Remove Charming Tab (Virus Removal Guide) – Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

Charming Tab is a suspicious extension for Chrome that generates advertising revenue from sponsored ads and traffic redirects

Charming Tab hijacker

Charming Tab by T.M.D.S. Technilca Management Limited has been developed as a New Tab for Chrome, though it turns out to be a browser hijacker and potentially unwanted program (PUP). Although it is officially distributed on Chrome Web Store, people reported it on Reddit^[1] to be distributed via third-party apps, such as Volume Amplifier, bundles.

It's represented as a Chrome background changer, which is supposed to change the default background image of the start page to a “nice random landscape picture.” Upon installation, it fulfills its promise, though users have condemned it for intrusive performances as well. The so-called Charming Tab virus is accused of browser's hijack and unapproved redirects to charming-tab.com and Bing search. Consequently, ever web search via Google reroutes the traffic to third-party servers and makes people see sponsored search results.

Those who keep experiencing Charming Tab redirects should not worry since this extension is not a virus. It's set to generate advertising revenue through advertising of the affiliates, so it cannot steal your credentials, spy on you, or lock data. However, keeping it is not recommended due to a slight risk of misleading content that its affiliates may represent. For instance, people can receive doubtful software update offers, prize giveaways, surveys, or encounter links to adult sites. Therefore, in this article, we will try to explain to you in a comprehensive manner how to remove Charming Tab from Chrome and recover the system's settings.

Name	Charming Tab
Developer	T.M.D.S. Technilca Management Limited
Classification	Browser hijacker/redirect virus
Symptoms	Replaced Chrome's background image Altered web browser's settings (new tab, search engine, start page, etc.) Continuous redirects to third-party websites via charming-tab.com server Intrusive ads on random websites Chrome delivers Bing search results by default
Compatibility	The extension has been developed for Chrome browser
Danger	The extension itself is not dangerous. However, third-party links and ads that it may deliver are in question regarding security
Elimination	Manual Charming Tab removal can be performed manually. However, if you have installed it via freeware bundle, it's advisable to use a robust anti-malware because disabling the extension won't be sufficient to stop intrusive browser-based activities
Malware damage	Every time when malware settles down on the system, it initiates changes within Windows registered that are not restored by malware elimination. In order to ever unwanted system changes, we recommend taking advantage of Fortect Intego tool

Charming-Tab malware is a suspicious extension for Chrome that may display misleading third-party content to generate advertising income, boost traffic to phishing websites. See an excerpt from the Privacy Policy^[2]:

Our Site includes links to other Web sites whose privacy practices may differ from those of T.M.D.S. TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED. Our service may also be linked to sites or services operated by the T.M.D.S. TECHNICAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED affiliates or third parties, and may carry advertisements or offer content, functionality, games, rewards programs, newsletters, contests or sweepstakes, or applications developed and maintained by third parties including, any online store.

In other words, the extension is too simple to cause any damage to the machine. The risk that it initiates is related to the Charming Tab redirects and ads that disrupt web browsing and keep rerouting the traffic to rogue pages that offer to subscribe services, buy something, or download software.

Charming Tab Privacy Policy

For displaying the content that its affiliates want, the extension initiates several unwanted browser-based changes:

In addition to Chrome's background changes, it sets charming-tab.com as a start page;
Google search is replaced by Bing without permission;
New tab window may open questionable third-party sites that keep displaying a pop-up “XXX wants to show notifications;“
Tracking cookies may be installed to spy on user's web browsing activities.

According to experts from Dieviren.de^[3], Charming Tab removal will stop related third-parties from seeing what websites you are visiting or what ads you are clicking on. Although recording such activity logs is not illegal, such data allows advertisers to improve their schemes and apply them to individual users. Consequently, more appealing ads may show up during web browsing, thus increasing the chances that you will click on them.

In order to keep browsing history unleaked, you should remove Charming Tab virus and similar extensions from the system. Since suchlike PUPs are typically brought be freeware, the best way to get rid of them is to run a scan with a reliable anti-malware tool.

Upon Charming Tab removal, we recommend resetting the web browser's settings and scanning the system with Fortect Intego repair tool. A full guide on how to disable unwanted extensions and eliminate malware scroll down to this post.

Charming Tab PUP

Chrome Web Store promoted extensions are not necessarily useful

The thinking that all extensions and plug-ins distributed on legitimate sources like Chrome Web Store or Play Store is not right. Keep in mind that hundreds of PUP developers gain the license and spread unwanted apps via the mentioned sources to gain the user's trust.

Nevertheless, downloading questionable extensions, add-ons, toolbars, or whatnot without reading comments and reviews on them is risky. That's because they may be malware that aims to change browsers settings to display ads and collect browsing-related data for marketing purposes.

Charming Tab malware

The same applies to freeware and shareware. The latter are often sponsored by third-parties for the distribution of browser-based applications in one package with the main installer. Luckily, freeware bundles can be decomposed if the user selects Advanced installation, monitors the installation setup, and remove ticks marked alongside additional installers.

Eliminate Charming Tab malware to stop intrusive redirects and ads

The developers of the Charming-Tab malware claims that the extension is currently used by over 50,000 users. However, this fact is provided out of nowhere and is not likely to be realistic. Nevertheless, even if this number is real, then we feel the responsibility to help people get rid of intrusive advertisements and unwanted search sites from their web browsers.

To remove Charming Tab virus safely, we recommend scanning the machine with a professional anti-malware program in the first place. The community has reported that most of them downloaded this unwanted extension along with other extensions and freeware. Thus, make sure to get rid of malware in the first place.

Charming Tab promotes sponsored Bing search

Upon the Charming Tab malware removal, analyze the extensions installed on Chrome and disable those that you are not familiar with. Finally, reset browser settings and optimize your machine with Fortect Intego.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.

Remove the unwanted program:

In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).

Delete leftover files and folders:

Select Go > Go to Folder.
Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
Pick Manage Add-ons.
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.

Change your homepage if it was altered:

Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
Select Internet Options.
In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
Click Apply and then select OK.

Delete temporary files:

Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
Under Browsing history, click Delete...
Select relevant fields and press Delete.

Reset Internet Explorer:

Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
Select Reset.
In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.

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 Remove.

Clear cookies and other browser data:

Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (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 Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

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.

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.
This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.

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 the unwanted extension and click Remove.

Reset the homepage:

Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
Choose Settings.
Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

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 and Temporary cached files and pages, then click 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

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 suspicious extensions 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 dangerous extensions:

Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.

Clear history and website data:

Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.

Reset Safari:

Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.

How to remove Charming Tab

Charming Tab is a suspicious extension for Chrome that generates advertising revenue from sponsored ads and traffic redirects

Chrome Web Store promoted extensions are not necessarily useful