How to remove FinderTab browser hijacker

FinderTab takes over the browser seemingly out of nowhere by changing the main settings

FinderTab is a potentially unwanted program^[1] that changes the user experience. When it gets added to the browser as a plugin, it alters the main settings, like the homepage, new tab address, and search engine. Often that causes a lot of stress for people because the change happens quickly and unexpectedly. Many think that they have been infected with a virus. 

We have written about hundreds of browser hijackers, and this activity does not seem to be stopping anytime soon. It brings value not for the users but for the developers. Some previous similar apps we already wrote about include Finderflash.xyz, BlendedSearch, and Wind Blocker. They can change the data on web browsers and alter the content you see on the screen.

When users try to change their settings back to the way they were, after a short while, they get reverted. This will not stop until you remove the FinderTab Default Search extension from your browser completely. In this article, we will provide a detailed removal guide and some insight into how these types of applications are distributed on the Internet.

A detailed view of the plugin

Browser extensions are nothing out of the ordinary, and many people use them to enhance their browser and make it better with additional functions. Users can receive a browsing experience without ads, dangerous links or automatically receive the best discount codes while shopping online.

The FinderTab plugin just changes the settings and forces the person to use findertab.xyz to search the Internet. When you type something in that search and press “Enter,” you will get redirected to Bing search engine. Although there is nothing shady about that engine as it is used by Microsoft, the developers of the app can track your browsing behavior and collect it with the help of cookies.^[2]

The best way to get rid of various trackers is to use a maintenance tool like FortectIntego. It can clear the browsers automatically and stop them completely. That should also improve the performance of the device as it cleans all the temporary files from the machine. Besides that, the software can fix more serious system errors, like corrupted files, registry issues, and BSoDs.^[3]

That is why you should read about the services and products you use before getting them. You can see all the things the extension can do in your browser settings, so if you were careful, you would not be surprised. Add-ons just cannot get in your browser without you pressing a couple of “Allow” buttons unless it is a PUP that is hiding in your system.

Distribution techniques

Extensions that are created to generate profit from users' browsing activities are spread on shady websites that are full of deceptive ads and redirects. This is why we always say that these types of infections are caused by the users themselves and their careless nature. Many people ignore cybersecurity expert tips and visit pages that engage in illegal activities and are unregulated.

Another very popular way to spread applications like this is on freeware^[4] distribution sites. The owners of such sites still need to make money so they include additional programs in the installers and do not disclose that in the hopes that most users will not notice them. Unfortunately, that is what happens most of the time. Depending on the way the extension got in your browser, you might need to perform different removal methods.

Remove the plugin via browser settings

First, let's open your browser and remove the extension that is causing the settings to change. You can find instructions for Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, Safari, and Internet Explorer below this post.

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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.

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.

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.

Remove the add-on from your system

As we mentioned before, the symptoms you are experiencing could be caused by a PUP that got there when you were installing freeware from unofficial sources. To avoid that happening in the future, you should implement some habits. Never rush through the installation process and do not skip through the steps. Always choose “Custom” or “Advanced” installation methods and uncheck the boxes next to any unnecessary programs in the list.

The removal of a PUP can be a little more complicated if it is named differently than it appears in the browser. Because of that, we recommend using professional security tools like SpyHunterCombo Cleaner or MalwarebytesMalwarebytes that can scan the machine and eliminate them automatically. Antivirus software can detect suspicious processes in the background.

If you know what application you need to get rid of, you can follow the step-by-step instructions for Windows and Mac:

Windows 10/8:

1. Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
3. From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
4. Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
5. If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
6. Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.

Windows 7/XP:

1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
3. Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
4. At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
5. In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
6. Click OK once the removal process is finished.

Mac:

1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
2. In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
3. 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:

1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
3. In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
4. Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.