Dubalub.com. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Dub a Lub is a browser hijacker with questionable intentions
Dubalub is a fake search provider which belongs to the same developer as DubSearch extension. It can invade your computer without your knowledge and take over all of your browsers. This search tool has been added to “browser hijacker”[1] category because it can also cause continuous redirects to Dubalub.com and similar sites.
The search engine has been promoted as a great way to protect your privacy and enhance your browsing experience. However, search results generated by Dubalub are not trustworthy. This search engine is closely related to third parties that are seeking to drive visitors’ traffic to their websites. That’s why hijacker fills its search results with links to these sites. However, the biggest issue here is that, after clicking such link, you can find yourself on a dubious website filled with other viruses.[2]
Dubalub.com has been promoted together with a browser extension known as DubSearch. If any of them enters the system, it takes over web browsers, assigns a new command line and changes the default search engine, a new tab page, and a homepage. Usually, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and other browsers are targeted by these PUPs.
Without a doubt, this dubious search engine looks like the most popular search engines, such as Google, Bing and similar. However, such GUI is used just to trick users into believing that the service they are dealing with is legitimate. Unfortunately, Dubalub Search is designed just to generate revenue for its developers. Therefore, we would like to suggest you remove Dubalub virus from your system immediately. You can do that by following our step-by-step guide at the end of this article or proceed with an automatic removal option.
Dubalub.com is not a dangerous application on its own. However, the virus-like behavior and suspicious search results can lead you to serious trouble.
After infiltrating the system, this unwanted program initiates the following commands;
- Makes changes to your system by changing the shortcut tab in the target field;
- Assigns new tab URL, search engine and homepage to hxxps://dubalub.com;
- Displays various intrusive ads;
- Initiates consistent redirects to third-party websites;
- Might slow down your computer;
- Might record non-personally identifiable information.
If you have already been infected and tried setting your browser settings back to normal, you might have already found that it is almost impossible. If you leave even the smallest component related to this hijacker, it reassigns all its settings right after you reboot your computer. To prevent this, use Reimage for Dubalub removal right after you find it in your Chrome and similar browser.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
If you are 'Windows 10 / Windows 8' user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once 'Quick Access Menu' shows up, select 'Control Panel' and 'Uninstall a Program'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Right click on browsers' icon and select 'Properties'
Select 'Shortcut' tab and delete 'http://isearch.babylon.com...' or other suspicious URL
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
When in 'General' tab, delete malicious URL from 'Home Page' section or click on 'Restore to Default' button. Click 'OK' to save changes
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
After clicking on menu and 'Settings', select 'Set pages'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
When in 'General', delete malicious URL and enter your desired domain name
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Browser hijackers are mostly spread via bundling
This browser hijacker can be downloaded consciously from its developers’ website. After falling for misleading claims that are posted there, all you have to do is to click an Install button on the bottom-right corner of the page. However, we do NOT recommend that.
Besides, infections like these can infiltrate your system without your consent. As long as users tend to download free software on the internet without paying attention to its installation, hijackers, adware, and similar PUPs will keep hiding among optional components.
To prevent such unwanted additions, make sure you never trust Quick or Recommended installation modes. Besides, never skip installation steps and read terms and conditions before clicking “I agree” button.
While installing free software from the internet can be quite tricky, follow these steps and you will avoid unwanted programs and computer viruses:
- Always choose Advanced/Custom installation settings;
- Carefully read terms and conditions;
- Opt out of any unwanted programs that can be offered during installation.
Cyber security specialists from usunwirusa.pl[3] advise downloading updates and software only from official websites and avoiding third-party content entirely. Additionally, do not click on any suspicious ads you might find on the internet. They might lead you to dubious sites.
Remove DubSearch from your computer
After you notice suspicious activity of an unwanted program on your browser, you might think that you are in serious trouble. However, you just need to take some action, and you will fix your computer entirely.
Removing threats like browser hijackers is a relatively simple task. You just need to select a reliable anti-spyware and run a full scan. To remove Dubalub Search from the system, you can choose one of the programs that are given below.
Besides, there is also another way you could use for DubSearch removal from your machine. You can do that manually if you don’t want to install additional software on your computer. For that, please follow our step-by-step guide below. Be aware that you must follow every step carefully and in the correct order. Otherwise, you can put your system at risk.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Dubalub.com, follow these steps:
Get rid of Dubalub.com from Windows systems
If you want to remove Dubalub.com from your startup page, you have to look up for hijacker-related entries on the computer. Follow this guide to eliminate them:
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall Dubalub.com and related programs
Here, look for Dubalub.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Dubalub.com from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariErase Dubalub.com from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Dubalub.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Delete Dubalub.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
Dub a Lub or similar add-on may have been installed in Internet Explorer without your knowledge. Follow this guide to remove it together with associated components.
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Dubalub.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Dubalub.com removal.
Remove Dubalub.com from Microsoft Edge
After the hijack, you should fix Microsoft Edge by following the steps below:
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Dubalub.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariEliminate Dubalub.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
DubSearch Search might be set by one of the questionable Firefox add-ons. Check the list of installed extensions and delete unknown entries.
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Dubalub.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Dubalub.com removal.
Uninstall Dubalub.com from Google Chrome
This guide will help you to terminate suspicious search tool, add-ons, extensions and helper objects from Google Chrome:
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Dubalub.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Dubalub.com removal.
Get rid of Dubalub.com from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Dubalub.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Dubalub.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Dubalub.com removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ Andy O'Donnell. How to Prevent Browser Hijacking. Lifewire. Tech how-to guides and tutorials.
- ^ Dann Albright. Which Websites Are Most Likely to Infect You with Malware?. MakeUseOf. The guide in modern tech.
- ^ Usunwirusa. Usunwirusa. Polish cyber security news.