Search.chill-tab.com virus

Chill tab virus is a suspicious application that is mostly targeting Mac OS X users

Chill Tab virus is a potentially unwanted program which has become a serious pain to Mac users. When infected, you can notice a fake pop-up saying “Scanning for Browser updates.” According to victims, this ad is displayed every time you start your browsing on Safari, Chrome or any other web browser.^[1] The virus can also assign hxxp://Search.chill-tab.com/ to default start and search settings without your approval.

Chill-Tab extension^[2] was spotted in July 2017 for the first time. Since then, it has been spreading with the help of different components, including “MacSearch,” “hkijingy.me,” “updates.ijnewhb.com,” “cdn.macapproduct.com,” and others. Make sure you eliminate these from your system to prevent additional unacceptable behavior on your computer.

Browser hijackers are programs designed to make victim’s web browsers open a specific website frequently. In this case, it is Search.chill-tab.com. It presents a typical-looking search engine, although it serves sponsored results whenever you attempt to find some information online.

Ads incorporated into search results contain links to external websites with Privacy Policies that may differ from the policy of Chill Tab. Some of these web pages can be extremely dangerous and urge you to install browser plug-ins, software updates or other suspicious pieces of software^[3] to access certain content. Other deceptive sites can ask you to provide your email address only to send you spam later.

Each successful redirect to external websites that collaborate with the developer of this vague browser hijacker generates pay-per-click revenue. Sadly, the only one who benefits from it is the author of this browser hijacker. To remove Chill tab virus from your browser, you must find and delete this questionable extension.

If you’re not determined to fight with this potentially unwanted program manually, you might want to employ tools such as Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego. It will precisely check the entire system and eliminate everything related to spyware/malware. You can also find an in-depth tutorial on how to uninstall Chill Tab from the system manually right below the article.

Search.chill-tab.com is a questionable search site that tracks user’s searches and integrates sponsored links into search results.

Search.chill-tab.com is a questionable search site that tracks user’s searches and integrates sponsored links into search results.

Signs of infection

When infected with this hijacker, you can hardly start your browsing without this alert:

Scanning for Browser updates

Then, once the scanning is over, the virus displays such notification:

Your browser is now up to date! Click to continue.

At this moment, the hijacker tries to install Chill Tab extension, which should be blocked by Safari as it is not in the original Apple’s Extension. Please, do NOT fall for these alerts and make sure you ignore them because you can end up with another virus on your computer!

Prevent installation of browser hijackers using this simple trick

There is only one way to keep browser hijackers and other potentially unwanted programs at bay. You need to be careful when using the computer, especially when browsing the Internet. It, for sure, has a lot to offer, and that also includes dangerous content.

Stay alert when installing programs you downloaded from the Internet. It is very important not to install software using pre-selected installation settings because they are designed to place optional components on your system. In fact, this often earns them pay-per-install revenue. You can easily opt-out these extras via Custom or Advanced installation settings.

Offers to install browser hijackers can also come in the form of pop-up ads. If you notice these on your screen on a daily basis, you might need to check your system for adware-type software. It is yet another member of the potentially unwanted programs’ group^[4].

Eliminate Search.chill-tab.com search virus

According to our experts, the extension has been spreading only between Mac operating systems. If your system is infected, you should know that the removal procedure can be initiated either manually or automatically. Although automatic removal option is always a better choice to make, you can delete the browser redirect virus without special software, too. It simply takes more time and requires patience to finish the procedure. Beware that the current program’s version is Chill tab 1.0.

For a successful Chill Tab removal, you need to follow the instructions provided below the article. They explain how to delete all components associated with this browser hijacker. However, as we have already reported, to remove Chill Tab on Mac or Windows without leaving its components, you should opt for a full system scan. To carry it out, you will need a reliable anti-spyware or anti-malware software.

You may remove virus damage with a help of Reimage Reimage Cleaner Intego. SpyHunter 5Combo Cleaner and Malwarebytes are recommended to detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.

Get rid of Search.chill-tab.com from Mac OS X system

To get rid of this virus on Mac, make sure you get rid of all components related to this hijacker. Please, look for MacSearch, hkijingy.me, updates.ijnewhb.com, cdn.macapproduct.com and similar entries that look unknown to you.

1. If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
2. Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Search.chill-tab.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.

Delete Search.chill-tab.com from Windows systems

In case this potentially unwanted program showed up on your Windows OS, look for its components via Control Panel. You need to find programs that look shady or those you cannot remember installing, select them and click Uninstall. 

1. Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs). Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
2. Uninstall Search.chill-tab.com and related programs
   Here, look for Search.chill-tab.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs.
3. Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
4. Remove Search.chill-tab.com from Windows shortcuts
   Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties.
5. Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.

Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers’ shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.

Eliminate Search.chill-tab.com from Google Chrome

To uninstall Chill Tab from Chrome, go to chrome://extensions page. You can simply enter this line into the address bar and push Enter. Here, delete the Chill Tab NewTab extension.

1. Delete malicious plugins
   Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions.
2. Here, select Search.chill-tab.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
3. Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
   Click on menu icon and choose Settings.
4. Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
5. Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
6. Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
7. When in Search Engines…, remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
8. Reset Google Chrome
   Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings.
9. Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
10. Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Search.chill-tab.com removal.

Delete Search.chill-tab.com from Safari

To remove the virus from Safari, you should reset this browser. This is the easiest way to get rid of this hijacker. However, you can also check your extension list and delete the ones that seem unknown to you. Be sure to remove MacSearch, hkijingy.me, updates.ijnewhb.com, cdn.macapproduct.com, Tab.chill-tab.com; Search.chill-tab.com, and similar entries.

1. Remove dangerous extensions
   Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences.
2. Here, select Extensions and look for Search.chill-tab.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
3. Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
   Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General.
4. Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Search.chill-tab.com, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the “http://” before typing in the address of the page.
5. Reset Safari
   Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari….
6. Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Search.chill-tab.com removal process.

Uninstall Search.chill-tab.com from Internet Explorer (IE)

1. Remove dangerous add-ons
   Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons.
2. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Search.chill-tab.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
3. Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
   Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab.
4. Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
5. Reset Internet Explorer
   Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab.
6. Here, select Reset.
7. When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Search.chill-tab.com removal.

Remove Search.chill-tab.com virus from Microsoft Edge

Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):

1. Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
2. Click Settings to open more options.
3. Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
4. Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
5. Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
6. When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
7. Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
8. When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.

Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):

If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.

1. Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
2. Find this folder on your computer: C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe.
3. Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
4. Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
5. Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
6. Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
   

   Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}

   

Once these steps are finished, Search.chill-tab.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.

Erase Search.chill-tab.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Eliminate Chill Tab NewTab extension from Firefox to stop these annoying Search.chill-tab redirects.

1. Remove dangerous extensions
   Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions.
2. Here, select Search.chill-tab.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
3. Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
   Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General.
4. Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
5. Click OK to save these changes.
6. Reset Mozilla Firefox
   Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information.
7. Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Search.chill-tab.com removal.