How to remove Waaave Tab [Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge]

The Waaave Tab is a program that falls under the category of browser hijackers. When infected by the hijacker, the Firefox, Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer and MS Edge internet browser’s settings such as homepage, new tab page and search engine by default may be changed by this browser hijacker without permission. Whenever you launch the internet browser, the Waaave Tab appears as your startpage instead of your favorite startpage.

A malicious software that may introduce certain unwanted changes to certain settings of internet browsers on Waaave Tab mostly affects only Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, FF and MS Edge. However, possible situations, when any other internet browsers will be affected too. The Waaave Tab browser hijacker infection can change the Target property of web-browser’s shortcuts, so every time you launch the web-browser, instead of your start page, you will see a completely different site.

When your system is infected with Waaave Tab hijacker infection, every time you start your web-browser you will see this web site. Of course you can setup your homepage again, but next time you run a web-browser you will see that Waaave Tab redirect return. As mentioned above, the hijacker can alter the default search engine on this undesired web-site too, so all your search queries will be redirected to Waaave Tab. Thus the authors of the hijacker may gather the search terms of your queries, and reroute you to undesired web sites.

The Waaave Tab browser hijacker is not a virus, but the virus behaves similarly. As a rootkit hides in the system, introduces certain changes to web browsers settings, and blocks them from changing. Also this hijacker can install additional web-browser addons, extensions and modules that will display ads and pop ups. And finally, the Waaave Tab hijacker can gather lots of user data such as what web-sites you are opening, what you are looking for the Internet and so on. This information, in the future, can be sold to third parties.

Table of contents

What is Waaave Tab
Waaave Tab removal guidance
1. How to manually delete Waaave Tab
2. Use free malware removal tools to completely remove Waaave Tab redirect
How to block Waaave Tab
How can you prevent the Waaave Tab hijacker infection
To sum up

The guide below explaining steps to delete Waaave Tab problem. Feel free to use it for removal of the browser hijacker that may attack Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge and other popular web-browsers. The step-by-step instructions will help you restore your web-browsers settings that previously changed by hijacker.

Waaave Tab removal guidance

We can help you remove Waaave Tab, without the need to take your machine to a professional. Simply follow the removal steps below if you currently have the unwanted hijacker on your personal computer and want to delete it. If you’ve any difficulty while trying to remove the hijacker, feel free to ask for our help in the comment section below. Certain of the steps will require you to restart your machine or exit the web page. So, read this guidance carefully, then bookmark or print it for later reference.

If you are using an Apple computer running Mac OS, then use the following guidance How to remove browser hijacker, pop-ups, ads from Mac

How to manually delete Waaave Tab

The step-by-step tutorial will help you delete Waaave Tab redirect. These Waaave Tab removal steps work for the Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Microsoft Edge, as well as every version of MS Windows operating system.

Delete suspicious and potentially unwanted applications using Microsoft Windows Control Panel

First method for manual browser hijacker removal is to go into the Microsoft Windows “Control Panel”, then “Uninstall a program” console. Take a look at the list of applications on your personal computer and see if there are any suspicious and unknown software. If you see any, you need to delete them. Of course, before doing so, you can do an Net search to find details on the application. If it is a potentially unwanted program, ad-supported software or malicious software, you will likely find information that says so.

Windows 8, 8.1, 10

First, click Windows button

, then click Search

. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as on the image below.

Once the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category like below.

You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as shown on the screen below.

Very carefully look around the entire list of software installed on your computer. Most likely, one or more of them are responsible for the appearance of popup advertisements and browser redirect to the undesired Waaave Tab site. If you have many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of harmful applications by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it, after that press ‘Uninstall’.

Windows XP, Vista, 7

First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as shown on the image below.

Once the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to press ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ like below.

You will see a list of programs installed on your computer. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the programs that were installed last. Most likely they responsibility for the appearance of advertisements and web-browser redirect. If you are in doubt, you can always check the application by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. When the application which you need to remove is found, simply press on its name, and then press ‘Uninstall’ as shown on the screen below.

Clean up the internet browsers shortcuts that have been hijacked by Waaave Tab

When the hijacker infection is started, it can also alter the browser’s shortcuts, adding an argument like “http://site.address” into the Target field. Due to this, every time you run the browser, it will show an unwanted web-page.

Right click to a desktop shortcut for your browser. Choose the “Properties” option. It will open the Properties window. Select the “Shortcut” tab here, after that, look at the “Target” field. The hijacker can change it. If you are seeing something like “…exe http://site.address” then you need to remove “http…” and leave only, depending on the web browser you are using:

Google Chrome: chrome.exe
Opera: opera.exe
Firefox: firefox.exe
Internet Explorer: iexplore.exe

Look at the example as shown below.

Once is finished, click the “OK” button to save the changes. Please repeat this step for web browser shortcuts which redirects to an undesired web-pages. When you have completed, go to next step.

Delete Waaave Tab from Internet Explorer

By resetting Internet Explorer browser you revert back your internet browser settings to its default state. This is basic when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by browser hijacker such as Waaave Tab.

First, open the Internet Explorer, press ) button. Next, click “Internet Options” as shown below.

In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, press Reset button. The IE will display the Reset Internet Explorer settings prompt. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and press Reset button.

You will now need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect. It will delete Waaave Tab hijacker, disable malicious and ad-supported web browser’s extensions and restore the IE’s settings like newtab page, home page and search provider by default to default state.

Delete Waaave Tab redirect from Chrome

Like other modern web-browsers, the Chrome has the ability to reset the settings to their default values and thereby restore the web browser home page, new tab and search provider by default that have been modified by the Waaave Tab hijacker infection.

Open the Google Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will display the drop-down menu. Next, click to “Settings” option.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, as shown below and press the “Reset settings” button.

Confirm your action, click the “Reset” button.

Delete Waaave Tab homepage from Mozilla Firefox

If your FF internet browser home page has replaced to Waaave Tab without your permission or a an unknown search engine displays results for your search, then it may be time to perform the web browser reset.

First, open the Firefox and click button. It will open the drop-down menu on the right-part of the web-browser. Further, press the Help button () as on the image below

In the Help menu, select the “Troubleshooting Information” option. Another way to open the “Troubleshooting Information” screen – type “about:support” in the internet browser adress bar and press Enter. It will display the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown on the image below. In the upper-right corner of this screen, click the “Refresh Firefox” button.

It will open the confirmation dialog box. Further, press the “Refresh Firefox” button. The Mozilla Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the Waaave Tab hijacker. Once, it is complete, press the “Finish” button.

Use free malware removal tools to completely remove Waaave Tab redirect

Use malware removal tools to remove Waaave Tab automatically. The free software utilities specially created for browser hijacker, ad supported software and other potentially unwanted programs removal. These tools can get rid of most of browser hijacker from Google Chrome, FF, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge. Moreover, it can remove all components of Waaave Tab from Windows registry and system drives.

Use Zemana Anti-malware to remove hijacker

We recommend you to use the Zemana Anti-malware which are completely clean your PC. Moreover, the tool will help you to get rid of PUPs, malware, toolbars and ad-supported software that your computer can be infected too.

Please download Zemana anti malware to your desktop from the following link.

Zemana AntiMalware
164108 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
At the download page, click on the Download button. Your web browser will open the “Save as” prompt. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
When downloading is finished, please close all applications and open windows on your PC. Next, start a file named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup.
This will launch the “Setup wizard” of Zemana anti malware onto your machine. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the antimalware will launch and open the main window.
Further, click the “Scan” button to perform a system scan with this utility for the browser hijacker and other malware and ad-supported software. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your machine and the speed of your PC system. While the utility is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malware.
When it has finished scanning your computer, the results are displayed in the scan report.
Next, you need to click the “Next” button to begin cleaning your system. Once the procedure is complete, you may be prompted to reboot the machine.
Close the Zemana Anti-Malware and continue with the next step.

Automatically remove Waaave Tab search with Malwarebytes

We recommend using the Malwarebytes Free that are completely clean your personal computer of the hijacker. The free utility is an advanced malicious software removal program made by (c) Malwarebytes lab. This program uses the world’s most popular anti malware technology. It is able to help you remove hijacker infections, potentially unwanted applications, malware, adware, toolbars, ransomware and other security threats from your computer for free.

Download Malwarebytes from the link below.

Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326461 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020

Once the downloading process is finished, close all software and windows on your machine. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named mb3-setup as shown on the image below.

When the installation begins, you will see the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Malwarebytes on your PC system.

Once setup is finished, you will see window as on the image below.

Now press the “Scan Now” button to perform a system scan for the hijacker and other malicious software and ‘ad supported’ software. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of files on your PC system and the speed of your PC system. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the checking is complete.

When it completes the scan, you can check all items detected on your personal computer. Review the scan results and then press “Quarantine Selected” button.

The Malwarebytes will start removing Waaave Tab browser hijacker infection related files, folders, registry keys. Once disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to restart your computer.

The following video explains steps on how to delete hijacker and other malicious software with Malwarebytes Anti-malware.

Remove Waaave Tab browser hijacker infection and malicious extensions with AdwCleaner

AdwCleaner is a free removal utility that can be downloaded and run to remove hijackers, ad supported software, malicious software, potentially unwanted software, toolbars and other threats from your computer. You may use this utility to scan for threats even if you have an antivirus or any other security program.

Download AdwCleaner by clicking on the following link.

AdwCleaner download
225298 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
Select the directory in which you saved it as Desktop, and then click Save.
After downloading is finished, run the AdwCleaner, double-click the adwcleaner_xxx.exe file.
If the “User Account Control” prompts, click Yes to continue.
Read the “Terms of use”, and click Accept.
In the AdwCleaner window, click the “Scan” for checking your machine for the Waaave Tab hijacker infection that redirects your internet browser to the Waaave Tab annoying web site. Depending on your PC system, the scan may take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the tool is scanning, you can see number of objects it has identified either as being malicious software.
Once the scan is finished, it will show you the results. In order to remove all items, simply click “Clean”. If the AdwCleaner will ask you to reboot your machine, click “OK”.

The step-by-step tutorial shown in detail in the following video.

How to block Waaave Tab

By installing an adblocker program such as AdbGuard, you’re able to block Waaave Tab, autoplaying video ads and remove a large amount of distracting and unwanted ads on web pages.

Download AdGuard program by clicking on the following link.

After the download is finished, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as shown on the screen below.

Follow the prompts. When the install is finished, you will see a window as shown on the screen below.

You can click “Skip” to close the installation program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial that will allow you get to know AdGuard better.

In most cases, the default settings are enough and you do not need to change anything. Each time, when you start your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and block pop up advertisements, pages such Waaave Tab, as well as other harmful or misleading pages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that can be found on your desktop.

How can you prevent the Waaave Tab hijacker infection

Most commonly, the free programs installer includes the optional ‘ad supported’ software or potentially unwanted software such as this hijacker. So, be very careful when you agree to install anything. The best way – is to select a Custom, Advanced or Manual installation mode. Here disable (uncheck) all additional applications in which you are unsure or that causes even a slightest suspicion. The main thing you should remember, you don’t need to install the additional software which you don’t trust! The only thing I want to add. Once the free software is installed, if you uninstall this software, the homepage, new tab and search engine by default of your favorite internet browser will not be restored. This must be done by yourself. Just follow the tutorial above.

To sum up

Now your machine should be free of the Waaave Tab . Uninstall AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop-ups and undesired malicious web-pages) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your computer for new malware, browser hijackers and ad-supported software). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for Windows OS. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijacker, malicious programs and ad supported software are released.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove Waaave Tab from your web-browser, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.