What is Buddy Tab?
The cyber threat analysts have determined that Buddy Tab is a PUP (potentially unwanted program) that belongs to the family of browser hijackers. Browser hijackers are designed to take over the internet browser and control user’s surfing preferences. It commonly aims at Chrome web-browser, but it’s possible that it can hijack other internet browser too. Browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs can sneak into the PC unnoticed due to the fact that it’s actively being promoted in freeware. We recommend that you remove Buddy Tab as soon as you notice the changes it has made to your internet browser settings.
Unwanted search ads
When you perform a search through Buddy Tab, in addition to search results from Yahoo, Bing or Google Custom Search that provide links to web pages, news articles, images or videos you will also be shown lots of annoying advertisements. The developers of Buddy Tab doing this to earn advertising revenue from these ads.
Another reason why you need to remove Buddy Tab is its online data-tracking activity. It can gather sensitive info, including:
- IP addresses;
- URLs visited;
- search queries/terms;
- clicks on links and advertisements;
- web browser version information.
If you are unfortunate have hijacker, adware or malware running on your machine, you can follow the step-by-step guide here to get rid of Buddy Tab from the PC.
How can a browser hijacker get on your device
Many potentially unwanted programs and browser hijackers such as Buddy Tab are included in freeware setup files. In many cases, a user have a chance to disable all included “offers”, but some installers are created to confuse the average users, in order to trick them into installing an adware software or PUPs. Anyway, easier to prevent the browser hijacker rather than clean up your computer after one. So, keep the web browser updated (turn on automatic updates), run a good antivirus software, double check a free programs before you run it (do a google search, scan a downloaded file with VirusTotal), avoid malicious and unknown web-sites.
Threat Summary
| Name | Buddy Tab |
| Type | search engine hijacker, browser hijacker, redirect virus, startpage hijacker, PUP |
| Affected Browser Settings | startpage, search engine, newtab page URL |
| Distribution | freeware install packages, suspicious popup advertisements, fake updaters |
| Symptoms | Unwanted advertising links appear on web-pages that you are visiting. Every time you perform an Internet search, your web-browser is re-directed to another web page. Unwanted program installed without your consent. Unexpected internet browser add-ons or toolbar keep coming back. Your internet browser search provider has replaced without your permission. |
| Removal | Buddy Tab removal guide |
How to remove Buddy Tab hijacker
We advise opting for automatic Buddy Tab removal in order to remove all hijacker related entries easily. This method requires scanning the PC system with reputable anti-malware, e.g. Zemana, MalwareBytes or HitmanPro. However, if you prefer manual removal steps, you can follow the guidance below in this article. Read this manual carefully, bookmark it or open this page on your smartphone, because you may need to close your web-browser or restart your PC system.
To remove Buddy Tab, perform the steps below:
How to manually get rid of Buddy Tab
If you perform exactly the few simple steps below you should be able to remove the Buddy Tab hijacker from the Firefox, MS Edge, Google Chrome and Microsoft Internet Explorer internet browsers.
Uninstall unwanted or newly installed apps
First, go to Windows Control Panel and remove questionable software, all programs you don’t remember installing. It is important to pay the most attention to apps you installed just before Buddy Tab hijacker appeared on your web browser. If you don’t know what a program does, look for the answer on the World Wide Web.
- If you are using Windows 8, 8.1 or 10 then press Windows button, next press Search. Type “Control panel”and press Enter.
- If you are using Windows XP, Vista, 7, then click “Start” button and press “Control Panel”.
- It will display the Windows Control Panel.
- Further, click “Uninstall a program” under Programs category.
- It will show a list of all apps installed on the computer.
- Scroll through the all list, and uninstall dubious and unknown software. To quickly find the latest installed software, we recommend sort apps by date.
See more details in the video instructions below.
Remove Buddy Tab from Firefox by resetting browser settings
If Firefox homepage or search provider are hijacked by the Buddy Tab, your web browser displays unwanted pop up advertisements, then ‘Reset Firefox’ could solve these problems. Keep in mind that resetting your web-browser will not remove your history, bookmarks, passwords, and other saved data.
Start the Mozilla Firefox and click the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the web browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will open the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you are unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as shown in the figure below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the Buddy Tab hijacker. When, it is complete, press the “Finish” button.
Get rid of Buddy Tab browser hijacker from Internet Explorer
By resetting Internet Explorer web browser you return your web browser settings to its default state. This is first when troubleshooting problems that might have been caused by browser hijacker such as Buddy Tab.
First, open the Internet Explorer. Next, press the button in the form of gear (
). It will display the Tools drop-down menu, press the “Internet Options” like below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then press the Reset button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will open the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window like the one below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then press “Reset” button.
You will now need to reboot your computer for the changes to take effect.
Remove Buddy Tab from Chrome
If browser hijacker, other program or extensions changed your Google Chrome settings without your knowledge, then you can get rid of Buddy Tab and revert back your web browser settings in Chrome at any time. Essential information like bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.
- First start the Google Chrome and press Menu button (small button in the form of three dots).
- It will display the Google Chrome main menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
- You’ll see the list of installed plugins. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Google Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- You will see the Chrome’s settings page. Scroll down and press “Advanced” link.
- Scroll down again and click the “Reset” button.
- The Google Chrome will display the reset profile settings page as shown on the screen above.
- Next click the “Reset” button.
- Once this process is finished, your browser’s home page, new tab and search provider by default will be restored to their original defaults.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Google Chrome settings to default.
Automatic Removal of Buddy Tab
Spyware, adware software, potentially unwanted software and browser hijackers can be difficult to get rid of manually. Do not try to remove this software without the aid of malicious software removal utilities. In order to fully remove Buddy Tab from your internet browser, run professionally developed tools such as Zemana AntiMalware, MalwareBytes and HitmanPro.
Delete Buddy Tab hijacker with Zemana
Zemana Free is extremely fast and ultra light weight malware removal utility. It will help you remove browser hijackers, adware software, PUPs and other malicious software. This program gives real-time protection which never slow down your device. Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) is created for experienced and beginner computer users. The interface of this tool is very easy to use, simple and minimalist.
Visit the following page to download Zemana. Save it to your Desktop so that you can access the file easily.
164112 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
When downloading is finished, close all programs and windows on your PC. Double-click the set up file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as shown below, click the “Yes” button.
It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you install Zemana Free on your personal computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is done successfully, Zemana will automatically start and you can see its main screen like below.
Now press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the Buddy Tab hijacker. A system scan can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on your personal computer. During the scan Zemana AntiMalware will find threats present on your PC system.
Once finished, Zemana will show a scan report. Once you have selected what you wish to delete from your PC system click “Next” button. The Zemana Free will remove Buddy Tab hijacker and move the selected threats to the Quarantine. When disinfection is done, you may be prompted to reboot the personal computer.
Delete Buddy Tab browser hijacker and malicious extensions with Hitman Pro
HitmanPro cleans your computer from adware software, potentially unwanted software, unwanted toolbars, web browser extensions and other undesired programs like Buddy Tab hijacker. The free removal tool will help you enjoy your PC to its fullest. HitmanPro uses advanced behavioral detection technologies to scan for if there are undesired software in your personal computer. You can review the scan results, and select the threats you want to uninstall.
Installing the Hitman Pro is simple. First you will need to download HitmanPro on your PC by clicking on the following link.
After downloading is done, open the file location. You will see an icon like below.
Double click the HitmanPro desktop icon. When the tool is opened, you will see a screen as shown in the figure below.
Further, click “Next” button to begin checking your computer for the Buddy Tab hijacker. This process may take quite a while, so please be patient. When the scan get finished, Hitman Pro will show a list of detected items as displayed on the image below.
Next, you need to press “Next” button. It will show a dialog box, press the “Activate free license” button.
How to delete Buddy Tab with MalwareBytes Free
Manual Buddy Tab hijacker removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the browser hijacker can be not fully removed. We suggest that run the MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) that are fully clean your personal computer of browser hijacker. Moreover, this free application will help you to get rid of malware, potentially unwanted apps, adware software and toolbars that your computer may be infected too.
Visit the following page to download MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM). Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
326461 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
After the download is done, close all windows on your PC system. Further, run the file named MBSetup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as on the image below, click the “Yes” button.
It will show the Setup wizard which will help you setup MalwareBytes Free on the PC system. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once installation is finished successfully, click “Get Started” button. Then MalwareBytes Free will automatically launch and you can see its main window similar to the one below.
Next, press the “Scan” button to start scanning your computer for the Buddy Tab hijacker. This task may take some time, so please be patient. While the utility is checking, you can see count of objects and files has already scanned.
After finished, MalwareBytes Free will open a screen that contains a list of malicious software that has been found. Once you’ve selected what you wish to remove from your personal computer press “Quarantine” button.
The MalwareBytes Free will remove Buddy Tab hijacker and move the selected items to the program’s quarantine. After disinfection is done, you may be prompted to reboot your personal computer. We advise you look at the following video, which completely explains the procedure of using the MalwareBytes to delete browser hijackers, adware software and other malware.
How to stop Buddy Tab redirect
The AdGuard is a very good ad blocking program for the Google Chrome, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and MS Edge, with active user support. It does a great job by removing certain types of unwanted ads, popunders, popups, unwanted newtab pages, and even full page ads and webpage overlay layers. Of course, the AdGuard can block the Buddy Tab redirect automatically or by using a custom filter rule.
- Click the link below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Microsoft Windows. Save it directly to your Microsoft Windows Desktop.
Adguard download
26657 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
- Once the download is complete, launch the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” program window. Follow the prompts.
- When the installation is finished, click “Skip” to close the setup program and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick tutorial that will assist 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 launch your PC, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop unwanted advertisements, block Buddy Tab, as well as other harmful or misleading web-sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the icon called AdGuard, which can be found on your desktop.
To sum up
Now your computer should be free of the Buddy Tab hijacker. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted popup ads and annoying harmful web pages) and Zemana (to periodically scan your device for new hijackers and other malicious software). Probably you are running an older version of Java or Adobe Flash Player. This can be a security risk, so download and install the latest version right now.
If you are still having problems while trying to remove Buddy Tab from the Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome, then ask for help here here.
