Search.mediatabtv.online (Easy Removal Guide) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge
Search.mediatabtv.online Removal Guide
What is Search.mediatabtv.online?
Search.mediatabtv.online is a browser hijacker that seeks to obtain user's Search Data
Search.mediatabtv.online is a dubious search provider that is usually related to browser-hijacking activity on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or another used browser. Just as many other potentially unwanted programs,[1] this one is usually travels within software bundles, hence users rarely spot the infiltration.
Once installed, the app changes browsers' homepage and new tab URL, also applying a customized search engine which, once used, would insert promotional links at the top (making users likely to click on them than the organic results). Finally, PUPs are also commonly programmed to track online user activities to provide targeted ads, resulting in more profits for those involved. Unfortunately, users see little to no benefit from such apps, so we highly recommend you not use it.
| Name | Search.mediatabtv.online |
| Type | Browser hijacker, PUP |
| Danger level | Low (cannot harm the system directly. However, can expose users to potentially dangerous content) |
| Distribution | Software bundling |
| Symptoms | Replaces start page with its own one, alters search engine, new tab window, promotes MyFirstTab search. Also, triggers unusual web browser's behavior – excessive ads, random redirects, text turning into hyperlinks, etc. |
| Web browsers affected | Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera |
| Elimination | Uninstall potentially unwanted apps by following our guidelines below |
| Browser fix | You should clean your web browsers – use FortectIntego for a quick fix |
The app is distributed in the form of a web browser extension alongside other free programs. That could be a download manager or software update installer, the developer of which seeks to generate revenue from bundling. If the browser hijacker manages to infiltrate the system stealthily, it initiates designated changes on the system. Some of the changes can hardly be noticed, while the others can hardly be unnoticed:
- Hijacks Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge or another web browser that is currently set by default;
- It replaces the default search site with http://search.mediatabtv.online/api/search-redirect?t=.
- The primary search engine is substituted with MyFirstTab.
- The new tab URL redirects to a preset domain all the time.
- The hijacker can also inject third-party toolbars;
- The increment of ads can be noticed (commercial ads, software promotions, free update downloads, etc.);
- Web browser's redirects to misleading third-party domains;
Those who have already found their web browsers compromised by this PUP should run a scan with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or another reputable anti-virus to remove it asap. The purpose of this dubious search is to generate revenue from shady marketing campaigns.
The avirus.hu[2] team has revealed that the Search.mediatabtv.online may be inclined to display potentially dangerous content. A well-protected operating system and updated web browser should block any content of this search by displaying the following pop-up alert at the top-right corner of the screen:
Insecure content blocked
This page is trying to load scripts from unauthenticated sources.
The user of the website can unblock the content by clicking the Load unsafe scripts link. However, we would do not recommend that. The insecure scrips are served from HTTP servers[3] and might be related to trackers, malicious ads, or other content that might expose your PC at risk of malware infection or data leakage.
Those who can use this search at ease should not trust it even though it displays adapted Yahoo-based search results. It may display links to potentially dangerous web domains or try to generate pay-per-click revenue by flooding the search results with annoying pop-up ads.
The usage of tracking cookies and web beacons is yet another reason that should induce you to remove Search.mediatabtv.online. Keep in mind that it can collect your browsing history and other information, including personal, that you disclose when searching the web. Although it can hardly steal banking information or passwords, there's a high risk of disclosing your email IP address, email address, your name, or telephone number to third parties.
Luckily, PUP can be initiated in a couple of minutes. One of the options is to run a scan with FortectIntego and leave the rest of the work for this security tool. The other way is to eliminate it manually. If you prefer this method, you are free to use a step-by-step guide provided below this article.
Browser hijackers spread appended to freeware
Some of the PUPs known as browser hijackers are distributed on official websites and other legitimate sources, such as Windows App Store or Mac App Store. However, sooner or later, they are reported for suspicious behavior and banned from legitimate sources.
To keep circulating on the web, such and similar PUPs are then bundled with freeware and distributed stealthily. The main reason why so many people still fall for the bundling trick is their inattentiveness. Beware that by selecting Quick or Recommended installation, you inadvertently agree with installing the whole software package, including web browser's extension, add-ons, or other tools.
To keep the system protected, you have to follow a secure freeware installation scheme. First of all, make sure that the developer of the freeware and its download source is reliable. Second of all, opt for Advanced or Custom installation. Third of all, unmark each premarked freeware's component.
Delete Search.mediatabtv.online in two ways
If you've been tricked to install potentially malicious web browser's extension, don't ignore its presence because it may open the backdoor for other malware and expose you to potentially dangerous or even malicious content.
PUP removal does not require specific IT knowledge. You can pick up the help of trustworthy anti-malware utility or perform the removal manually by following the steps provided below.
NOTE: neither manual nor automatic Search.mediatabtv.online removal cleans up the web browser. Therefore, to eliminate third-party cookies and misleading search site from Chrome, Firefox or another browser, make sure to reset its settings.
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 Search.mediatabtv.online. Follow these steps
Uninstall from Windows
The removal of browser hijacker from Windows is not difficult, but can be a little bit tricky. If you have neved did that before, you can use these recommendations:
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.
Remove from Google Chrome
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
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 Search.mediatabtv.online 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.
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- ^ What is a…PUP (Potentially Unwanted Program)?. Fraud Watch International.
- ^ Avirus. Avirus. Virus and Spyware news.
- ^ Zack Whittaker. 'Thousands' of insecure Windows servers remain online, despite risks. ZDnet. 24/7 news coverage and analysis on the trends, technologies and opportunities.