How To Remove The Tattoodle Virus – Tattoodle.com Redirect Malware Removal

by Sean Doyle · Published May 10, 2013 · Updated September 11, 2022

The Tattoodle virus is potential malware, categorized as a browser hijacker that changes internet browser settings without permission of the computer user. The Tattoodle virus changes the home page, default search engnie, and other browser and system settings, causing internet browsers to redirect to tattoodle.com and target and start up on the tattoodle.com search page. Redirects to http://www.tattoodle.com often occur when attempting to use the browser address bar to search the web or direct to specific websites. Furthermore it has been reported and publicly documented that Tattoodle displays dangerous search results, including links to scareware products, and third-party malware.

Victims infected with Tattoodle malware (Tattoodle hijacker) first notice unwanted redirections to www.tattoodle.com, as this is often a sign that additional malware may be present on the computer system that is causing the unwanted redirect. It has been reported that removing third-party products will also stop your browser from redirecting to tattoodle.com. Victims may also notice a toolbar at the top of the internet browser that was not voluntarily installed.

If you are infected with Tattoodle malware, please use our free Tattoodle virus removal instructions provided further below.

What is Tattoodle.com?

Tattoodle.com is an unethical search engine that has been reported to change home pages, default search engines, and browser shortcuts without permission, as well as install additional third-party software and files or alongside third-party softawre and files including add-ons, extensions, toolbars, freeware, shareware, codecs, and torrents.

The Tattoodle search engine results page has been reported to display malicious advertisements and links.

Is Tattoodle.com safe?

Tattoodle.com is not safe for reasons concerning cyber criminal activity, the invasion of privacy, dishonesty, deceptive and unethical marketing practices, and more, relating to credit theft, extortion, and identity theft.

It is recommended to avoid http://tattoodle.com, related products, and websites.

How did Tattoodle infect my computer?

The Tattoodle virus, or Tattoodle malware may have infected your computer without content or knowledge alongside third-party software and file downloads

Also note, Tattoodle products can also be manually and voluntarily installed and the Tattoodle search engine can also be manually and voluntarily added to internet browser settings, but as previously stated, this is not recommended.

How to removeTattoodle malware (Hijacker)

Uninstall Tattoodle malware – Use the correct Tattoodle malware uninstall procedures (2 options)
Scan computer for malware – Scan for and remove additional malware from your computer
Automatically repair browser settings – Automatically remove Tattoodle browser settings and uninstall stubborn Tattoodle software
Manually remove Tattoodle.com homepage
Manually remove Tattoodle.com search engine

1. Uninstall Tattoodle malware (2 options)

Tattoodle may be difficult to uninstall using Windows Uninstaller and other procedures.

Option 1: Windows Uninstall (Manual)

1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.

Uninstall a program

2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program (depending on your version of Windows).

3. In the list of installed programs, search for Tattoodle, Tattoodle Toolbar and other suspicious third party programs. Uninstall Tattoodle and unwanted software by double clicking the program’s icon, or highlight the program in the list and click the Uninstall button/tab.

Option 2: CCleaner by Piriform (Automated)

CCleaner by Piriform

CCleaner can be used to uninstall stubborn Tattoodle browser software.

1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.

2. Once installed, navigate to Tools > Uninstall tab and locate Tattoodle software in the list. To automatically uninstall stubborn Tattoodle.com software click Run Uninstaller.

2. Scan computer for malware (automatic removal)

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can be used to detect and remove additional and/or third-party malware from your computer system, including malware that may be responsible for symptoms of the Tattoodle virus.

1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software.

2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, please do so.

3. Open the first tab labeled “Scanner” and select the Perform full scan option. Click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting your computer system.

Malwarebytes Perform Full Scan

4. Once the full system scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a message stating malicious objects were detected. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected).

Malwarebytes Gadgetbox

3. Automatically repair browser settings (automated repair)

CCleaner by Piriform

CCleaner can also be used to repair internet browser settings and stop your browser from redirecting to https://www.Tattoodle.com and other websites.

1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform and run the program.

CCleaner Analyze Cleaner

2. Once installed, run the program and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.

CCleaner Startup

3. Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found. Look for anything that may be suspicious or contain “Tattoodle” in the title or filename.

4. Manually remove Tattoodle.com homepage

In Mozilla Firefox navigate to Tools > Options or click Firefox in the top left corner and click Options > Options. Under the General tab remove Tattoodle.com from the “Home Page:” field and replace it with your preferred home page URL.
In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools >Internet Options. Remove Tattoodle.com from the Home Page field and replace it with your preferred URL.
In Google Chrome click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings.Click “Set pages” under the On startup option. Remove Tattoodle.com and replace it with your preferred URL.

5. Manually remove Tattoodle.com search engine

In Mozilla Firefox, click the small search magnify glass near the search box (not url/search field) and click “Manage Search Engines…”. Remove the Tattoodle.com search engine from the list of search providers by highlighting the selections and clicking remove.
In Microsoft Internet Explorer navigate to Tools > Manage Add Ons > Search Providers and remove the Tattoodle.com search engine from the list.
In Google Chrome, click the customize icon (wrench or 3 bars) and navigate to Settings > Manage search engines… click the X next to Tattoodle.com to remove it as your search engine.

Please note, If www.tattoodle.com is set as Google Chrome’s default search engine, add (or select) a new search engine (such as Google.com) and select the new search engine as the default search engine, then remove Tattoodle.com by clicking the X next to it.