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Search My Tabs Adware

Also Known As: Ads by Search My Tabs
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is Search My Tabs?

Developers present Search My Tabs as a legitimate application that supposedly enhances the web browsing experience by allowing them to search the list of open browser tabs. On initial inspection, Search My Tabs may seem legitimate and useful, however, this app often infiltrates systems without consent.

Furthermore, it delivers various intrusive online advertisements and continually monitors browsing activity. For these reasons, Search My Tabs is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.

Search My Tabs adware

Following infiltration, Search My Tabs generates various intrusive ads (for example, banners, pop-ups, coupons, etc.) Developers of adware-type applications often use various tools (including a "virtual layer") that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site.

Therefore, displayed ads often conceal underlying content, significantly diminishing the browsing experience. Some lead to malicious websites or even run malicious scripts that download and install malware/PUPs. Therefore, even accidental clicks can result in high-risk adware or malware infections.

As well as displaying ads, Search My Tabs records various information relating browsing activity. Data tracking is very common to adware-type applications. The list of collected data types usually includes (but is not limited to) Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, and other similar information.

The data might contain personal details that developers of Search My Tabs use to generate as much revenue as possible. The information is sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who also misuse personal details with the same intention - to generate revenue.

Therefore, the presence of an information-tracking app such as Search My Tabs can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. You are strongly advised to uninstall this adware immediately.

Threat Summary:
Name Ads by Search My Tabs
Threat Type Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus
Symptoms Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed.
Distribution methods Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections.
Malware Removal (Windows)

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Search My Tabs is identical to Tabs To Windows, Clean My Chrome, Quiclean, and a number of other PUPs. It also shares many similarities with hundreds of other adware-type applications.

By offering various "useful features", adware-type applications attempt to give the impression of legitimacy, however, these rogue programs are designed only to generate revenue for the developers and give no value for regular users.

Adware-type apps deliver intrusive advertisements (using the "Pay Per Click" advertising model) and continually record various information (which is later sold to third parties).

How did Search My Tabs install on my computer?

Search My Tabs is free for anyone to download on its official website, however, criminals also proliferate PUPs using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling" and the aforementioned intrusive ads. Bundling is stealth installation of third party applications with regular (usually free) software/programs.

Developers conceal bundled apps within the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings of the download/installation processes. Rushing these processes and skipping steps, or clicking ads, commonly exposes systems to risk of various infections and compromises users' privacy.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

To prevent this situation, be very cautious when downloading/installing software and browsing the Internet. Download your software from official sources only and (if possible) select the direct download URL rather than third party download tools. These downloaders often bundle additional software.

If you are encouraged to use a third party download tool, we strongly recommend that you cancel the entire process. Closely analyze the download and installation processes using the "Custom/Advanced" options and decline offers to download/install additional applications.

Avoid clicking ads, since cyber criminals invest a great deal of time and money into making them seem genuine. Therefore, it becomes virtually impossible to determine if they originate from the visited (legitimate) website. Poor knowledge of these threats and rushing steps are the main reasons for computer infections. The key to computer safety is caution.

IMPORTANT NOTE! Search My Tabs installs its Google Chrome extension as Administrator (read more here), thereby preventing removal. Therefore, before taking any further removal steps, perform these actions:

1) Open the Command Prompt by clicking the start menu button and typing "command prompt". Right click the "Command Prompt" result and select "Run as Administrator":

Search My Tabs Run Command Prompt

2) Execute the following commands:

  • rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers"
  • rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"
  • gpupdate /force

Search My Tabs Command Prompt commands

After performing these actions, you can proceed with further removal steps for this adware.

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Quick menu:

Search My Tabs adware 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.

Search My Tabs adware uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window, look for "Search My Tabs", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes Search My Tabs ads, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Search My Tabs adware from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing Search My Tabs ads from Internet Explorer step 1

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "Search My Tabs", select this entry and click "Remove".

Removing Search My Tabs ads from Internet Explorer step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by search my tabs, 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:

Removing Search My Tabs  ads from Google Chrome step 1

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Search My Tabs", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Removing Search My Tabs ads from Google Chrome step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by search my tabs, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing Search My Tabs ads from Mozilla Firefox step 1

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 "Search My Tabs".

Removing Search My Tabs ads from Mozilla Firefox step 2

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with ads by search my tabs 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 adware from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

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

removing adware from safari step 2 - removing extensions

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

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 adware from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 2

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the ads by search my tabs, 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 adware while downloading free software sampleCommonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on ads by search my tabs or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

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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.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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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
Ads by Search My Tabs QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of Ads by Search My Tabs on your mobile device.
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