Remove TabOptimizer Redirect — How to Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The TabOptimizer search hijacker is an example of a common unwanted program; such applications are spread enormously nowadays. On this page you will see the complete instructions of “TabOptimizer” hijacker removal in different ways: using anti-malware software and manual elimination process.
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Removing TabOptimizer 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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TabOptimizer – What is it?

“TabOptimizer” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your internet browser. It is usually shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some certain details, as an example, about sporting activity events, make your web browser much more safe, allow downloading of any video, and so on.

Nevertheless, the “TabOptimizer” plugin is quite pointless due to the fact that all such features are already built-in to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. But in some cases even professional users are getting caught on such an attraction. In certain scenarios, this hijacker is dispersed along with free tools.

TabOptimizer hijacker - Taboptimizer.com

TabOptimizer Search Hijacker

Here is a short info for the TabOptimizer hijacker
SiteTaboptimizer.com
HostingAS59711 HZ Hosting Ltd
Netherlands, Amsterdam
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address5.149.249.216
HostingAS59711 HZ Hosting Ltd
Amsterdam, Netherlands
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorTab, Searchconverteronline, Yourincognitosearch
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is TabOptimizer hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, TabOptimizer hijacker is likewise really hazardous for web browser use. It transforms your search engine to its particular – Taboptimizer.com, and likewise modifies your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the specified symbol).

Aside from seeable changes done by TabOptimizer hijacker, you may discover that some of your search queries are redirecting to the uncertain web pages, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway sites. Such websites can include web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting surges if you attempt to start Google search page forcibly.

However all these activities are more annoying than really destructive. The most significant hazard, specifically for people who have a great deal of secret information in their browsers, is installed in data collecting functions. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited sites, as well as other activities are easily gathered by TabOptimizer hijacker.

How to remove TabOptimizer 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 pretty simple to delete. In many cases, they have an independent app that can be spotted in the list of installed applications. As a result of the particular marketing way of TabOptimizer hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and erased by hand. However, if you got TabOptimizer in the bundle with a free program, your system can be infected with a lot more dangerous malwaretrojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you use anti-malware programs to delete the TabOptimizer PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and removing various malware, including named hijacker. But significant malware, that might be present on your personal computer in the specified situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such situations, it is far better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and delete all malicious applications on your computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can spectate the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible hazard during the scan process. But to perform any actions against the viruses, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

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

List of the detected malware after the scan

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 intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

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

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing TabOptimizer 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. Reseting the Edge browser

  3. 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. The first step to revert Mozilla Firefox

  3. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
  4. The second step of Firefox restoration
    After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
    The last step for Firefox

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.

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 Woodham
How to Remove TabOptimizer?

Name: TabOptimizer

Description: TabOptimizer - 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 TabOptimizer?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with TabOptimizer (Taboptimizer.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

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References

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

About the author

Wilbur Woodham

I was a technical writer from early in my career, and consider IT Security one of my foundational skills. I’m sharing my experience here, and I hope you find it useful.

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