Proto Tab Hijacker - How to remove

Proto Tab is a browser hijacker. It replaces the new tab page and promotes Yahoo search. Proto Tab is related to Trovi and other infamous browser hijackers. Like them, Proto Tab fails to deliver any useful functionality while it monetizes the victim’s searches and collects data about their browsing habits.

It’s not recommended to use Proto Tab since it lacks any useful features, harms privacy, and makes potentially unwanted changes to browser settings.

In short about Proto Tab:

Threat type	Browser hijacker, adware.
Problems with Proto Tab	It might get installed without permission, it replaces the new tab page and offers no useful features, it redirects search queries to Yahoo or to Search Starter.
How hijackers spread	Downloaded from the site Pola-tab.com, advertised online, bundled with other programs.
How to remove Proto Tab	Uninstall it, find and remove other unwanted browser extensions, remove malware with antivirus programs (Combo Cleaner for Mac, Spyhunter for PC, others).

Problems with Proto Tab

Proto Tab is a new tab replacer – a browser add-on that changes the setting for your new tab/home page.

By default, web browsers show default new tabs – pages that list your most frequented pages and possibly a search box to search the web. They might also allow you to change your background picture. Some users use Google.com or another popular website as their new tab/home page.

Proto Tab lacks useful features – no personalized links, no custom background picture. It puts a search box in your new tab that goes to Yahoo.com to display your search results. Indeed, installing the Proto Tab add-on takes away features from your browser by restricting your customization options.

Although Proto Tab uses Yahoo to deliver search results, that’s not the only search engine that it promotes. Proto Tab’s privacy policy mentions that Search-starter.com also delivers some search services. This alternative search engine appears to be related to Trovi (ClientConnect), an infamous hijacker.

Once you’ve installed Proto Tab, there doesn’t seem to be a way to change the search settings anywhere.

How the hijacker spreads

Since Proto Tab lacks useful features, it’s unlikely that people install it voluntarily. There are a few ways in which dubious extensions infect browsers:

• They’re advertised in misleading ways. Often implied to be mandatory to use websites or watch free movies.
• They’re bundled with other programs, embedded in their installers and installed by default.

It’s hard to say how Proto Tab got its 50,000+ users, but one very common way is through deceptive ads. Some websites, especially various pirating sites (free movie streaming sites, torrent sites, etc.) show pop-up ads that imply that you must install the advertised extension in order to keep using the site.

To avoid browser extensions being installed without your permission, it helps to use antivirus, anti-malware tools and to block malicious websites.

How to remove Proto Tab

Proto Tab and other extensions can be removed from your browser settings. The instructions can be found below.

If they don’t work (for example, if the Remove button is not present), then check out the post on removing extensions that abuse Enterprise Policy. Some extensions that get installed by malicious programs do this in order to make themselves more persistent and harder to remove.

Check your computer with antivirus programs, such as Combo Cleaner for macOS, Spyhunter for Windows, and others. If they detect something malicious, remove it. If they detect some potentially unwanted programs, consider carefully if you want to keep them.

If you find other potentially unwanted add-ons that are installed on your browser, remove them, too. It’s advisable to only allow extensions that you trust and that you use regularly. Once you’ve removed Proto Tab, your browser’s new tab/home page settings should revert to normal.

Now that your new tab page is free, you can customize it and make it work for you.

Automatic Malware removal tools

How to remove browser extensions

TopRemoving Proto Tab Hijacker from Chrome

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Google Chrome window. Select “Settings”.
  
• Click “Extensions” on the left menu bar.
• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to Proto Tab Hijacker. Click on the trash bin icon next to Proto Tab Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.
  
• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.
  
• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.
  
• Restart Chrome.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Proto Tab Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
  
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on the Reset settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove Proto Tab Hijacker from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Go through the extensions list and remove programs you do not need, especially similar to Proto Tab Hijacker. Click on the "Remove" icon next to Proto Tab Hijacker or other add-ons you want to remove.

• Press on the “Remove” button on the Confirmation window.

• If unsure, you can disable them temporarily.

• Restart Microsoft Edge.

TopRemoving Proto Tab Hijacker from Firefox

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla window and select the “Add-ons” icon (or press Ctrl+Shift+A on your keyboard).
  
• Go through Extensions and Addons list, remove everything Proto Tab Hijacker related and items you do not recognise. If you do not know the extension and it is not made by Mozilla, Google, Microsoft, Oracle or Adobe then you probably do not need it.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Proto Tab Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Mozilla Firefox window. Click on the Help button.
  
• Choose Troubleshooting Information on the Help menu.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button.
  
• Click on the Reset Firefox button on the confirmation box. Mozilla Firefox will close and change the settings to default.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.