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  • Active
  • Severity: Medium
  • Browser Hijackers
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · May 2020

How to remove Equaltab.biz

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Gabriel E. Hall · Passionate web researcher

Equaltab.biz redirect might ask to give in personal information of your friends

Equaltab.biz image

Equaltab.biz virus is a potentially unwanted program which functions as a fake search directory. Its developers have created an animated appearance to attract inexperienced computer users downloading the Chrome extension. At first, it might seem handy since it allows to check local weather forecast quickly. However, it stealthily collects valuable information from your browsing routines.

You can notice that your browser settings are modified once you have installed Equal Tab extension. Your new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine are set to http://equaltab.biz/, and you are forced to use these search services during every browsing session.

Note that Equaltab.biz removal is not easy since you cannot simply reset settings mentioned above. This potentially unwanted program has specific plug-ins which are designed to reassign this fraudulent search engine to the parameters every time you want to change them.

Also, after Equaltab.biz hijack, you cannot trust the delivered query results since they are distorted to lead you to the affiliate websites via ads. Those advertisements are hidden among the search results and might not even be relevant or trustworthy. These actions are performed to bring traffic to individual websites and generate pay-per-click revenue for the developers, Extinns Ltd[1]

The illustration of Equaltab.biz virus

Furthermore, you should be aware that some of the displayed ads might be malicious. In other terms, they might carry bogus scripts which are enabled once the advertisement is clicked. As a result, they are designed to connect to the remote server and download other potentially unwanted programs or even high-risk computer infections.

If that is not enough, you might encounter a never-ending Equaltab.biz redirect to less than reliable websites or intrusive offers to complete surveys and participate in contests. This way the authors of this browser hijacker can trick you into submitting personally identifiable information and misusing it for their own purposes[2]

Besides, the developers promote Equaltab by trying to lure you into giving private details of your friends:

If you elect to use our referral service for informing a friend about any of our sites, we ask you for your friend's name and e-mail address. Extinns will automatically send the friend an e-mail inviting them to visit the Equal Tab.

We find these actions more than intolerable and recommend you to pick FortectIntego for Equaltab.biz removal. This is the fastest way to eliminate the browser hijacker from your system and protect your personal information from potential threats. Additionally, offer you a free guide which will teach you how to reset Chrome parameters after hijack attack.

Distribution: PUPs like Equaltab.biz are bundled with freeware

The easiest way how you can install the browser hijacker is to download the Equal Tabs extension for Chrome on the Web Store. However, developers also employ a not so fair distribution method called bundling. This technique allows the contrivers to offer potentially unwanted programs as regular applications by grouping them together. 

Note that the information about the browser hijacker which is hidden inside the installer of the freeware is not fully disclosed. Likewise, you should avoid Recommended or Quick settings since they do not show the pre-selected marks permitting PUP installation. 

Instead, you should choose Custom or Advanced ones and carefully follow the download/installation procedure. If you detect any previously selected boxes, immediately un-tick them. Also, scan the files before download with a reliable security software to make sure that they are not malicious.

Complete Equaltab.biz elimination automatically

Even though you can get rid of Equaltab.biz manually, we suggest you opt for automatic elimination method. It will not only save your time but also ensure that all hijacker-related components and uninstalled from your system. You can choose one program from the list below and let it scan your computer thoroughly. 

However, if you still choose manual Equaltab.biz removal, we suggest you to at least use the instructions below. Experts from BedyNet.ru[3] note that trying to get rid of the browser hijacker without any assistance might cause even more damage. Therefore, make sure that you perform the elimination procedure safely. 

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

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

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

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

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

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

Change your homepage if it was altered:

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

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

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

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. 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.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

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

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. 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:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

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

Clear history and website data:

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

Reset Safari:

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

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