GetTab Adware Removal

Can’t Remove GetTab ads? This page includes detailed ads by GetTab Removal instructions!

The GetTab application is not what you think it is. This program is classified as adware. If you have dealt with such apps, you know what kind of mess they wreak. The GetTab adware is not an exception. This tool floods its victims with tons of commercials. Banners, hyperlinks, browser redirections, video commercials. You name it! The adware can ruin your browsing experience in seconds. But, don’t be fooled. These annoyances are barely scratching the tip of the iceberg. They are nothing compared to what the adware does behind your back. The GetTab adware is never idle. It is always lurking in the shadows. This parasite has turned your favorite web browser into a spying device. It tracks your browsing habits. The adware knows all your online activities and moves. Which pages you visit, what search inquiries you make, what kind of links you follow, which videos you watch. Keep in mind that the Incognito mode of your browser cannot hide you from the adware. With the GetTab utility on board, there is nothing private any longer. The question is, what does the adware do with the collected information? Well, it uses the data for better marketing targeting. Thus, if you type “sneakers” into some search engine, the adware will display ads for sports shoes. However, the collected data is too valuable to be wasted on ad-targeting only. So, the adware sells the information to third parties. And believe us, there are many potential buyers. They range from desperate marketing agents to dangerous hackers. The GetTab adware puts your private life at risk. Do not tolerate this parasite on board. Remove it before it is too late!

How did I get infected with?

The GetTab adware parasite did not materialize by magic. It has tricked you into installing it unintentionally. Freeware, shareware and pirated copies of licensed software often become hosts for such parasites. Download your programs from reliable sources only. When you start an installation process, opt for the Advanced/Custom option. It can be a button or tab. Use it. This process may be misrepresented as a suitable choice for IT experts only. This is not true, though. The crooks simply don’t want you to use the advanced option. Under it, you will be presented with a list of all changes that are about to be made. Take your time. Make sure you know what you are giving your approval to. Examine the list of “bonus” programs that are also about to be installed. These extras, more often than not, are malicious. Read the Terms and Conditions/EULA. Install only the apps you trust. Also, bear in mind that you can deselect all extras and still install the app you originally planned to set up. This is your computer. You decide what programs should be installed. Don’t let others misguide you. Always do your due diligence. Other malware distribution method you should know about are the good old spam emails, torrents, and fake software updates. You can prevent these techniques from succeeding. Always keep your guard up. You let the GetTab adware trick you once. Don’t ever make the same mistake again! Question everything! A little extra caution can spare you future headaches!

Why is this dangerous?

The GetTab adware is a giant hole in your security wall. It is exposing your privacy at serious risk. But it is also exposing your PC to bigger risk. All adverts displayed by the adware are potential threats. The adware does not verify the commercials it displays. Neither does it check who advertisers behind them are. All sorts of crooks take advantage. Hackers included. If you have the misfortune to click on a corrupted advert, you may infect your machine with more malware or viruses. What’s worse, the adware may redirect your browser to infected or scam websites. In fact, with the GetTab app on board, you are far more likely to end up on scam pages than on legit ones. Be vigilant and doubting! If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably isn’t. The adware knows your preferences. A capable trickster can use the adware to target you with a custom marketing campaign. Resist the urge to buy items online. You may end up paying for nonexistent or overpriced goods. The GetTab adware is turning you into an easy target. You will be much better without this application. We have provided a manual removal guide below this article. If you prefer automated solutions, you can always download a trustworthy anti-virus app! The sooner you clean your machine, the better!

How to Remove GetTab virus

The GetTab 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 GetTab 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 GetTab in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate GetTab startup location

STEP 3: Delete GetTab traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down GetTab 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 GetTab 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 GetTab 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 GetTab traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the GetTab 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 GetTab

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 GetTab, 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 GetTab 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 GetTab Virus (automatic) Removal Guide

Please, have in mind that once you are infected with a single virus, it compromises your system 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.