How to Remove Searchtab.win Virus

Can’t Remove Searchtab.win hijacker virus? This page includes detailed Searchtab.win Removal instructions!

Searchtab.win is a browser hijacker. That means you’ve downloaded a cyber parasite and it’s time to get rid of it. Don’t tolerate such a pest because searchtab.win will eventually get out of hand. Instead of keeping the hijacker on board, take immediate action. Once this program lands on board, trouble begins. Your browsers are the first to experience its malicious potential. Unfortunately, hijackers have plenty of that. Searchtab.win modifies both your default search engine and browser homepage. Those get replaced with the parasite’s domain so you’re stuck with the hijacker. Wave surfing the Web goodbye because this infection is in charge now. In other words, your entire online experience falls victim to the virus. You will also notice a brand new extension added to your once reliable browsers. All these shenanigans happen behind your back because no hijacker is going to seek your consent. Unfortunately, your opinions and authorization remain irrelevant. The parasite was solely developed to serve hackers’ purposes. It actually boosts web traffic to some particular websites. Ultimately, searchtab.win helps hackers gain illegitimate profit. Are you familiar with the pay-per-click mechanism? Because cyber crooks are. They take advantage of your computer to make effortless money. Hackers’ dubious revenue comes at your expense as the hijacker is more than annoying. Furthermore, it serves as a back door to malware and exposes you to more parasites. The more time searchtab.win spends on your machine, the more problematic things get. Your browsers get altered and are no longer safe. They now redirect you to unknown websites, freeze/crash and generate random pop-ups. As you can clearly see, using your machine becomes a challenge. Not only do you get redirected but you’re also unable to regain control over your browsers. The only way to fix the issues brought to you by the hijacker is by deleting the hijacker. Therefore, make sure you delete this nuisance for good. Searchtab.win pretends to be a legitimate search engine when it’s nothing but a virus. This program adds a browser extension and it could install additional toolbars too. It might even cause some privacy issues by stealing your private details. Consider your private life online not private anymore. Long story short, the virus must be removed.

How did I get infected with?

Freeware/shareware bundles are quite a popular method. Do you often download such bundled programs off of the Internet? Then you should definitely pay attention to what you end up installing. There might be a whole bunch of viruses hidden in a single bundle. Don’t hesitate to deselect the programs you find unreliable. To be able to spot an intruder, though, you have to be careful during the installation. That is why we strongly recommend opting for the custom or advanced option in the Setup Wizard. Rushing would leave your machine open to infections. As you could imagine, compromising your safety is a very easy task. Protecting your security isn’t difficult either but you have to be attentive. Take your time in the process and don’t skip steps. Skipping steps might result in you downloading a rich variety of infections on your PC. We assume you aren’t actively trying to cause yourself a headache. Thus, be careful in advance and don’t hesitate to deselect what you don’t trust. Having to fight a vicious intruder is a much greater hassle than prevention is. In addition, stay away from spam messages as well as messages. Those could be filled with malware too. Delete anything suspicious you may receive in your inbox. You won’t regret it.

Why is this dangerous?

Before you know it, the virus has taken over your browsing activities. As mentioned, searchtab.win modifies all your favorite browsers. That includes Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer. You’re left unable to find anything you search for as your browsers redirect you. You could land on numerous beyond unreliable websites and download malware. Also, you should avoid the commercials this program might display. Those are just as dubious and potentially corrupted as the search results. Bear in mind that hijackers don’t get created to be beneficial for you. The searchtab.win virus is only beneficial for cyber criminals. It’s shameless enough to cover your PC screen with sponsored, fake web links. This program even jeopardizes your privacy and sends your data directly to hackers. Your browsing history and other details get stolen. Obviously, this puts your privacy in danger. To delete the virus manually, please follow our detailed removal guide down below.

How to Remove Searchtab.win virus

The Searchtab.win 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 Searchtab.win 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.

WARNING! Stopping the wrong file or deleting the wrong registry key may damage your system irreversibly.
If you are feeling not technical enough just use Spyhunter Professional Malware Removal Tool to deal with the problem!
>>Download SpyHunter – a Professional Remover.

Please, keep in mind that SpyHunter’s scanner tool is free. To remove the Searchtab.win infection, you need to purchase its full version.

STEP 1: Track down Searchtab.win related processes in the computer memory

STEP 2: Locate Searchtab.win startup location

STEP 3: Delete Searchtab.win traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

STEP 4: Undo the damage done by the virus

STEP 1: Track down Searchtab.win 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 Searchtab.win 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 Searchtab.win 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 Searchtab.win traces from Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer

• Open Google Chrome

• In the Main Menu, select Tools then Extensions
• Remove the Searchtab.win 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 Searchtab.win

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 Searchtab.win, 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 Searchtab.win 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 Searchtab.win 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.