Streaming Lab Tab: what it is and how to remove it

Streaming Lab Tab is a potentially unwanted application that usually comes in the form of a browser extension, and is compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and other popular browsers. The app can be downloaded from official sources, although it can also spread within software bundles, which often results in an unintentional installation by users.

Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.

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Streaming Lab Tab: browser hijacker pup
Streaming Lab Tab as our 2020 report showed it.

Streaming Lab Tab: summary

DistributionSoftware bundle packages, official sources, deceptive/attractive ads
NameStreaming Lab Tab
TypeBrowser hijacker, potentially unwanted program
DeveloperAPP N PLAY MOBI. LTD
SymptomsBrowser extensions/apps installed on the web browser or computer; new tab URL and homepage set to streaming-lab.com; all searches lead to Yahoo; search results are filled with sponsored links and ads
DangersInstallation of other potentially unwanted software, privacy issues, financial losses
Removal

Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged.

Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free.
Show 7 more facts
Detection namesNo Microsoft detection name is known
DamageNot recorded in the old report
Evidence4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited
Search pagestreaming-lab.com
BrowsersChrome, Edge and Firefox
First seen14 August 2020
Facts checked6 October 2026

What Streaming Lab Tab changes in your browser

a changed search engine

We collect non-identifiable aggregated information ( "Non-Personal Data") about your device and your use of Services. In addition, we collect data that identifies a user or may identify a user, which is classified as "Personal Data" under applicable law.

Is Streaming Lab Tab dangerous? What it collects

From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since

Streaming Lab Tab is a browser hijacker that knows plenty about you

Streaming Lab Tab is a potentially unwanted application that usually comes in the form of a browser extension, and is compatible with Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and other popular browsers.

The app can be downloaded from official sources, although it can also spread within software bundles, which often results in an unintentional installation by users.

Once installed, the Streaming Lab Tab app changes web browser settings in various ways:

Streaming Lab Tab hijack provides a customized search engine for monetization purposes and does not provide real benefit to the end-user. Instead, those who have the app installed can suffer from serious privacy issues and might be misguided when looking for information online.

Regardless of whether you installed Streaming Lab Tab intentionally or not, you will see its presence straight away, as it displays a new webpage instead of your previous one. Each time you open your browser or a new tab, you will always be presented with a streaming-lab.com address.

All the time, while the extension is installed on your system, you will be forced to use its engine for your searches until you perform a full Streaming Lab Tab removal. You can usually achieve that easily - just right click on the add-on and select uninstall. Nonetheless, if you have an app installed on your system, the termination might not be as easy.

As soon as you enter a search query, you will be redirected to search.yahoo.com, which is a legitimate search provider. Nevertheless, Streaming Lab Tab has little to do with the industry giant, as it only uses its engine.

Unlike Yahoo, however, the installed extension will display sponsored links at the top of search results, hence manipulating you on which sites you visit. To be able to see genuine results once again, you should use non customized search engines instead.

Suchlike behavior is typical to browser hijackers, as they attempt to monetize users' clicks. Even if you clicked on an ad or link unintentionally, it would equal profits for the PUP authors. Therefore, they are very interested in you keeping the app installed on your browser for as long as possible.

Modified browser settings and manipulated search results are not the only reasons you should remove Streaming Lab Tab virus from your system. As it is stated in the Privacy Policy, the developers of the app engage in various information tracking, as long as the extension is installed on the browser.

Under the listed personal information that the company collects is a real name, postal address, unique identifier, IP address, email, Social Security number, phone number, and much more. Thus, make sure you do not type any of your personal information while you have your browser hijacked, or it might end up in the wrong hands.

While the developers of Streaming Lab Tab claim that it is a useful search tool with "clean interface" and "useful links," it brings no value to you whatsoever. Instead, all your online activities will be tracked, and you will be fed with unending ads. Thus, experts advise you to uninstall Streaming Lab Tab as soon as you can and use more privacy-focused search engines if you value your privacy.

  • appends a customized search engine that would redirect all results to Yahoo
  • changes the homepage and new tab address to streaming-lab.com
  • inserts advertisements and sponsored links into searches
  • enables tracking technologies to capture information about users' web browsing activities, etc.
Streaming Lab Tab: browser hijacker pup
Streaming Lab Tab in our 2020 report.
Streaming Lab Tab: potentially unwanted program
Streaming Lab Tab in our 2020 report.

From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since

You can avoid PUPs easily

First of all, we would like to stress that there are so many people who install apps that they know nothing about without any research.

It is extremely important to check out various blog posts and reviews you can find online before you download a new application. Additionally, you should always pick reputable sources for your downloads and avoid sites that distributed pirated programs or cracks - these can easily infect you with malware such as Oonn ransomware.

Nonetheless, keep in mind that even reputable third-party sources bundle software. Therefore, you should be extremely careful during the installation of all the applications. While one of these being malicious is unlikely, you will avoid junk on your system that you do not need (adware, browser hijackers, scareware, and similar PUPs).

Whenever you are installing a new program, make sure you do not rush the process, read all the instructions carefully, remove all the ticks from checkboxes, and, most importantly, always pick the Advanced/Custom settings when prompted, as it will let you stay in control of the process from start to finish.

Streaming Lab Tab: virus data collection
Streaming Lab Tab in our 2020 report.

Check your browser and PC

  • Address: streaming-lab.com

How to remove Streaming Lab Tab

How to remove Streaming Lab Tab and get your search engine back

Remove the extension first.

The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.

  1. Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add

    Streaming Lab Tab often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:

    • chrome://extensions
    • edge://extensions
    • Extensions and themes in Firefox

    Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.

    Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.

    Chrome menu with Extensions and Manage extensions highlighted
    Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension

  2. Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete streaming-lab.com

    Searches that pass through streaming-lab.com mean the browser's default search engine was replaced. Chrome: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then Make default on Google, Bing or another engine you chose, and Delete on streaming-lab.com.

    Edge has the same list under Manage search engines (search the Settings page for it), and Firefox under Settings > Search.

    Look at On startup and the homepage settings too and remove the hijacker's address there. Nothing in this step differs between Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome Settings with the Search engine and On startup sections
    Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  3. Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install

    Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.

    Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of Streaming Lab Tab. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix

  4. Step 4: Reset the browser

    Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.

    Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

    Chrome Settings page with the Reset settings section open
    Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine

  5. Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan

    Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.

    Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.

    Windows Security Scan options with Microsoft Defender Antivirus offline scan selected
    Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options.

    Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan

Instructions for each browser and system

The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.

Uninstall from Windows

T uninstall Streaming Lab Tab program from a Windows machine, follow these steps:

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
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
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)

Reset Mozilla Firefox is you are unable to delete some extensions:

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
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
Delete from macOS

macOS users should follow these instructions if they want to get rid of unwanted apps:

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

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 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 can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.

From our report of Aug 2020 · not reviewed since

Streaming Lab Tab uninstall guide

In most cases, you will be able to remove Streaming Lab Tab virus easily - all you have to do is access the section of add-ons via your web browser settings (the app is not shown or is grayed out, you should simply reset the installed web browsers as explained below).

However, in case there is a program installed on your system instead of an extension, you must take a completely different approach. Note that this also applies if the browser hijack does not go away after you perform Streaming Lab Tab removal.

To uninstall unwanted applications installed on your Mac or Windows computer, you have to access the full program list - we provide a detailed guide below. Unfortunately, sometimes it is difficult to determine which app is causing unwanted browser activities such as redirects or ads.

Thus, you should download and install a powerful anti-malware tool and perform a full system scan - it will also eliminate all the malware found on your machine in such is present.

Questions about Streaming Lab Tab

Why does my search engine keep changing to streaming-lab.com?

Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.

Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time streaming-lab.com first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.

Did streaming-lab.com come with a program I installed?

Most likely, yes. Search hijackers such as streaming-lab.com usually arrive with free software, where an extra offer is pre-ticked in the installer, or as an extension that promises something useful, such as file conversion, maps, recipes or streaming.

Look at Settings, Apps, Installed apps sorted by install date: whatever was installed just before the search engine changed is the main suspect. Uninstall it, then remove any extension you do not recognise. In future, choose the custom or advanced option in installers and untick extra offers, and install extensions only from the official store pages of publishers you know.

Why do my searches go to streaming-lab.com?

Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Streaming Lab Tab did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to streaming-lab.com.

The page then passes your query to a real search provider, so the results look almost normal, with extra sponsored links on top. Changing the search engine back on its own does not last, because the source resets it. Remove the extension or program first, then the policies if any, then set your own search engine.

Is it safe to keep searching with streaming-lab.com?

We would not. Every query you type is logged by its operators and shared with their advertising partners, and the sponsored links at the top are chosen for payment, not relevance. Results that look like a download page or a support site may lead to scams.

The page will not damage Windows by itself, but there is no benefit in keeping it: the results come from another search engine anyway. Remove Streaming Lab Tab and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.

Which browsers does Streaming Lab Tab affect?

We saw it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not mean the other browsers on your PC are safe: hijacker installers usually change every browser they find, and browser sync can carry an extension to other computers signed in to the same account.

Check the search engine, home page, new tab, extensions and policies in each browser you have, including ones you rarely open. Chrome and Edge profiles count separately, so switch to each profile and check it as well before you call the job done.

What does streaming-lab.com know about me?

It knows what you searched for while it was your search engine, when, from which IP address and with which browser, and usually which results you opened. Tracking cookies let it connect those searches into a profile. It does not see your saved passwords or files.

After removing Streaming Lab Tab, delete the cookies and site data for streaming-lab.com so the profile cannot be continued, and remove it from the browser's list of saved search engines. Signing out of important sites and back in also replaces session cookies.

Would an ad blocker stop Streaming Lab Tab?

Not really. An ad blocker can hide some of the sponsored results on streaming-lab.com, but it does not change your search engine back or remove the extension that set it. Your searches would still pass through the hijacker's servers and be logged.

Some ad blockers include tracking filters that block parts of the redirect chain, which can break searches altogether. Remove Streaming Lab Tab with the plan above; an ad blocker is a reasonable extra afterwards, from the official store only and from a developer with a long track record.

Will resetting the browser remove Streaming Lab Tab?

A reset disables extensions, restores the default search engine, start page and new tab, and clears temporary data and cookies. It keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords. For many hijackers that is enough.

It does not remove a program installed in Windows, policies in the registry, changes to the hosts file or DNS, or edited shortcuts, so Streaming Lab Tab can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.

Should I just switch to another browser?

It may not help. Installers that add hijackers usually target every browser on the PC, and system-level changes such as the hosts file, DNS or proxy affect all browsers at once. A new browser also leaves the hijacker's program and extension in place, collecting data in the old one.

Remove Streaming Lab Tab properly first. After that, use whichever browser you prefer; Chrome, Edge and Firefox all let you set and protect your own search engine. Import your bookmarks only after the old browser is clean.

Will Fortect remove Streaming Lab Tab?

Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.

For Streaming Lab Tab, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.

Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.

Sources

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