Probably you are one of those people, who are facing an unknown Chrome New Tab page and other harmful changes to the Google Chrome web browser settings, may think that there is something wrong with your computer. The unwanted Chrome New Tab page and/or search provider redirects may cause the difficulty of surfing the Web.
Your attempts to return your previous Chrome’s new tab page and default search provider are mostly in vain because restoring the Google Chrome settings to default states becomes impossible unless you fully delete a browser hijacker infection from your personal computer.
When your computer is infected by Chrome New Tab page hijacker you will be forced to use its own search engine. It could seem not to be dangerous, but you still should be very careful, since it may display unwanted and malicious ads designed to mislead you into buying some questionable programs or products, provide search results which may redirect your browser to some deceptive, misleading or harmful web-pages. We suggest that you use only the reliable search engine such as Google, Yahoo or Bing.
The Chrome New Tab page hijacker is not a virus, but the virus behaves similarly. As a rootkit hides in the system, may make certain unwanted changes to web-browsers settings, and blocks them from changing. Also this hijacker infection can install additional internet browser addons, extensions and modules that will display ads and pop ups. And finally, the Chrome New Tab page hijacker can gather a wide variety of user information such as what web pages you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This information, in the future, can be sold to third parties.
The Chrome New Tab hijacker may alter current settings of Google Chrome browser, but often that the unwanted software can also infect all types of web-browsers by changing their desktop shortcuts. Thus forcing the user to see an annoying web-site every time launch the web-browser.
Therefore it’s very important to clean your computer of hijacker infection ASAP. Follow the guidance below to restore Chrome New Tab page, as well as remove all malicious software and adware, which can be installed onto your personal computer.
Restore Chrome New Tab page
We can help you restore Chrome New Tab, without the need to take your computer to a professional. Simply follow the removal tutorial below if you currently have the unwanted browser hijacker on your PC and want to remove it. If you have any difficulty while trying to restore Google Chrome new tab page, feel free to ask for our assist in the comment section below. Read this manual carefully, bookmark or print it, because you may need to close your internet browser or reboot your computer.
How to manually restore Chrome New Tab
Most common hijackers may be removed without any antivirus software. The manual browser hijacker removal is article steps that will teach you how to restore Google Chrome New Tab page.
Delete suspicious and potentially unwanted applications using Microsoft Windows Control Panel
We recommend that you begin the machine cleaning process by checking the list of installed programs and remove all unknown or suspicious applications. This is a very important step, as mentioned above, very often the harmful software such as adware and hijacker infections may be bundled with free programs. Delete the unwanted software can remove the annoying ads or internet browser redirect.
- If you are using Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 then press Windows button, next click Search. Type “Control panel”and press Enter.
- If you are using Windows XP, Vista, 7, then press “Start” button and press “Control Panel”.
- It will show the Windows Control Panel.
- Further, press “Uninstall a program” under Programs category.
- It will display a list of all software installed on the computer.
- Scroll through the all list, and uninstall suspicious and unknown programs. To quickly find the latest installed programs, we recommend sort applications by date.
See more details in the video instructions below.
Fix web browser shortcuts, altered by Chrome New Tab hijacker
Important to know, most antimalware software that are able to remove hijacker, but unable to detect and recover changed shortcuts. So, you need to fix the desktop shortcuts for your Google Chrome and other internet browsers manually.
Click the right mouse button to a desktop shortcut that you use to run your browser. Next, select the “Properties” option. Important: necessary to click on the desktop shortcut for the Google Chrome that is rerouted to an unwanted New Tab page or other annoying site.
Further, necessary to look at the text which is written in the “Target” field. The hijacker can modify the contents of this field, which describes the file to be start when you launch your browser. There should be …Application\chrome.exe”. If you are seeing an unknown text such as “http://site.addres” which has been added here, then you should remove it, like below.
Next, click the “OK” button to save the changes. Now, when you start the Google Chrome web browser from this desktop shortcut, it does not occur automatically reroute on an unwanted New Tab page or any other unwanted web sites. Once the step is complete, we recommend to go to the next step.
Reset Chrome New Tab page
Like other modern web-browsers, the Google Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby recover the web browser start page, new tab page and default search engine that have been modified by a browser hijacker.
- First start the Google Chrome and click Menu button (small button in the form of three horizontal stripes).
- It will display the Google Chrome main menu. Select “Settings” option.
- You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and press “Show advanced settings” link.
- Scroll down again and click the “Reset settings” button.
- The Google Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as shown on the image above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this task is complete, your Chrome new tab page, home tab and default search provider will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the article How to reset Chrome settings to default.
How to automatically restore Chrome New Tab
After completing the manual removal guidance above all unwanted programs and web-browser’s extensions that causes Google Chrome redirects to an unwanted new tab page should be removed. If the problem with Chrome New Tab hijacker is still remained, then we suggest to scan your machine for any remaining malicious components. Use recommended free browser hijacker removal applications below.
Automatically restore Chrome New Tab with Zemana Anti-malware
We suggest you to use the Zemana Anti-malware which are completely clean your machine. Moreover, the tool will help you to remove potentially unwanted software, malware, toolbars and ‘ad supported’ software that your machine can be infected too.
Download Zemana anti malware by clicking on the link below.
164104 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After downloading is finished, start it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana anti-malware will try to update itself and when this process is finished, press the “Scan” button . This will start scanning the whole machine to find out Chrome New Tab page hijacker and other malicious browser’s extensions.
A scan may take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your computer and the speed of your computer. While the tool is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified either as being malware. Next, you need to click “Next” button.
The Zemana anti malware will start removing all detected folders, files, services and registry entries.
Get rid of Chrome New Tab hijacker with Malwarebytes
We suggest using the Malwarebytes Free that are completely clean your machine of browser hijacker and thereby restore your favorite Chrome New Tab page. The free tool is an advanced malware removal application created by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This application uses the world’s most popular antimalware technology. It is able to help you remove hijackers, potentially unwanted applications, malicious software, adware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your system for free.
- Please download Malwarebytes to your desktop from the following link.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326457 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
- At the download page, click on the Download button. Your internet browser will open the “Save as” prompt. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
- Once downloading is finished, please close all software and open windows on your system. Double-click on the icon that’s named mb3-setup.
- This will start the “Setup wizard” of Malwarebytes onto your computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
- When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the Malwarebytes will start and show the main window.
- Further, click the “Scan Now” button to begin scanning your system for the browser hijacker which cause a redirect to unwanted Google Chrome New Tab page. Depending on your PC, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. During the scan it’ll detect all threats exist on your PC.
- Once the system scan is finished, it’ll display a scan report.
- When you are ready, click the “Quarantine Selected” button to begin cleaning your machine. Once the process is finished, you may be prompted to reboot the computer.
- Close the Anti-Malware and continue with the next step.
Video instruction, which reveals in detail the steps above.
If the problem with Chrome New Tab page is still remained
If MalwareBytes antimalware or Zemana anti malware cannot restore your Google Chrome New tab page and remove browser hijacker, then we recommends to use the AdwCleaner. AdwCleaner is a free removal utility for browser hijackers, adware, PUPs and toolbars.
Download AdwCleaner tool from the link below. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
225298 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
Once the download is complete, open the file location and double-click the AdwCleaner icon. It will start the AdwCleaner tool and you will see a screen as shown in the figure below. If the User Account Control prompt will ask you want to display the program, press Yes button to continue.
Next, click “Scan” for scanning your personal computer for the Chrome New Tab page hijacker and web-browser’s malicious extensions. This process can take some time, so please be patient. When a threat is detected, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.
As the scanning ends is complete, it’ll display a list of detected items as shown in the figure below.
In order to get rid of all threats, simply press “Clean” button. It will show a dialog box. Click “OK” to begin the cleaning process. Once the cleaning process is finished, the AdwCleaner may ask you to reboot your system. After restart, the AdwCleaner will display the log file.
All the above steps are shown in detail in the following video instructions.
Use Ad Blocker to surf safe online
Running an ad-blocker program such as AdGuard is an effective way to alleviate the risks. Additionally, ad blocker programs will also protect you from malicious advertisements and sites, and, of course, stop redirection chain to fake Chrome New Tab page and similar web-sites.
Installing the AdGuard ad-blocking program is simple. First you will need to download AdGuard from the following link.
26655 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After the download is done, double-click the downloaded file to start it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as on the image below.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick instructions like below.
Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guidance that will help you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you launch your PC, AdGuard will start automatically and stop advertisements, Chrome New Tab redirects, as well as other harmful or misleading sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that can be found on your desktop.
How did Chrome New Tab hijacker get on your PC system
Most commonly Chrome New Tab hijacker gets on your system together with free programs. So, think back, have you ever download and run any free programs? Because most users, in the Setup Wizard, simply press the Next button and do not read any information like ‘Terms of use’ and ‘Software license’. This leads to the fact that the PC is infected, the browser’s settings are replaced and your new tab page set to an unwanted Chrome New Tab page. Even removing the free applications that contains this browser hijacker, your Google Chrome web browser’s settings will not be restored. Therefore, you must follow the step by step guidance above to restore your Chrome new tab page, homepage and default search engine.
Finish words
Now your computer should be clean of the Chrome New Tab page hijacker. Delete AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your personal computer for new malicious software, browser hijackers and adware) and AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted popups and malicious web-sites). Moreover, to prevent browser hijackers, please stay clear of unknown and third party applications, make sure that your antivirus program, turn on the option to detect PUPs (potentially unwanted programs).
If you need more help with Chrome New Tab page related issues, go to our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
What if, after removing the malware (my particular edition installed bitmotion), your new tab page is basically blank, outside of the suggested site boxes that the extension made replace my own that were already there?