Search.ricktab.com browser hijacker (virus) - Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge

Search.ricktab.com browser hijacker Removal Guide

What is Search.ricktab.com browser hijacker?

Search.ricktab.com is a browser hijacker that turns cartoon's fame into profits via ads

Search.ricktab.comThe hijacker alters search results and uses a different search provider

If your browser's homepage and new tab address are always being redirected to Search.ricktab.com, it means that there is a browser hijacker installed on your system. This particular hijack occurs as soon as an extension called Rick Tab gets attached to the browser. In most cases, however, these changes are not voluntary, as many users are tricked into installing this program due to its deceptive distribution technique known as software bundling.[1]

The app tries very hard to be attractive to users – it uses a very popular US cartoon Rick and Morty as its top-selling point. Images from the show are displayed at the homepage of the browser (be it Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or MS Edge). They are constantly changing once the new tab is opened, making it seem like it's a fun experience to have. However, behind the fancy pictures hides quite a mess.

As soon as you enter your search query into the new search box, you will soon notice that your web browser no longer directs you to the default provider (likely, Google) but rather Bing, although this can also vary, depending on the region you reside in. However, this is just the start of all the issues that the hijacker might cause.

Name Search.ricktab.com
Type Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program
IP address 104.21.22.186
Distribution Software bundle packages downloaded from third party websites
Symptoms Rick Tab extension is installed on the browser; homepage and new tab address are set to something else; a customized search engine is appended to the homepage; search results are presented via alternative provider (Bing) and are filled with sponsored links and ads
Risks Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, privacy risks due to information gathering practices, financial losses
Removal You can uninstall potentially unwanted programs by following the manual guide below or by scanning the computer with powerful SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner anti-malware
Optional steps After you get rid of all the potentially unwanted programs or/and malware from your system, use FortectIntego tune-up utility to clean your web browsers and repair any damages system files

The hidden traits of a potentially unwanted program and why you should remove it

Browser hijackers are considered to be minor infections that usually do not pose a risk to users. However, there is a big reason why these apps are categorized as potentially unwanted by many security experts, as well as antivirus software.

First of all, the distribution of such apps is commonly questionable. While some browser hijackers can be downloaded willingly, a large portion of users finds the altered browser settings seemingly out of nowhere. This is because they commonly download these apps along with the desired ones, making the infiltration of PUPs almost invisible. But more about that below.

One of the most disruptive traits of the browser hijacker is its changes to the browser and the way users interact with the search engine and search results. These apps are focused on altering the results by inserting sponsored content at the very top, making users more likely to click on these links, which are commonly described as “enhanced” search results.

In fact, these are simply ads, and every click benefits the creators of the app. This information might not always be accurate or lead to websites that might promote questionable software. Note that, while the results are presented using a legitimate provider like Bing, the ads are inserted by the hijacker.

Another issue is information tracking. While the Privacy Policy on search.ricktab.com explains that no personal data is being collected, some anonymous information can be collected and shared with third parties. It includes:

  • Browser type and language
  • Technical device details
  • IP address
  • Operating system information
  • Searches, clicks, etc.

Search.ricktab.com virusRick Tab discloses information gathering practices on the Privacy Policy page

While this data is (mostly) considered anonymous, it is important to note that it will be used to provide you with ads based on your interests. This allows third-party advertisers to also use this data, hence you might see ads that or might not be relevant to you.

In any case, the less data is shared with random companies, the better. If you want to switch to more private searches, we recommend privacy-focused engines such as DuckDuckGo. Microsoft Edge also is a browser that comes with better privacy settings than Chrome, for example.

In any case, despite if the Rick and Morty wallpaper within the browser might seem fun, you should probably remove Search.ricktab.com from your browser, as it will continue delivering alternative search results, as well as track you while you are browsing. If you need help, proceed with the instructions below.

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.Remove extensions from Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

  • 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.Remove extensions from Firefox

MS Edge

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

After you delete the unwarned extension, we strongly recommend you check your system with SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner or another powerful security software to remove any other potentially unwanted/malicious programs from your system automatically.

How hijackers are distributed and how to secure your system

We should talk a little about how this application appeared on your browser, as it is an important part of staying safe online (prevention). As we already mentioned, you could have installed the Rick Tab extension because you are a fan of the Rick and Morty show, or maybe you simply like links presented on the altered homepage.

Due to the reasons we mentioned above, these trains might be deceptive, as the full functionality of the hijacker is not immediately clear. Thus, we strongly suggest you never install apps that you have never heard of or were offered to install via an attractive/deceptive ad.

Another way how Search.ricktab.com could have gained access to your browser is via a software distribution technique known as software bundling. This method is extremely prevalent among third-party program distributors as they earn revenue for adding additional components into a single installation wizard.

The main goal is to hide these optional installs with the hope of users not paying enough attention when installing the desired application. And this works very well – people are impatient and simply click the “Next” button until the while in the installation process is finished.

Thus, never rush through these installation steps, as almost all third-party sites bundle software. Some of these optional components might be not only undesirable but also even dangerous. For example, scareware[2] is a well-known software that shows users fake results in order to frighten them and purchase a full version of the app to “remove the found threats.”

Always pick “Advanced/Custom” mode if such is provided, remove all the ticks from pre-checked boxes, and decline all the offers/deals. Pay special attention to the button placement, as they are commonly inserted into places where users would intuitively press to continue installation (for example, the “Accept offer” button would be placed on the right corner of the window, instead of the left one – users are used to having the “Back” button there).

Finishing Search.ricktab.com removal

Removing the extension from the web browser is not always enough to immediately terminate all the activities of a potentially unwanted program. Cookies, web beacons,[3] and other tracking technologies can still be used in order to collect data about your web browsing habits, even after the browser hijacker is eliminated. Therefore, it is vital to take care of your browsers after the removal is finished.

You can clean your browsers manually, as we explain below. If you want a quicker option, you can use FortectIntego instead.

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.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

  • Click Menu and pick Options.
  • 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.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

MS Edge

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

You can find instructions for Safari and Internet Explorer below.

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What to do if failed?
If you failed to fix virus damage using Fortect Intego, submit a question to our support team and provide as much details as possible.
Fortect Intego has a free limited scanner. Fortect Intego offers more through scan when you purchase its full version. When free scanner detects issues, you can fix them using free manual repairs or you can decide to purchase the full version in order to fix them automatically.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Fortect, try running SpyHunter 5.
Alternative Software
Different software has a different purpose. If you didn’t succeed in fixing corrupted files with Intego, try running Combo Cleaner.

Getting rid of Search.ricktab.com browser hijacker. Follow these steps

Delete from Safari

Remove unwanted extensions from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. In the new window, pick Extensions.
  3. Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall. Remove extensions from Safari

Clear cookies and other website data from Safari:

  1. Click Safari > Clear History…
  2. From the drop-down menu under Clear, pick all history.
  3. Confirm with Clear History. Clear cookies and website data from Safari

Reset Safari if the above-mentioned steps did not help you:

  1. Click Safari > Preferences…
  2. Go to Advanced tab.
  3. Tick the Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  4. From the menu bar, click Develop, and then select Empty Caches. Reset Safari

How to prevent from getting browser hijacker

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.

About the author
Jake Doevan
Jake Doevan - Computer technology expert

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