Tabquery.com virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Tabquery.com search engine responds to user's queries with ads
Tabquery.com is a search tool that arrives as part of “SearchTab Search Engine” browser hijacker. Once installed, it switches browser’s homepage to search.tabquery.com and makes the same URL work as default search provider. This hijacker is extremely prevalent in Germany[1].
Cyber security experts have ranked this tool as potentially unwanted program (PUP) and added it to spyware category[2]. Such classification simply means that you should remove Tabquery.com as soon as you notice it on your computer. The hijacker only causes problems, such as:
- System slowdowns[3];
- Browser crashes;
- Unexpected redirects to suspicious domains;
- Pop-up ads and banners emerging on random Internet websites.
The hijacker reverts browser settings without asking for user’s direct permission. It usually travels alongside other free programs that cleverly hide statements about these extras to generate pay-per-install revenue.
It is not an illegal software distribution method, but it is the reason why so many computer users end up with unwanted software on their computers.
You might be wondering, what is the purpose of such vague search tools while there are hundreds of others? The answer is pay-per-click revenue. Browser hijackers are developed with the purpose to force computer users to use different search tools, and the purpose of these search engines is to serve sponsored content alongside regular search results.
Sadly, sponsored search results might lead you to highly dangerous Internet pages. Although it seems surprising, the developers of search tools usually do not endorse content shared by websites they advertise. This way, you can unexpectedly end up on dangerous websites and infect your PC with more spyware/malware.
The solution to this problem is Tabquery.com removal. You might want to use anti-spyware programs for it (for instance, Reimage). In case you don’t, read the instructions we added at the end of this article.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
If you are 'Windows 10 / Windows 8' user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once 'Quick Access Menu' shows up, select 'Control Panel' and 'Uninstall a Program'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Right click on browsers' icon and select 'Properties'
Select 'Shortcut' tab and delete 'http://isearch.babylon.com...' or other suspicious URL
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
When in 'General' tab, delete malicious URL from 'Home Page' section or click on 'Restore to Default' button. Click 'OK' to save changes
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
After clicking on menu and 'Settings', select 'Set pages'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
When in 'General', delete malicious URL and enter your desired domain name
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Choose the right software installation settings to avoid installing unwanted programs
The key to a spyware-free computer is a careful installation of computer programs. The vast majority of programs you can freely download and install from the Internet suggest installing a couple more programs alongside them.
Drop the additions off by configuring the installation settings properly. First of all, start by selecting Custom/Advanced settings. Then, take a look at statements provided there. If you see any suspicious suggestions to install unknown programs, deselect them.
A good idea would be to choose trustworthy software download sources. Select only reliable ones, but do not forget to alter installation settings just to be sure that no spyware gets into your computer unnoticed.
Remove Tabquery.com and restore browser settings
To sum up, Tabquery.com removal is required to retrieve access to your browser’s settings. It is the only method to alter your homepage and search settings again. Therefore, we suggest that you find that SearchTab Search Engine virus in your system and delete it. Use the instructions given below the article to complete the task sooner.
If you can’t remove Tabquery.com virus manually, consider choosing anti-malware software to help you out. It will detect all files and programs that might pose a threat to your computer and eliminate them all together.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Tabquery.com virus, follow these steps:
Eliminate Tabquery.com from Windows systems
Uninstall TabQuery desktop. To find its uninstaller, go to Control Panel > Programs and Features or simply follow the tutorial provided below.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall Tabquery.com and related programs
Here, look for Tabquery.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Tabquery.com from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariUninstall Tabquery.com from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Tabquery.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Get rid of Tabquery.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
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Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Tabquery.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Tabquery.com removal.
Erase Tabquery.com virus from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
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When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
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Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Tabquery.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariRemove Tabquery.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Your goal is to eliminate SearchTab Search Engine add-on from Firefox.
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Tabquery.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Tabquery.com removal.
Delete Tabquery.com from Google Chrome
If you do not know how to remove TabQuery virus from Chrome, use the provided instructions to find and delete SearchTab Search Engine extension.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Tabquery.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Tabquery.com removal.
Eliminate Tabquery.com from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Tabquery.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Tabquery.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
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Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Tabquery.com removal process.
About the author
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References
- ^ DieViren. DieViren. Malware Removal Guides, Security News.
- ^ Alice Woods. Spyware. 2-Spyware. Fighting against Spyware, Malware.
- ^ Brian Lisse. The Spyware and Malware War. Madison Computer Works. White Papers.