LiveTab browser hijacker (Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge) - Tutorial
LiveTab browser hijacker Removal Guide
What is LiveTab browser hijacker?
LiveTab browser hijacker is the browser extension manipulating settings and preferences to control the online traffic
The extension is creating issues with the performance when those processes like searches online are affected
LiveTab browser hijacker can trigger various issues with the machine and then expose you to dangerous online content. The intruder is categorized as a potentially unwanted program due to the way it spreads around. The hijacker like any other browser-based program can trigger changes to settings that affect the startup files, program performance and create speed issues on the computer.
These particular problems with performance and applications indicate the possible infection. LiveTab browser hijacker can silently infiltrate the machine and affect the behavior of the machine significantly. The issue with this particular program is the browser extension that gets installed without particular permission from the user.
Google Chrome mainly suffers from these changes with the LiveTab – Live Streams in your Browser Tab browser extension is added to the arsenal of tools on the web brewer application. The main problem of these browser-based programs is third-party involvement because any hijacker or adware program that spreads using these torrent platforms, deceptive sites, other typical methods, can be involved with the sponsors and commercial content creators.
Name | LiveTab browser extension |
---|---|
Type | Browser hijacker, plugin |
Category | Potentially unwanted program |
Issues | The performance gets significantly affected when homepage, new tab, default search engine preferences are altered |
Distribution | Freeware installation sites, deceptive platforms, and torrent-based services |
Danger | Third-party involvement leads to data tracking[1] issues and malvertising[2] campaigns |
Removal | Anti-malware tools are needed for the proper system clearing purpose |
System fix | Try to run FortectIntego to remediate issues created by the PUP infections |
Issues with the unwanted browser-based infection
LiveTab – Live Streams in your Browser Tab is the particular plugin that people complain about. It manages to appear out of nowhere because it is the intruder that can be spread around quickly due to the freeware installation injections and software bundling techniques.
The extension is not installed by the user mainly because the program appears added to the browser tool list after the installation of another program or tool. It happens when PUP developers pre-pack their products with other threats and allow the process to automatically inject unwanted tools on machines.
Experts[3] always note that this is the common problem related to particular PUP-type infections. The deceptive promotional content online can push the LiveTab browser hijacker as a useful tool and application that people might want to have and add manually. Sometimes people fall for these tricks and add those useless apps on purpose.
Some of the issues are related to the search engine and redirects, so the installation of the program can indicate the changes that this tool wants to make on the machine. That indication about symptoms should indicate that the intrusive program is not that safe, but people still add the extension to the machine.
These changes should encourage people to avoid the installation
Eliminating the intrusive threats
These issues with browsing inline are created by the PUP that runs in the background and triggers all the processes on the machine. If the hijacker is installed on the machine you see all searches rerouted via LiveTab.tv engine, the site added to the homepage and as the new tab page. Other browser extensions might appear installed behind your back too.
You need to remove the infection by running antivirus tools like SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes and clear the machine fully. The program based on an AV detection engine can find all these programs related to the LiveTab browser extension and terminate them properly. Removing the PUP helps to stop the behavior on the machine. But you still might need to manually alter some settings and delete programs from the browsing tools.
The most common issue with this PUP is the problem created with the Google Chrome browser, so if you have the unwanted LiveTab – Live Streams in your Browser Tab browser hijacker on the machine, follow the guide and get rid of the application or any additional programs you find.
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.a
- 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.
When the machine is affected by an intruder like this LiveTab browser hijacker symptoms might not be displayed right away because the PUP runs in the background. If you can point to the time you installed a program or used streaming services, browsed the particularly suspicious site that might be the time your device got infected.
If so, you can remove the particular application and get rid of the annoying commercial content redirects by terminating the intruder running on your browser directly. Removing the application and the piece like the LiveTab – Live Streams in your Browser Tab extension can be helpful, but additional changes to settings still lead to redirects and issues with the performance of the computer.
You can avoid catching such threats on the machine and that is possible with Advanced or Custom installation options during each installation of the program and browsing tool. Promotional advertisements should not be the main method for the programs you need because pre-packing is the problem. Choose sources that are reliable and trustworthy to avoid unwanted installs of these damaging programs and browser-based apps.
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 LiveTab browser hijacker. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
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
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.
Delete from Safari
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 LiveTab browser hijacker 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 plugins
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity. While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful Private Internet Access VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important – recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data. Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as Data Recovery Pro can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
- ^ The good, the bad and the ugly sides of data tracking. Internethealthreport. Privacy and security reports.
- ^ Malvertising. Wikipedia. The free encyclopedia.
- ^ Dieviren. Dieviren. Spyware news and virus removal guides.