Better Tab virus (Removal Instructions) - Jul 2017 update
Better Tab virus Removal Guide
What is Better Tab virus?
Main problems caused by the Better Tab virus
Better Tab virus can be described as a questionable browser extension developed by a company called BeeStripe LLC. You can find it at the Google Play store or, most likely, after installing some freeware or shareware without monitoring its installation process.
This tool looks like a handy browser assistant: it keeps you up to date with the time and date, allows you to “stay organized” and create to-do lists and, finally, it gives you the ability to customize the background of your homepage by picking the pictures you like from the gallery of the Better Tab or by uploading them yourself.
As we have mentioned, the software is currently available on Chrome Web Store and has accumulated over 40,650 users[1]. However, not everyone is equally happy with this service. Users complain that the extension installs on the browsers without their permission and replaces the homepage and default search engine with BetterTab.com search.
Such misunderstandings typically occur when the developers of freeware/shareware fail to disclose what additional components will be installed along with the primary program. This marketing strategy is legal because it allows opting out of these components manually. Nevertheless, due to the lack of time or computing skills, they don’t do that. As a result, BetterTab virus infiltrates their computers.
If you are one of such users, you should know that you should be able to remove Better Tab extension from your computer like any other program. However, sometimes this uninvited program tends to hide its files to prevent its full elimination. In this case, run a full system scan with FortectIntego or similar antivirus software just to be sure your device is virus-free.
Understanding adware-type programs
Better Tab is not a malicious program — the software developers disclose the app will replace browser’s homepage in the program’s description. Nevertheless, its developers have chosen not the most honest way of spreading it around. Thus it may seem that the program has some virus resembling undertones to it.
We should also point out program’s tendency to track users’ browsing habits and collect non-personally identifiable information. This activity is initiated to know which targeted advertisements could generate more profit. No matter that all vendors do it (that's how they monetize their product [2]), you should be careful with these ads. If sponsored links you see are a bit over the top, you should better switch back to your Google and perform Better Tab removal without wasting the time. .
Better Tab extension shows up on the browser as a result of being installed along with other freeware programs. It carries on the hijack by replacing the homepage and default search engine of the infected browser.
Preventing Better Tab virus on your computer
The main problem with Better Tab is that it comes bundled with many different applications and can only be opted out when running the installation in an Advanced mode. You can select this or the Custom mode in the beginning of the software setup procedure and follow each installation very carefully to deselect check marks that allow installation of optional components.
Quick or Recommended modes should be avoided because they allow additional programs to get into the system. We hope that you are not the one who wants such viruses on your computer.
Suggestions on Better Tab removal
As we’ve already mentioned at the beginning of the article, you should be able to remove Better Tab from your PC like any other application. Nevertheless, some antivirus software are said to pick up on this extension as a potentially unwanted program, so if you are struggling to carry out Better Tab removal manually, you can definitely give automatic tools a try.
You may remove virus damage with a help of FortectIntego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
Getting rid of Better Tab virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
To remove Better Tab virus from Windows, you should follow a guide given below. Your task is to find all components of this PUP, including its browser helper objects and similar files. To help you with this task, we prepared the removal guidelines below which can be used freely to eliminate this software from your computer properly.
Instructions for Windows 10/8 machines:
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
If you are Windows 7/XP user, proceed with the following instructions:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
Delete from macOS
Remove items from Applications folder:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click on Uninstall at the bottom.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Privacy & security.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select everything (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Disable if you found any suspicious domain.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
If this solution failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method. Note that you need to backup your data before proceeding.
- Find the following folder on your computer: C:\\Users\\%username%\\AppData\\Local\\Packages\\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
- Press Ctrl + A on your keyboard to select all folders.
- Right-click on them and pick Delete
- Now right-click on the Start button and pick Windows PowerShell (Admin).
- When the new window opens, copy and paste the following command, and then press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register “$($_.InstallLocation)\\AppXManifest.xml” -Verbose
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select unwanted plugin and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Options.
- Under Home options, enter your preferred site that will open every time you newly open the Mozilla Firefox.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data…
- Select Cookies and Site Data, as well as Cached Web Content and press Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox…
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
To remove Better Tab from Chrome, you should either reset this browser or find and remove all add-ons that could be related to this hijacker. Instructions on how to do that are given below:
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:
- Click Safari > Clear History…
- From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
- Confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:
- Click Safari > Preferences…
- Go to Advanced tab.
- Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches.
After uninstalling this potentially unwanted program (PUP) and fixing each of your web browsers, we recommend you to scan your PC system with a reputable anti-spyware. This will help you to get rid of Better Tab registry traces and will also identify related parasites or possible malware infections on your computer. For that you can use our top-rated malware remover: FortectIntego, SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes.
How to prevent from getting stealing programs
Do not let government spy on you
The government has many issues in regards to tracking users' data and spying on citizens, so you should take this into consideration and learn more about shady information gathering practices. Avoid any unwanted government tracking or spying by going totally anonymous on the internet.
You can choose a different location when you go online and access any material you want without particular content restrictions. You can easily enjoy internet connection without any risks of being hacked by using Private Internet Access VPN.
Control the information that can be accessed by government any other unwanted party and surf online without being spied on. Even if you are not involved in illegal activities or trust your selection of services, platforms, be suspicious for your own security and take precautionary measures by using the VPN service.
Backup files for the later use, in case of the malware attack
Computer users can suffer from data losses due to cyber infections or their own faulty doings. Ransomware can encrypt and hold files hostage, while unforeseen power cuts might cause a loss of important documents. If you have proper up-to-date backups, you can easily recover after such an incident and get back to work. It is also equally important to update backups on a regular basis so that the newest information remains intact – you can set this process to be performed automatically.
When you have the previous version of every important document or project you can avoid frustration and breakdowns. It comes in handy when malware strikes out of nowhere. Use Data Recovery Pro for the data restoration process.
- ^ Better Tab description on Chrome Web Store. Chrome Web Store. Small programs that add new features to your browser and personalize your browsing experience.
- ^ What is software monetization?. Gemalto. Security to be free.