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How to remove Art Tab browser extension

Also Known As: srchinart.com redirect
Damage level: Medium

What kind of application is Art Tab?

Our analysis of the Art Tab application has revealed that it is a browser extension that has been created to hijack web browsers. The app forcibly pushes a fake search engine (srchinart.com) by altering the settings of the browser. Additionally, Art Tab has the ability to read certain data.

srchinart.com browser hijacker

Art Tab browser hijacker overview

Art Tab changes the default search engine, homepage, and new tab page to srchinart.com, thereby forcing users to use this fake search engine to browse the Internet. We have tested srchinart.com and discovered that it presents results generated by bing.com, a reputable search engine.

It is important to note that using shady search engines can lead to visiting untrustworthy websites. These search engines can promote various scams, malicious sites, potentially dangerous applications, and more. Therefore, it is highly recommended to avoid using them.

Moreover, Art Tab has the ability to detect the user's physical location and access a list of frequently visited websites. This information may be used for marketing purposes, sold to third parties, or exploited in other ways, which can pose risks to online privacy.

Threat Summary:
Name Art Tab
Threat Type Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s) Art Tab 
Supposed Functionality Customized homepage
Promoted URL srchinart.com
Detection Names N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (srchinart.com) 13.249.85.23
Affected Browser Settings Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Symptoms Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the 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 browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)

To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner.
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Browser hijackers in general

The purpose of browser hijackers is to promote various search engines (both legitimate and untrustworthy ones). Not all apps of this type alter the settings of web browsers to promote search engines. Usually, users cannot remove unwanted search engines from the settings of their web browsers while browser-hijacking apps are present.

Examples of browser hijackers are Racing Cars Tab, Nature NewTab Extension, and Worldwide Clock Extension.

How browser hijackers are distributed?

Browser hijackers often come bundled with other software that users download from the Internet. They are included as an option in the installation process and are automatically installed unless users uncheck certain boxes or decline unwanted installations.

Also, browser hijackers are distributed through fake software update notifications, shady websites, and untrustworthy web pages. In most cases, users download and install/add browser hijackers inadvertently.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

Download apps (and files) from trustworthy sources such as official websites and stores. Avoid downloading from third-party sources, unofficial pages, P2P networks, and other similar sources. Be cautious when clicking on ads on suspicious pages, and do not permit these pages to send notifications.

Before completing downloads and installations, carefully inspect downloaders and installers. Ensure that there are no unwanted apps included and deselect them if necessary. If your computer is already infected with Art Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Srchinart.com redirects to bing.com (GIF):

Art Tab srchinart.com redirects to bing.com

Permissions asked by Art Tab browser hijacker:

Art Tab browser hijacker asking for permissions

Website promoting Art Tab browser hijacker:

Website used to promote Art Tab browser hijacker

Another website promoting Art Tab:

Art Tab browser hijacker promoter 2

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▼ 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:

Art Tab 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.

srchinart.com browser hijacker uninstall via Control Panel

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

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the srchinart.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Art Tab browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing srchinart.com related Google Chrome extensions

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Art Tab" and other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Removing srchinart.com from Google Chrome homepage

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Art Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.srchinart.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:

Removing srchinart.com from Google Chrome default search engine

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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 "srchinart.com", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Delete".

  • If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the srchinart.com redirect, 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 extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing srchinart.com related Mozilla Firefox extensions

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate "Art Tab", as well as all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Removing srchinart.com 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 "Settings", in the opened window disable "Art Tab", remove hxxp://srchinart.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change your default search engine:

Removing srchinart.com from Mozilla Firefox default search engine

In the URL address bar, type "about:config" and press Enter. Click "Accept the Risk and Continue".

In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled". Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the Mozilla Firefox switch about:config entry button button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with srchinart.com redirect 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 srchinart.com redirect, 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on srchinart.com redirect or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users visit srchinart.com website?

Fake search engines are designed to show more ads or promote certain products and services, generating income for their creators. Also, a higher number of visitors means more revenue.

Is visiting srchinart.com a threat to my privacy?

It can be said that using fake search engines can pose a threat to privacy since they can be designed to gather a variety of information about their users.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Browser hijackers are frequently promoted/distributed using social engineering techniques like pop-up ads, shady browser notifications, and software bundles.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Art Tab browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will scan your computer and eliminate all browser-hijacking applications. It is recommended to remove apps of this type using specialized software. Pretty often, apps of this type can reinstall one another (when more than one of them is present). In such cases, manual removal becomes a difficult task.

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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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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
srchinart.com redirect QR code
Scan this QR code to have an easy access removal guide of srchinart.com redirect on your mobile device.
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