How to remove YaTab and Yatab.net from your search settings
- A Google Chrome browser extension named YaTab can collect personally identifiable information.
- The extension modifies your new tab page, search engine, browsing history, and other data.
- The extension is advertised by malicious ad networks that also advertise malware and other threats.
- Learn how to remove YaTab, remove malware from your computer, and keep your computer protected.
YaTab, or Yet Another Tab, is an internet browser extension developed for use with the Google Chrome internet browser. The YaTab is self-described as “a simple new tab page, with a personal dashboard featuring weather, to-do, notes and beautiful backgrounds.”
The YaTab browser extension has permission to read and change all your data on the websites you visit, replace the page you see when opening a new tab, read and change your browsing history, change your search settings to yatab.net, and read and change your bookmarks.
This means that the YaTab browser can basically track your online activity and observe and gather personally identifiable information (PII). Your browsing activity and personal information can then be shared with or sold to a third party for unknown reasons.
Harvesting and selling personal user data is a lucrative business for many browser extension developers and websites.
How does YaTab collect data?
As previously mentioned, the YaTab extension can read and change all your data on the websites you visit. This means that it can view every web page you visit, modify those web pages, and send information about it over the web
The YaTab extension also changes your ‘new tab’ page and search settings to yatab.net. This gives the extension and website permission to track which terms you search for online and drop tracking cookies onto your computer that can provide them with information about any kind of connection. Additionally, when you search the web using yatab.net or through Chrome’s address bar, you will be redirected to Bing.com, and this lets YaTab show advertisements or monetized search results.
The extension has permission to read and change your browsing history. That’s straight forward; It means that the extension can observe which websites you visit and when you visit them, as well as modify your web browsing history.
Last, but not least, the YaTab can read and change your bookmarks. This gives the extension permission to know your what your favorite websites are, which web pages you favor, the type of content or products that interest you, and more.
How is YaTab distributed?
Like many similar browser extensions for Google Chrome, YaTab utilizes malicious and deceptive advertising networks as a way to promote itself. These advertising networks typically display advertisements on websites that contain adult, prohibited, or illegal content such as pirated video streams. Websites that contain such content or notorious for hosting malware and advertising malicious programs and browser extensions.
Follow these steps to remove the YaTab extension from Google Chrome and scan your computer for malware.
How to remove YaTab
1. Click the Customize and control Google Chrome icon (3 dot icon) and go to More tools > Extensions.
2. Click the Remove button next to the YaTab extension.
3. Next, download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware software to scan your computer for malware and potentially unwanted programs.
4. To install Malwarebytes, double-click the executable file you just downloaded, or open the file from your browser window. The file can usually be found in the Downloads folder.
5. Choose if this is for home or work use and click Agree and Install to begin installing Malwarebytes. Once the installation is complete, click Finish.
6. When Malwarebytes is installed, launch the program and click the Scan Now button on the dashboard (or go to the Scan tab and click the Start Scan button).
7. When the scan been completed, click the Quarantine Selected button.
8. If Malwarebytes says “All selected items have been removed successfully. A log file has been saved to the logs folder. Your computer needs to be restarted to complete the removal process. Would you like to restart now?” click the Yes button to restart your computer.
9. Download HitmanPro to perform a second-opinion scan and remove any remaining malicious trace files. A second-opinion scan is important when removing malware and malicious files from your computer.
10. To install the program, locate and double-click the executable file you just downloaded. The file can usually be found in the Downloads folder.
11. Once HitmanPro is installed, open the program and click Next to start scanning your computer. *If you are using the free version you may choose to create a copy or perform a one-time scan.
12. When the HitmanPro scan is complete, click the Next button.
13. To activate the free version of HitmanPro: enter your email address twice and click the Activate button.
14. Click the Reboot button.
How to protect your computer from malware
Once you have completed uninstalling YaTab from Google Chrome and have scanned your computer for malware with the recommended tools, consider these best practices to protect your computer from future threats.
Use Antivirus with real-time protection
Antivirus program with real-time protection can stop emerging threats and hackers from gaining access to your computer or mobile device. Antivirus programs can remove malicious files that are already on your computer, prevent your programs from being used against you, protect you from malicious websites, and stop known and unknown ransomware attacks.
Recommendations:
- Malwarebytes (Malwarebytes is an Antimalware program that can be used alongside Antivirus programs)
- Norton Security Deluxe
- AVG Internet Security Unlimited
Use a VPN
A VPN creates a private tunnel to keep the eyes of eavesdroppers and hackers away from your private data while you browse the web. With a VPN, you become anonymous and no one can determine who you are. Your data is encrypted and your web activity cannot be tracked.
Recommendations:
Ignore email messages from people you don’t recognize
Ignore email messages from people you do not recognize or are not expecting a message from to avoid malware from spreading onto your computer or mobile device. Email messages often contain malicious links and attachments that can be harmful to your computer. In fact, email spam is one of the most common ways that malware is spread.
We hope you found this YaTab removal guide was helpful. If you liked this post, make sure to share it to spread the word! If you still need help feel free to leave a comment below or create a topic in our Cybersecurity forum.
