Search.coolmediatabsearch.com Redirect

What is search.coolmediatabsearch.com?

There are many various fake search engines similar to search.coolmediatabsearch.com, including funmediatabsearch.com, smartmediatabsearch.com, futuremediatabsearch.com, etc. All are promoted as useful and legitimate search engines with various additional features.

In fact, like many similar search engines, search.coolmediatabsearch.com is promoted using a browser hijacker - in this case, Cool Media Tab, which is categorized as potentially unwanted application (PUA), since it collects data relating to users' browsing activity. The search.coolmediatabsearch.com search engine also collects data.

Cool Media Tab targets Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Google Chrome. Once installed, it assigns the homepage, search engine, and new tab settings to search.coolmediatabsearch.com.

These modifications may not seem significant, however, users are not able to revert them and are forced to visit search.coolmediatabsearch.com when they open a new browser tab or the browser itself. Having a browser hijacker such as Cool Media Tab installed can significantly diminish the browsing experience.

Furthermore, search.coolmediatabsearch.com and Cool Media Tab record browsing-related data including IP addresses, URLs of visited websites, search queries, keystrokes, etc. The data often includes various personal/sensitive details that developers of information tracking apps share with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

These people generate revenue by misusing private information. Thus, having an information tracking application installed can lead various privacy/browsing safety issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, we recommend that you uninstall the Cool Media Tab immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Cool Media Tab browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Symptoms	Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers.
Damage	Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

As mentioned above, there are many fake search engines available online. Typically, developers promote them as useful search engines that enhance the browsing experience or provide other 'useful features'. In fact, these promotions are attempts to trick users into using rogue websites.

Few of these search engines provide the functionality promised - most are designed only to generate revenue for their developers and provide no real value.

How did Cool Media Tab install on my computer?

As with many other browser hijackers, Cool Media Tab can be downloaded from an official website used to promote it, however, users usually install these apps due to lack of knowledge and careless online behaviour.

To trick users into installing potentially unwanted applications, software developers often use "bundling", a deceptive marketing method used to trick people into installing PUAs with regular software. They hide these apps in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings of the installation processes.

In this way, they avoid disclosing information about PUAs being present in set-ups. Thus, many users install them when they skip installation steps without carefully studying them, or when they click intrusive ads.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

Browse the web and install/download software with care. Check all available checkboxes, "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings and options that are available within the installation setup. Decline offers to install additional programs/applications and only then finish the installation process.

Download software from official, trustworhty sources, and use direct links only. Avoid using third party software downloaders or installers, since they usually install unwanted applications using the bundling method. Avoid clicking on intrusive ads, especially when visiting dubious websites.

These ads usually seem legitimate, however, once clicked, they redirect to adult dating, pornography, gambling, and other dubious websites. If you encounter these ads and redirects, check your browser plugins (extensions and add-ons  and remove any suspicious entries immediately.

Also check the list of installed programs on your computer. If your computer is already infected with Cool Media Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Cool Media Tab browser hijacker:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is search.coolmediatabsearch.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Cool Media Tab application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.coolmediatabsearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Cool Media Tab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.coolmediatabsearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.coolmediatabsearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Cool Media Tab browser hijacker removal:

Windows 11 users:

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:

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:

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:

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.

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "Cool Media Tab"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.coolmediatabsearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Cool Media Tab browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

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

Change your homepage:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.coolmediatabsearch.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click the "gear" 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 and then remove "Search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the cool media tab browser hijacker, 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.

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.

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

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

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

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Cool Media Tab" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, look for a "Cool Media Tab" browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.coolmediatabsearch.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.

Change your default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "search.coolmediatabsearch.com", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the cool media tab browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the 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.

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

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

Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Cool Media Tab", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, disable "Cool Media Tab", remove hxxp://search.coolmediatabsearch.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

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: "search.coolmediatabsearch.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with cool media tab browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

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

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

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

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

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

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

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.

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...

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

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge 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:

Click the Edge 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:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge 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 near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the cool media tab browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

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.

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

Summary:

A 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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