Remove Spark Tab Redirect — How to Fix Guide

The Spark Tab search hijacker is an example of an average unwanted program; such programs are promoted massively these days. In this article you will see the comprehensive information of “Spark Tab” hijacker removal in various ways: using anti-malware programs and also manual elimination process.

It is better to prevent, than repair and repent!

Removing Spark Tab manually may take hours and may damage your PC in the process. I recommend you to download GridinSoft Anti-Malware for threats removal. Allows to complete scan and cure your PC during the trial period.

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Spark Tab – What is it?

“Spark Tab” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some special details, for example, about sport events, make your web browser far more secure, enable downloading of any video, et cetera.

However, the “Spark Tab” plugin is rather ineffective since all such features are currently embedded to your web browser and/or system. Such marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However frequently even expert users are getting caught on such an appeal. In specific instances, this hijacker is dispersed together with free apps.

Spark Tab Search Hijacker

Here is a summary for the Spark Tab hijacker

How harmful is Spark Tab hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, Spark Tab hijacker is also really harmful for web browser use. It transforms your search engine to its particular – Smoothsearch.online, and additionally modifies your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the mentioned symbol).

Besides visual modifications done by Spark Tab hijacker, you can see that several of your search queries are redirecting to the uncertain sites, full of web links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can contain web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

However all these activities are a lot more frustrating than really dangerous. The biggest hazard, particularly for people who have a lot of confidential information in their browsers, is installed in information gathering functionalities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, and other activities are easily gathered by Spark Tab hijacker.

How to remove Spark Tab 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 very simple to remove. Usually, they have an independent app that can be seen in the list of installed apps. Due to the specific marketing manner of Spark Tab hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and erased by hand. Nevertheless, if you got Spark Tab in the bundle with a free program, your computer can be infected with a lot more major malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you utilize anti-malware programs to remove the Spark Tab PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and clearing away a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. But serious malware, that may exist on your computer in the specified case, can disable the Windows antivirus program by modifying the Group Policies. To prevent such scenarios, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

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

You can spectate the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious programs, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every detected virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be moved 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 choosing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing Spark Tab 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 :

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 :

For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :

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 :

If you use Google Chrome

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 :
   

Opera can be reset in the next way

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.

How to Remove Spark Tab?

Name: Spark Tab

Description: Spark Tab - 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 Spark Tab?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Spark Tab (Smoothsearch.online), 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

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