How to remove HandyTab browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

HandyTab – What is it?

“HandyTab” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is spread as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some specific details, for example, about sport events, make your browser much more secure, enable downloading of any video clip, et cetera.

However, the “HandyTab” plugin is fairly useless due to the fact that all such functions are currently built-in to your web browser and/or Windows. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However sometimes even professional users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific situations, this hijacker is spread along with free programs.

HandyTab Search Hijacker

How harmful is HandyTab hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, HandyTab hijacker is also quite hazardous for browser utilization. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Handy-tab.com, and also transforms your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the specified sign).

Apart from aesthetic changes done by HandyTab hijacker, you might see that a couple of your search questions are redirecting to the unfamiliar sites, full of links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can consist of links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting boosts if you try to launch Google search page by force.

However all these activities are a lot more bothersome than truly hazardous. The most significant threat, primarily for individuals who have a huge amount of confidential information in their web browsers, is embedded in data gathering functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, and various other activities are simply collected by HandyTab hijacker.

How to remove HandyTab search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are usually quite simple to delete. Most of the times, they have a separate application that can be seen in the list of installed applications. Because of the specific marketing way of HandyTab hijacker, it can be easily tracked and deleted by hand. Nonetheless, if you got HandyTab in the bundle with a free program, your computer can be infected with far more serious malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you utilize anti-malware programs to delete the HandyTab PUA and all various other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and clearing away various malware, including named hijacker. However, significant malware, that may be present on your PC in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by modifying the Group Policies. To keep away from such situations, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all unwanted programs on your computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious programs, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can observe the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible hazard simultaneously with the scan process. But to perform any actions against malware, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be removed to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be counteracted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing HandyTab hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender