners on every website you load, opens pop-ups, plays commercials. And it doesn’t stop here! The hijacker also loads sponsored websites in new tabs, turns random text into hyperlinks, and displays fake search results. It won’t let you so much as touch your browser without covering your screen with advertisements. Its ads “Powered by Handy-tab.com” are annoying and irritating. They, however, are also your clue. If you take a close look at these banners, hyperlinks, and notifications, you’ll realize that you are in serious trouble. You are under surveillance! The ads are not random but targeted at you. They are based on the websites you visit, the links you follow, the search queries you make. Even your activities under the Incognito mode trigger offers. That’s how the hijacker operates – it studies your browsing habits and uses your preferences against you. Do you think that ends well? You are dealing with a parasite that not only turns you into an easy target but also threatens to leak sensitive information! Confused? Did you think that the parasite collects information solely for advertising purposes? No! This menace also sells the data for profit. Any crook out there can buy your data. This means that if you run out of luck, some pieces of data, your search queries, for example, may leak personal and financial details. Do not test your luck! Remove the hijacker immediately!

How to Remove Handy-tab.com virus

The Handy-tab.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 Handy-tab.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 Handy-tab.com related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Handy-tab.com startup location

STEP 3: Delete Handy-tab.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Handy-tab.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.

• Write down the file location for later reference.

Step 2: Locate Handy-tab.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 Handy-tab.com virus from the windows registry

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

• A dialog box should open. Type “Regedit”

• WARNING! be very careful when editing the Microsoft Windows Registry as this may render the system broken.

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]

• 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:

STEP 3 : Clean Handy-tab.com traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

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

• Open Mozilla Firefox

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

• Restart Internet Explorer

Step 4: Undo the damage done by Handy-tab.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 Handy-tab.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.

• in the target field remove Handy-tab.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 Handy-tab.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.