The GameSearchTab search hijacker is an illustration of an average unwanted program; such programs are promoted enormously nowadays. In this article you will see the precise instructions of “GameSearchTab” hijacker removal in several tactics: making use of anti-malware programs and also hand-operated removal technique.
GameSearchTab – What is it?
“GameSearchTab” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some specific information, as an example, about sport events, make your browser much more secure, allow downloading of any kind of video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).
Nonetheless, the “GameSearchTab” plugin is pretty pointless because all such functions are already integrated to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However frequently even skilled users are getting caught on such an attraction. In certain cases, this hijacker is dispersed along with free software.
Here is a short info for the GameSearchTab hijacker
NAME | GameSearchTab |
Site | Gamesearchtab.com |
Hosting | AS14618 Amazon.com, Inc. United States, Ashburn |
Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
IP Address | 3.212.172.30 |
Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
Similar behavior | Freesearchmusic, Streamingsearches/, Greatsearchsport |
Fix Tool | To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC |
How harmful is GameSearchTab hijacker?
Besides its uselessness, GameSearchTab hijacker is additionally fairly hazardous for browser usage. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Gamesearchtab.com, and additionally modifies your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the specified sign).
Besides visual transformations done by GameSearchTab hijacker, you may notice that many of your search questions are redirecting to the dubious websites, full of web links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can include web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting boosts if you try to open Google search page by force.
But all these activities are a lot more annoying than truly hazardous. The greatest danger, primarily for people who have a lot of confidential information in their web browsers, is installed in data gathering capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as other activities are simply gathered by GameSearchTab hijacker.
How to remove GameSearchTab 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 generally quite easy to delete. For the most part, they have an independent app that can be located in the list of installed applications. As a result of the specific distribution method of GameSearchTab hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and deleted by hand. Nonetheless, if you got GameSearchTab in the package with a free applications, your personal computer can be contaminated with far more serious malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you use anti-malware programs to deal with the GameSearchTab PUA and all other malware.
You can utilize Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of recognizing and eliminating various malware, including named hijacker. Nevertheless, serious malware, that might exist on your computer in the discussed instance, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To avoid such scenarios, it is far better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and eliminate all unwanted applications on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious apps, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.
You can see the detected viruses sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against malware, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.
To set 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.
Reverting browser settings to original ones
To revert your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.
After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing GameSearchTab 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.
To reset Edge, do the following steps :
- Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
- After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :
For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :
- Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
- In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
If you use Google Chrome
- Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
- In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
- Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
Opera can be reset in the next way
- 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 :
- 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.
I need your help to share this guide.
Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
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Wilbur WoodhamHow to Remove GameSearchTab?
Name: GameSearchTab
Description: GameSearchTab - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove GameSearchTab?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with GameSearchTab (Gamesearchtab.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Browser Hijacker
User Review
( votes)References
- More information about PUAs
- Detailed review of Microsoft Defender