Tavanero.info: what it is and how to remove it
Tavanero.info virus was spotted on the Internet in September 2016. Since then, it has changed its looks and domain's ending so that it could trick more inexperienced PC users.
Facts checked October 7, 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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Tavanero.info: summary
| Distribution | Software bundling, third-party website |
|---|---|
| Name | Tavanero.info |
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Signs and symptoms | New tab and homepage is changed without permission; altered search provider; ads at the top of search results, etc. |
| Uninstall | Get rid of PUPs as per instructions below or use anti-malware software |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| Evidence | 6 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | tavanero.info |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 17 June 2021 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
Is Tavanero.info dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jun 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Tavanero.info
- After you get rid of malware on your computer, perform a scan with to repair damaged system components
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
tavanero.info
How to remove Tavanero.info
How to remove Tavanero.info 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.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete tavanero.info
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
tavanero.infofrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If tavanero.info is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Tavanero.info rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
A scan finds the parts of Tavanero.info that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
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
If you want to fix your computer manually, you need to look through instructions provided below and uninstall all suspicious programs from your Windows operating system. Keep in mind that you should look for entries related to the hijacker.
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
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 suspicious extensions 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.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
If your Microsoft Edge was hijacked by this PUP you need to follow the instructions provided below. We also recommend resetting web browser to complete PUP removal.
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 Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
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.
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.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
To fix your Mozilla after the hijack you need to remove all add-ons that could be related to this browser hijacker. For that you should provide steps that are given below. To fix Firefox shortcuts, go to Properties -> Shortcut tab. Here, delete Tavanero.info from Target box and Apply to save these changes.
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 the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
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 and Temporary cached files and pages, then click 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.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
If you are wondering how to remove the app from Mac and you want to do that manually, you should go thru your apps and get rid of all suspicious ones. However, the primary task is to get rid of this browser hijacker by selecting each of its entries and uninstalling it.
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
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 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 for the data restoration process.
From our report of Jun 2021 · not reviewed since
Why do you Tavanero removal?
Tavanero.info virus was spotted on the Internet in September 2016.
Since then, it has changed its looks and domain's ending so that it could trick more inexperienced PC users. According to the latest news, instead of redirecting users to the .info domain, it redirects them to Tavanero.com webpage. Besides, the page is now filled with various news and banner ads that are supposed to promote affiliate websites. However, searching for it is also possible.
Unfortunately, but scammers who are hiding behind this threat have also made it to be compatible with both Windows OS and Mac. We have already noticed an increase in questions asking us how to eliminate the issues that the hijacker causes. If you have been suffering from intrusive PUP behavior, you should know that the main danger hides in its redirects.
Beware that it is a browser hijacking malware that can redirect to malware-filled sites right after hijacking a browser and modifying its settings. Besides, various ads that may fill your screen can become an irritating phenomenon as well. To prevent this hijacker from filling your Google search results with sponsored URLs, you need to remove the hijacker from your computer.
Apart from changing browser settings, adding extensions, and tracking cookies, this browsing tool also modifies Windows shortcuts by adding tavanero(.)info/tavanero/tavanero.php value to Target Field into Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and other popular web browsers.
It affects shortcuts on Windows desktop as well as ones located in the Start menu, and whenever a user attempts to open them, this malicious site loads again. To stop these bothersome occurrences, you have to uninstall all potentially unwanted programs from your system. You can do that using , system tool, anti-malware app, or similar security software.
The automatic removal method is highly recommended, but in case you do not want to use such a program, you can try to delete it manually. However, please note that such a removal method requires certain knowledge about the computer system.
Initially, it seems to be a normal search engine; however, the line "Google Custom Search" shows that it is not the original Google Search but an altered one. This means that part of its search results is going to be sponsored by third parties, and such results might not be reliable.
Please, think twice before clicking them because they can take you to potentially dangerous web pages. Browser hijackers are disliked for two main reasons: excessive advertising and forceful redirects to other domains.
Specifically, the redirect becomes active when you intend to cancel the ad or click on a search result. In the worst-case scenario, such a tendency may bring you to malicious websites filled with sponsored content, malicious downloads, and similar content. It goes without saying that you should stay away from such sites if you wish to keep your computer fast, clean, and protected.
Furthermore, the hijacker may cause some removal problems as it inserts specific registry keys. As a result, these values are responsible for fortifying the PUP's position on the system. In short, simply eliminating it manually might not work.
Due to them, additional plug-ins might be attached to the browser without your direct approval. Therefore, we highly suggest you delete Tavanero.info as soon as you notice this URL automatically loading in the address bar.
From our report of Jun 2021 · not reviewed since
Hijacker infiltration tactics
Just as we have mentioned, the browser hijack can happen when the user installs another free program without paying attention to some essential details.
Remember - no matter what program you plan to install, do not do it in a rush. When you launch its installer, read all information it provides without skipping Terms of Use or Privacy Policy documents.
Later on, choose proper setup settings. Rather than leaving pre-selected ones on, choose either Custom or Advanced settings and then remove checkmarks from agreements to install all suggested additional programs, search tools, extensions, and the like. Proceed with the installation and finish it just like you usually do. Also, remember these tips the next time you download a free program to prevent browser hijacking on your computer .
From our report of Jun 2021 · not reviewed since
Complete Tavanero.info elimination guide
It is highly recommended to remove the virus automatically since it is not a regular browser redirect virus.
It is not enough to remove questionable browser extensions and programs from the system to get rid of this search engine. You might be continuously redirected to Tavanero.info even after cleaning browser shortcuts; it is so because this hijacker adds alters the following registry keys, which will launch that intrusive site on Chrome immediately after you double click on Chrome's shortcut:
To fix your hijacked web browser , you can use basic browser hijacker removal instructions provided below and delete this hijacker manually, but do not forget to check each shortcut in the Start menu and Desktop and clean them by accessing their Properties, Shortcut tab and cleaning the predetermined URL from Target section.
A complete hijacker removal procedure can be carried out with the help of anti-spyware software.
You may also complete the following steps:
Here, delete Tavanero.info from Target box and Apply to save these changes.
- Type Network Connections in File explorer or type it Network and Sharing Center after clicking Windows button.
- Right-click on the Network Adapter, which you are using at the moment. The select Properties, Internet Protocol Version 4 (ICP/IP), and choose Properties.
- Change the settings to Obtain DNS server automatically.
- Click on Advanced and navigate to the DNS tab. Delete everything under the tab and click OK.
Questions about Tavanero.info
How do I change my search engine back from tavanero.info?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove tavanero.info from the list.
If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.
When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put tavanero.info back.
Can tavanero.info see my searches?
Yes. Every search typed into the address bar goes to tavanero.info first, which is how it earns money. It can log the query, the time and an identifier for your browser, and some hijackers also collect the pages you visit through their extension.
The privacy policy of such sites usually allows sharing that data with partners. Once the hijacker is removed and your own search engine is set again, new searches no longer reach it. Searches already sent cannot be taken back, so avoid entering sensitive information until the clean-up is finished, and clear cookies afterwards.
What is tavanero.info?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Tavanero.info. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is tavanero.info dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove Tavanero.info, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, Tavanero.info affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did tavanero.info record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of tavanero.info can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove Tavanero.info
- clear cookies and site data for tavanero.info
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Why does my search page look slightly different?
Because it is not your search engine's own page. Tavanero.info sends searches to tavanero.info, which may copy the colours and layout of a known search engine while adding its own ads and tracking. Small differences give it away:
- an unfamiliar address
- more ads than usual
- a different logo
- a search box with a brand name you do not recognise
Remove the hijacker and set your search engine again from the browser's settings to get the real page back. Then delete the hijacker's entry from the saved search engines list.
Can I just block tavanero.info?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
What do I lose if I reset Chrome or Edge?
Less than you might think. A reset turns off all extensions, which you can turn back on one by one, restores the default search engine, home page, new tab and pinned tabs, and clears cookies, so you are signed out of most sites.
Bookmarks, history, saved passwords and autofill data stay. Firefox's equivalent, Refresh Firefox, keeps the same essentials but removes add-ons completely. Before you reset, make sure you know your main passwords or have them saved, since you will need to sign in again.
Will Fortect remove Tavanero.info?
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 Tavanero.info, 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
- Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Browser hijacking (read October 7, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 7, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 7, 2026)