Handy-Tab.com virus (Removal Instructions) - Feb 2020 update
Handy-Tab.com virus Removal Guide
What is Handy-Tab.com virus?
Handy Tab is a browser extension that seeks to gain revenue by displaying commercial content
Handy Tab is an add-on that can be downloaded and installed from the Google Chrome store. However, this application usually attaches to the browser when users download third-party applications without paying much attention to the installation process. As soon as the potentially unwanted program gets into the PC, it alters browser settings[1] and sets the homepage, search engine, and new tab URL to search.handy-tab.com. Handy Tab tries to look as much useful as possible by providing a big variety of features that the users would be able to employ after downloading the extension to their browsers.
The bogus app offers to check the weather forecast, create to-do lists, write down notes, access bookmarks simply, and open various applications at a faster speed. You might get quickly attracted to Handy Tab extension, however, you should be aware that it can bring negative consequences such as altered search query results, redirects to affiliate domains filled with sponsored adverts, the constant delivery of commercial content, collecting your non-personal information and sharing it with other parties, installing additional potentially unwanted programs to the system, etc.
| SUMMARY | |
| Name | Handy-Tab.com |
| Type | Browser hijacker, PUP |
| Extension | When the browser hijacker infects web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, or Safari, it adds the Handy Tab extension to them |
| Distribution | The bogus product can be downloaded from its official website and even the Google Chrome web store. However, it is more likely that you will receive the app together with bundled freeware or shareware |
| Symptoms | If you are infected with this browser hijacker, it will change the new tab page, homepage, and search engine of your hijacked web browser. Furthermore, you are likely to find the Handy Tab extension installed in your browser settings. Other signs might include frequent redirecting and advertising |
| Main dangers | Beware that the browser hijacker can bring other programs to the computer system, including malicious ones. This can happen if the PUP is used as an intermediary for malware distribution or if you have landed on a malware-laden location during a redirecting session |
| Elimination | Terminate the potentially unwanted program with the help of automatical antivirus software or use the manual instructions that have been included to the end of this article. If you have encountered any system damage, try repairing it with FortectIntego |
As soon as Handy Tab infiltrates the system and changes Windows Registry, as well as browser settings, it starts redirecting users' searches to sponsored domains. Most of the time, such locations will appear filled with questionable offers and deals. However, there also is a chance of landing on an infected website where malware is delivered.
Online advertising is also a common practice of browser hijackers such as Handy-Tab.com virus. However, aggressive ads and their redirects can not only disturb daily browsing sessions but also lead to malware infection. Additionally, fake surveys and tech support scams[2] can be encountered as well. Do not provide any sensitive information if you are unexpectedly asked by some type of fake reward claim or questionnaire.
Furthermore, Handy Tab virus might try to earn income from displaying targeted advertising posts. The developers deliver as many attractive-looking pop-ups as possible to collect clicks on the ads. Besides being very annoying and providing fake deals and offers, the incoming advertisements might increase into such a big number that can interrupt your browsing process. This can cause browser and system slowdowns[3].
Handy-Tab.com is also interested in tracking users' non-personal information. Browser hijacker authors use several data-gathering technologies (cookies, beacons, JavaScript, etc.) to harvest information, such as:
- Search queries
- IP address
- Geolocation
- Bookmarks added
- Sites visited
- Technical information, etc.
While this data is considered to be anonymous, certain personal details can be acquired by Handy Tab while asking users to fill in surveys and participating in various questionnaires. This type of information can also include contact details which you should avoid to reveal as you might not even notice how your email box or mobile phone will get spammed with rogue-looking offers.
Handy-Tab.com developers have made a statement in their Privacy Policy that personal information can be shared if it comes to investigation purposes or something else that is related to the law:
We may also share your personal information if we believe it is necessary in order to investigate, prevent, or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, situations involving potential threats to the physical safety of any person, violations of Handy Tab's or such Handy Tab Extension's terms of use, or as otherwise required by law.
Be careful while revealing certain information for questionable apps such as Handy-Tab.com as you cannot know where your data might end up. Some developers are interested in sharing collected details with other parties for monetary income.
Bypassing questionable search engines becomes a necessity if you are trying to keep your computer secure. To remove Handy-Tab.com from your web browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari, you need to follow instructions prepared by our security experts (you will find the guidelines below the article).
In case you find the Handy-Tab.com removal process confusing, you can always uninstall the hijacker automatically. We suggest that you use reputable security software that can detect hijackers and other PUPs, and then use FortectIntego to bring all altered system settings to normal. Even though there is no 100% guarantee that this software will work, it is still worth giving a try.
Another reason to hurry up with the Handy Tab elimination process is that the browser hijacker might let other potentially unwanted programs to get placed on your computer system. This includes various adware apps, other browser hijackers, etc. Nevertheless, some developers might find the browser hijacker as an intermediary for malware delivery and try to include virus installation in its operation module.
Beware of Recommended settings during freeware installation
The main trick that PUP developers use for the promotion of questionable software is software bundling,[4] which helps to distribute a couple of programs together. It is a must to install free software carefully; otherwise, you can end up with several unexpected programs on your computer. These tips were provided by UdenVirus.dk team[5] – we find them extremely useful when trying to keep your computer at its peak performance.
- To prevent the unexpected installation of potentially unwanted software, always read what every single line provided in the software installation wizard. Follow each step carefully and make a little stop on the installation settings stage.
- Here, you need to configure the installation settings in order to install ONLY the program that you want. We strongly recommend choosing Custom or Advanced mode to install your download.
- After selecting one or another option, you will get access to the list of “recommended” or “suggested” programs bundled with your download.
- Deselect the checkmarks next to statements stating that you agree with the installation of a specific additional program.
Additionally, you can also take other precautionary steps to be sure that no browser hijacker ever appears on your computer system. For this purpose, avoid visiting websites that are marked as unsafe to proceed with, do not click on unknown content that can appear in such places. Finally, make sure that you have installed reputable antivirus protection that will always protect and save you if something goes wrong.
Get rid of Handy Tab with only one click
A quick and efficient Handy-Tab.com removal procedure requires using anti-malware software. Besides, you should make sure that the program is updated to its latest version to show you the best result in virus elimination. However, it is not the only way of deleting the unwanted browser hijacker from your computer. You can also rely on instructions prepared by our experts that are included at the end of this informative article.
If you are willing to delete the virus manually, follow each step of the provided guide and you will completely remove Handy-Tab.com virus from your machine without using anti-spyware or a computer technician’s help. However, you should know that getting rid of the app from your operating system is not enough, you should also clean and refresh the infected web browser apps such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
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 Handy-Tab.com virus. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
If you want to uninstall the virus from Windows OS, you need to find and eliminate software that is likely to be related to it. You will find some of its components in the list of programs currently installed on your PC.
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
To get rid of all potentially unwanted programs from your Mac operating system, you should complete the below-provided guiding steps.
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 Handy Tab from Chrome, use the instructions provided below. You need to remove this extension from your browser and also reset it to its previous state.
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
To eliminate all the suspicious extensions that were brought to Safari by the browser hijacker and reverse the app back to its previous position, employ the following instructions.
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 Handy-Tab.com 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 browser hijacker
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.
If this free guide helped you and you are satisfied with our service, please consider making a donation to keep this service alive. Even a smallest amount will be appreciated.
- ^ Rachael Lininger, Russell Dean Vines. Phishing: Cutting the Identity Theft Line. Google Books. The World's Most Comprehensive Index of Full-Text Books.
- ^ Tech support scams. Microsoft. Windodws Defender Security Intelligence.
- ^ John Aycock. Computer Viruses and Malware. Google Books. The World's Most Comprehensive Index of Full-Text Books.
- ^ Bundled Software. Computer Hope. Free computer help since 1998.
- ^ UdenVirus. UdenVirus. Malware, Spyware Removal Tutorials.