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XTab Browser Hijacker

Also Known As: XTab-SearchProtect
Damage level: Medium

What is XTab?

Created by Beijing ELEX Technology Co. Ltd, XTab is a potentially unwanted application. This software modifies Internet browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) homepage and default search engine settings, and browser shortcuts by assigning them to website URLS such as mystartsearch.com.

In addition, this adware 'protects' these settings by preventing further user-changes. Developers of this browser hijacker state that XTab is a useful desktop application helping to maintain users' selected browser settings, however, this application provides no real value and is created to simply to redirect users to various websites and prevent further modification of Internet browser settings.

xtab - searchprotect application

Unwanted redirects to certain websites are applied to generate revenue from users who click deceptive ads or use dubious Internet search engines presented by these websites.

In addition to generating unwanted browser redirects, XTab tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording web pages visited, user languages, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, geographic locations, and search queries entered.

The presence of XTab on your system can lead to malware infections and privacy issues, and therefore, you are advised to eliminate this potentially unwanted desktop application from your system immediately.

The XTab browser hijacker is similar to other browser hijackers that modify users' Internet browser settings. Examples include KeepMySettingsX, Keep My Search by Montiera Ltd, Search Protect by Conduit, and Search Protect by Client Connect Ltd. Commonly, users install this browser settings-changing adware when downloading free software.

Today, most freeware download websites employ 'download clients' - small programs offering installation of advertised browser plug-ins together with the chosen free program. Not paying enough attention to the download steps can lead to adware infections.

Therefore, when downloading free software, be attentive and opt-out of installation of advertised browser extensions by clicking the 'decline' button. If you experience browser redirects to unwanted websites, use this removal guide to eliminate adware from your operating system.

The following is a list of websites that hijack Internet browser settings and use the XTab application to block user-attempts to revert these changes: delta-homes.com, key-find.com, luckysearches.com, istartsurf.com, isearch.omiga-plus.com, v9.com, mystartsearch.com, webssearches.com, omniboxes.com, sweet-page.com, and do-search.com

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Quick menu:

XTab browser hijacker removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

xtab browser hijacker uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window: look for XTab (and other recently installed suspicious applications), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling XTab, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

XTab removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser hijackers:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Remove XTab related Internet Explorer add-ons:

Removing xtab related Internet Explorer extensions

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions (for example "IETabPage Class"), select such entries and click "Remove".

Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:

Removing unwanted url from Internet Explorer shortcut target step 1

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate any text, which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".

Removing unwanted url from Internet Explorer shortcut target step 2

Change your homepage:

Removing xtab related URL from Internet Explorer homepage

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove any unwanted URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open every time you launch Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Removing xtab related default Internet search engine from Internet Explorer

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default, then remove any unwanted Internet search engine.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the xtab-searchprotect, 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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Remove XTab related Google Chrome extensions:

Removing xtab related Google Chrome extensions

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious add-ons (for example: "Extended Protection", "Lightning Newtab" or "Quick Start"), select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:

Removing unwanted URL from Google Chrome shortcut target step 1

This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate any text, which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

Removing unwanted URL from Google Chrome shortcut target step 2

Change your homepage:

Removing xtab related Google Chrome homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over any unwanted URL and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change your default search engine:

Removing xtab related default Internet search engine from Google Chrome

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove any unwanted Internet search engine and add or select your preferred one.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the xtab-searchprotect, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove XTab related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Removing xtab related Mozilla Firefox extensions

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins ("QuickSearch").

Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:

Removing unwanted URL from Mozilla Firefox shortcut target step 1

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate any text, which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

Removing xtab related URL from Mozilla Firefox shortcut target step 2

Change your homepage:

Removing unwanted URL from Mozilla Firefox homepage

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window, remove any unwanted URL and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change default search engine:

Removing xtab related default Internet search engine from Mozilla Firefox

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type the name of the browser hijacker you are dealing with (for example "istartsurf.com") and press ENTER.
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with xtab-searchprotect removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, firefox menu icon in the opened menu, click Help.

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

removing browser hijacker from safari step 2 - removing extensions

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

Removing browser hijackers from safari step 3 - changing homepage

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

removing browser hijackers from safari step 4 - changing the default Internet search engine

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

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...

resetting safari step 1

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 2

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

Removing browser hijackers from Microsoft Edge step 3

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon Microsoft Edge (Chromium) puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the xtab-searchprotect, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

  • If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

declining installation of browser hijackers while downloading free software sampleA browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

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Removal Instructions in other languages
Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

QR Code
XTab-SearchProtect QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of XTab-SearchProtect on your mobile device.
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