How to remove Search New Tab browser hijacker

What kind of application is Search New Tab?

During our examination of the Search New Tab browser extension, we discovered that it acts as a browser hijacker whose purpose is to promote a fake search engine called askaibrowser.com. Search New Tab hijacks the user's web browser by altering its settings. It is worth noting that users often download and install or add browser hijackers inadvertently.

Search New Tab browser hijacker overview

After it is added, Search New Tab alters the browser's settings, including the homepage, new tab page, and default search engine, to redirect users to askaibrowser.com. However, askaibrowser.com is a fake search engine that redirects users to bing.com, which is a legitimate search engine. The search results displayed on askaibrowser.com are actually from Bing.

It is highly advised to avoid using dubious and fake search engines, as they may display harmful or fraudulent content and gather users' personal information and search queries. Such information can be exploited to compromise users' privacy and security.

Furthermore, browser hijackers can prevent users from reverting to a legitimate search engine or homepage by restricting their ability to change these settings. They can also undo any changes made by users or prevent them from doing so. To remove a fake search engine, it is often necessary to first remove the browser hijacker.

Threat Summary:

Name	Search New Tab
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Search New Tab
Supposed Functionality	Personalized search
Promoted URL	askaibrowser.com
Detection Names (askaibrowser.com)	Bfore.Ai PreCrime (Malicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (askaibrowser.com)	104.21.9.35
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. ▼ 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.

Browser hijackers in general

Browser hijackers are programs that can seize control of a user's web browser and manipulate its behavior in ways that are unwanted or unintended by the user. This can involve altering the browser's settings, redirecting the user to fake search engines, displaying unwanted pop-up ads, and harvesting different kinds of information.

Examples of apps designed to hijack web browsers are oWebster Search, Active Land, and Up 2 Date.

How did Search New Tab install on my computer?

Browser hijackers are often bundled with other software that users download, such as free games, media players, etc. Users may not realize that a browser hijacker is included in the installation process. Another way users can get browser hijackers is by being redirected to malicious websites that automatically install them.

In some cases, a pop-up message may appear on the user's screen claiming their computer is infected with a virus and recommending software to solve the problem. If the user agrees to the installation, a browser hijacker may be installed alongside the software.

How to avoid installation of browser hijackers?

To avoid downloading and installing browser hijackers, users should download software only from reputable sources and double-check that they are downloading from the official website of the software developer. During the installation process, it is necessary to carefully read through the installation screens and uncheck any boxes that offer to install additional software.

Users should also avoid trusting ads on suspicious websites or agreeing to receive notifications from such websites. These steps can help prevent the accidental installation of browser hijackers. If your computer is already infected with Search New Tab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

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

Permissions asked by Search New Tab browser hijacker:

Official page promoting Search New Tab browser hijacker:

Shady page promoting Search New Tab:

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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:

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

Search New 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, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Search New Tab browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

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 "Search New Tab" and other recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Search New Tab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.askaibrowser.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 "askaibrowser.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 askaibrowser.com redirect, 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 extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

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

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Settings", in the opened window disable "Search New Tab", remove hxxp://askaibrowser.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 "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 button.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with askaibrowser.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, 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 askaibrowser.com redirect, 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

The purpose of forcing users to use a fake search engine is typically to generate profit for the creators of the browser hijacker or the fake search engine. The fake search engine may display ads or sponsored content, and each click on these ads can generate revenue for the hijacker's creators.

Is visiting askaibrowser.com a threat to my privacy?

Visiting askaibrowser.com can be a threat to your privacy. Fake search engines may collect your search queries, browsing history, and personal information. This data can be used to track your online activities, display targeted ads, or even sell your information to third parties.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Social engineering tactics, such as intrusive ads and browser notifications, are commonly utilized to spread browser hijackers. Moreover, these apps are frequently distributed via software downloaders and installers as bundled software.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Search New Tab browser hijacker?

Combo Cleaner can remove browser hijackers. Manual removal may not be effective if multiple hijackers are present, as they can reinstall each other and make removal settings inaccessible. Therefore, it is required to remove all hijackers at the same time to ensure complete elimination.

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