Skip to content
  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Stealing programs
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · May 2018

How to remove Search.tb.ask.com

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Ugnius Kiguolis · The mastermind

Search.tb.ask.com is a search engine that might hijack your browsers

Search.tb.ask.com virus

Search.tb.ask.com by Mindspark Interactive is a search engine that might appear on Google Chrome or other web browsers after incorrect installation of freeware or shareware. This search engine is powered by Ask search. However, once its set as your default one, you might find difficulties in setting your preferred search provider as default one.

Summary
Name Search.tb.ask.com
Developer Mindspark Interactive
Type Browser hijacker
Distribution Software bundles
Symptoms Browser's homepage, default search engine and new tab URL changed, an increased amount of ads showing up when browsing the web, crashing and freezing web browser.
 To uninstall Search.tb.ask.com, install FortectIntego and run a full system scan

Due to unexpected appearance, computer users often refer to it as Search.tb.ask.com virus. However, we want to stress out that it is NOT a virus.[1] It might be only called a browser hijacker[2] or potentially unwanted program (PUP)[3] because it causes unwanted changes on the browser, such as:

  • Search.tb.ask.com or o Home.tb.ask.com set as default homepage or search engine,
  • an increased amount of pop-ups, banners or other types of ads,
  • installation of unknown browser extensions,
  • redirects to promotional websites after clicking links in the results page.

Search.tb.ask.com search engine

Despite the surprise of changed browser’s startup page, Search.tb.ask.com seems like a useful tool. The main page includes shortcuts to popular email services, social networks, and other sites. However, security specialists do not recommend trusting it because of the capability to redirect to promotional websites.

Another negative aspect of this search engine is its ability to collect and share various information about users, such as demographic data, browsing history, interaction with advertisements, etc. The Privacy Policy[4] also tells that aggregated information might be shared with third-parties.

Search.tb.ask.com Privacy Policy

Additionally, developers of the search engine allow third-party tracking technologies. Therefore, if you keep and use it for a long time, you might expect to see lots of commercial content based on your browsing history. Keep in mind that ads nowadays are extremely dangerous because they might include malicious content.

Considering the fact that Search.tb.ask.com is categorized as a potentially unwanted program, you should be aware that it might advertise potentially dangerous or harmful content. Therefore, you should not click on any ads and avoid using this search tool.

Search.tb.ask.com redirect virus

If you use Ask search on a daily basis, you should remove Search.tb.ask.com and set Ask as your default search engine. It might not be safe to use it from the hijacked browser. We have prepared manual removal instructions at the end of the article.

However, we want to suggest opting for automatic Search.tb.ask.com removal and checking if any suspicious programs were not installed without your knowledge. You can start a free scan with FortectIntego right now or you can update your current antivirus and let it clean this cyber threat for you.

Search.tb.ask.com browser hijacker

The search engine is promoted in freeware bundles: tips to avoid it

When downloading freeware and shareware, you have to be careful and attentive. Many PUPs might be spreading with the help of it. Additionally, you might be offered to replace your default search engine or homepage. If you overlook such important steps, you might have to deal with various problems.

For avoiding unplanned system changes, you should always keep an eye on the installation of free programs. We highly recommend opting for Custom or Advanced installation method when installing freeware on the system and then monitoring every installation step.

Search.tb.ask.com redirect issues

If you see a pre-selected statement saying “I agree to make Search.tb.ask.com my default search engine” or similar, you should remove the tick. Researchers from LesVirus.fr[5] remind that Quick or Recommended settings do not have such option. If you use the latter settings, you allow installing the whole software package.

Eliminate Search.tb.ask.com from Google Chrome and other web browsers

To fully remove Search.tb.ask.com, you have to uninstall all programs, files, browser extensions or plugins that you do not remember installing yourself. The guide below will explain to you where to look up for hijacker-related components and how to get rid of them properly.

However, you can also speed up Search.tb.ask.com removal and check the system with anti-malware or anti-spyware program. After full system scan, your preferred search tool will offer to delete malicious components. We also suggest resetting affected browsers to delete tracking cookies or beacons.

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. 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.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

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

Clear cache and site data:

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

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

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 suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

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.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

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.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

Did this guide help?

Be the first to comment

Spyware News
Privacy preferences

We use cookies to improve your experience and analyze traffic. Some cookies enable embedded content like videos and social posts. Choose what you allow — you can change this anytime.