Handy Tab is a potentially unwanted program (PUP) that has also been classified as a browser hijacker. Once it installs, Handy Tab virus starts to initiate redirects to search.handy-tab.com and similar domains that are related to it in some way. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to disable this browser extension because it uses Browser Helper Objects (BOBs) to prevent it from being removed.
For starters, Handy Tab starts modifying system settings, changing home page and default search engine. Google Chrome most vulnerable to this virus. The hijacker then starts interrupting each user's search session, redirecting him/her to desired domains. Be aware that these sites can be filled with fake surveys and infected links that can cause malware to appear on your computer.
Handy Tab can also cause system slowdown and user tracking. It does this by collecting the user's keystrokes each time he starts browsing the web. The privacy policy of this hijacker states that the information collected by its representatives is not personal. However, there is no guarantee that third parties will not be able to get their hands on it.
It becomes clear that the Handy Tab extension was designed for only one purpose - to make money using the pay per click scheme, however when you click on the shadow paid links search results lead you to potentially dangerous web pages, so we strongly recommend that you refrain from using unknown search engines such as Search.Handy-Tab.com.
It goes without saying that avoiding questionable search engines is a must if you are trying to protect your computer. To remove Handy Tab virus from your browser, you need to follow the instructions of our security experts (you will find the recommendations below).
If the removal process seems complicated to you, you can always remove the hijacker automatically. To remove Handy Tab from the system, we recommend using software such as or . However, you can use any security software you want, just make sure it's reliable and up-to-date!
Removing Handy-Tab.com virus is not challenging task. You just need to follow the guide provided by the cybersecurity experts. 
Click "Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features" (if you are a "Windows XP" user, click "Add/Remove Programs"). 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Windows
If you are using "Windows 10 / Windows 8" then click right click mouse on the lower left corner of the screen. When the "Quick Access Menu" appears, select "Control Panel" and "Uninstall a Program". 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Windows
Right click on each suspicious entry and select "Uninstall" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Windows
Right click on the browser icon and select "Properties" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Windows
Select "Shortcut" tab and remove "http://isearch.babylon.com..." and other suspicious URLs 
Click on "Go" and select "Applications" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Mac OS X
Click on each malicious entry and select "Move to Trash" 
Click on the menu icon and select "Manage add-ons" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Internet Explorer
Right click on each malicious entry and select "Disable" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Internet Explorer
Remove malicious URLs, enter the desired Domain name and select "Apply" to save the changes. 
Reset Internet Explorer
Open the "Advanced" tab and click on "Reset". Select "Delete personal settings" and click on the "Reset" button again 
Go to settings and select "Choose what to clear" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Microsoft Edge
Select "Clear" button 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Microsoft Edge
open start menu and select "Task Manager" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Microsoft Edge
Right click "Microsoft Edge" and select "Go to details" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Microsoft Edge
Select "More details" if the "Go to details" option is not shown 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Microsoft Edge
Find Microsoft records Edge and select "End Task" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Microsoft Edge
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Microsoft Edge
Find Windows PowerShell, right click and find "Run as administrator" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Microsoft Edge
Copy and paste desired command and then press "Enter" 
Click on the menu icon and select "Add-ons" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Mozilla Firefox
Select "Extensions" and look for malware in the list. Click "Remove" to remove them. 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Mozilla Firefox
Go to the "General" tab, remove the malicious URLs from the "Home Page" section or click "Restore to Default". Click "OK" to save your changes. 
Reset Mozilla Firefox
Enter the menu and click on "?". Select "Troubleshooting Information" 
Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click the "Reset Firefox" button several times 
Click on the menu icon. Select "Tools" and "Extensions" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Google Chrome
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Google Chrome
After clicking the menu and "Settings", select "Set pages" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Google Chrome
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Google Chrome
In "Settings" select "Manage search engines..." 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Google Chrome
Click "X" to remove malicious URLs 
Reset Google Chrome
In "Settings" scroll down the window and click on the button "Reset browser settings" 
Reset Google Chrome
Click the "Reset" button to complete the removal 
Click on "Safari" and select "Preferences" 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Safari
Go to "Extensions" and remove malicious add-ons 
Remove Handy-Tab.com from Safari
While in "General", delete malicious URLs and enter the domain name you need 
Reset Safari
Click on "Safari" and select "Reset Safari..." 
Reset Safari
Select all options and click on the "Reset" button ⇦ ⇨
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Learn to find offers to install potentially unwanted programs
The main trick that spyware developers use to promote dubious software is a bundle of software that helps distribute a pair of programs together. Free software must be carefully installed; otherwise, there may be several unexpected programs on your computer. These tips were provided by the UdenVirus.dk team - we find them extremely helpful in trying to keep maximum performance your computer.
Malicious software, trojans, bugs - all these words instill fear in the heart of each of us, imagining broken code, skull and bone. All these malicious programs from the Internet, unfortunately, only prove that for every useful technology accounts for an equal amount of garbage, which can sometimes have negative impact to your computer.
Potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) live up to their name: they are programs that clutter your computer and that you want to get rid of. PUPs are similar to malware in that once they are downloaded and installed, they cause various problems on your computer. Distinguishes PNP from malware only the fact that they are downloaded with your consent.
The term PUP was first coined as a definition for downloadable adware or clutter that is distinct from malware. PNP often involve great amount system resources and are common cause slow operation of operating systems. However, they are not harmful or cause harm. However, they often annoy the PC users themselves by creating new toolbars in the web browser for some online stores, changing the search engine from Google to Bing without warning, constantly opening pop-up advertising windows or regularly informing the user about the weather in Swaziland. Some PUPs are even aggressive, deliberately slowing down your computer in order to subsequently sell you wonderful tools / settings to speed up the system.
Why do PNP exist? For the developers of "free" software to earn a profit. For example, for each toolbar successfully installed in a browser, a free software developer receives about $2. Some PUPs exist only to make money without even providing you with anything useful.
So, how do you get one potentially unwanted program (or ten at once)?
The behavior of the PUP is usually set out in the User Agreement: this is the same long document, which appears as you make your way through all the installation windows, clicking "Agree" and "Accept" to finally get to the end. But this seemingly useless legal section actually lists the intentions of the program. For my PNP installations require your approval through this "Agree" button. They count on this consent. This protects software developers from any legal action. They rely on your speed through the installation process and expect you not to read the User Agreement, but to immediately scroll down and press the long-awaited "AGREE" button.
So how do they get into your computer?
Imagine what you get new year gift beautifully wrapped in gift paper. So are PUPs, which are “nicely packaged” in free download the free program you want. And this doesn't just apply to small free software providers. Many big brands are also associated with PUP, for example:
Another way PUPs get into your computer is through download portals. You visit these sites to update products from Adobe or to find a convenient media player. Most portals promise "clean and secure boot". However, it has become dangerous to trust any download portal, because PUPs are already bundled with software reviews on the site, which is not entirely legal.
We examined how many EORs were built into the installation of the top 50 popular apps on Download.com. We found that PUPs are included in the installation 31 out of 50 apps tested on Download.com. Cm.:
Shocked by these results, we decided to take a look at how ten of the most popular download portals (besides Download.com) work to see if any of them are safe to use. We downloaded ten of the most popular apps and calculated how much clutter was downloaded with them. We found that almost every portal contains, at least, one or more PNP. Cm.:
The problem with the bright green button.
You have finally decided to sort all the photos on your computer. Now they are in different folders, and it's impossible to find a specific photo when you need it. Therefore you download special program, which can sort your photos and even edit them if you want. From Download.com directly to home page there is a list of programs. You select the program you want, and a bright green DOWNLOAD NOW button appears, separating you from all your photo organization hassles. You press the button! Fine! There is no more chaos on the desktop. Except that in addition to the photo program, you downloaded three PUPs at the same time.
There are many players involved in the distribution of potentially unwanted programs. As a result, you may experience what is best described as "Cascading PUPs". During installation, you can get not one, but several PUPs in a row - one after the other.
This happens when PUPs are bundled with other PUPs. When you download and install the program you want, you agree to the installation of the PUP toolbar without even paying attention to it. As a result, one PUP is installed, which will subsequently install other PUPs without your knowledge.
Beware of fake software updates. Most often this happens through temporary websites that have been designed for Adsense. These sites are built into downloaders that will tell you when it's time to update your Flash Player or Java. There are companies that create hundreds of websites every day for the sole purpose of misleading you and bringing you to their site.
There are quite a few ways your computer can get hold of the PUP. We have collected for you all the main ways. Cm.:
So who benefits from PPP?
Software providers: with each installation, the software provider (seller) receives money from PUP developers (creators of adware). We provide examples in this article.
Download Portal: this resource, like other software download portals, receives money for embedding PUPs in their setup files(bright green Download Now button). The software provider is generally not involved in this and does not benefit from it.
PNP: some PUP developers work collaboratively, installing products from each other and paying each other.
And here it is already creepy.
Recent developments of PUPs use rootkits, infections that hide themselves, their own data, and other files so that neither the user nor the operating system can see them. By intercepting and receiving messages from your computer, they forward all information and reports whenever they want. Use of rootkits in creation and distribution advertising programs blurs the boundaries between unnecessary garbage and active malware.
This is even more clearly seen in the new TNG, known as "More fast internet”, which, after installation, will create a fingerprint of your computer. This information is then sent to the developer's server along with screenshots. active display your PC and your IP address. Such adware grossly violates your privacy and borders on spyware.
But wait! I see a popup trying to help me! The interactive PUP starts to scare us by displaying online ads that try to trick us into thinking that our PCs have serious problems. This is done so that you call the specified number Support services so that they scare you even more and force you to buy their services.
Unfortunately, every day there are more and more more ways be infected. And while adware installers are still not regulated at the legislative level, their developers remain out of control.
PUP and antivirus industry
What is most frightening is that after major vendors such as Oracle (Java) and Microsoft (Bing and Skype) began to include PUP in their software, ethics in the software industry seemed to be completely lost, because even anti-virus software vendors that include PUPs in their software. We have researched demon paid programs several manufacturers antivirus solutions. The results are worrying. We found that 7 out of 8 tested free antiviruses went along with the PNP. Cm.:
Emsisoft vs. PUPs
Over the past few years, the situation with threats has changed significantly. When the Emsisoft team checked the latest infection statistics, we found that 3/4 of all found Emsisoft Anti-Malware objects today belong to the PNP. Behind last years their number has increased significantly. Cm.:
But where there is a problem, there is a solution. We at Emsisoft support high ethical standards, which determine how we handle all threats: we always keep our users in mind. While many antivirus products unable to detect even the most common PUPs and, worse,
PUPs account for 79% of infections
While we are indeed effective in combating PUPs, it is equally important that the user himself be able to recognize PUPs before downloading them and avoid problems.
So, let's sum it up:
- PPPs want to make money off of you. The most common form is to hijack your browser so they can show you advertisements, monetize or sell your search terms and/or browser behavior or will redirect your home page.
- PUPs use aggressive distribution methods to get onto your computer. In the vast majority of cases, you will simply not be aware that you are installing a potentially unwanted program.
- Most PUPs do not carry any value or have no benefits. PUP developers manage to get around this by paying a fee for each new installation its software to suppliers or distributors of other programs.
- PUPs often get on your computer through free software vendors because they come bundled with some kind of free software. While you are installing this program, you are also installing one or more PUPs without even knowing what you have done. For this, the free software provider receives money from the PUP manufacturer.
So, now you know what potentially unwanted programs are and how they get onto your PC. How to avoid PNP?
- Be careful, use common sense and take your time. Please read the terms or notes carefully before installation. Do not click "Accept" / "Agree" until you are sure that you are really ready to install everything that is mentioned in the User Agreement.
- Use only reliable resources for downloading: for example, the official website of the product you want to download.
- Avoid downloading from free portals and never download or install an application if it seems suspicious or malicious to you.
- Install, update and run only recognized antivirus programs, such as Emsisoft Anti-Malware, which offers real-time PUP protection.
- Periodically clean your computer with our free set tools Emsisoft Emergency Kit.
Happy (PNP-free) day!
Your Emsisoft team
Many of you have probably experienced the situation - you downloaded and installed a free program, then opened your browser and found a strange panel in it, a changed default search engine and a different home page. You just caught a potentially unwanted program (PUP).
Usually this program packaged in installer regular programs, more often free, but sometimes found even in commercial products. They usually change browser settings in an attempt to redirect traffic to resources that generate income for creators of unwanted software. They may also track your online behavior and then resell this data to advertisers.
Preventing the installation of PUP
Although the programs are unwanted, they are not malicious in nature and are often not detected by antiviruses. The best protection from them - attentiveness and caution.
Always carefully read each step of installing the program and disable the checkboxes that are responsible for the installation additional programs, toolbars and extensions. If both regular and custom installations are offered, then select custom - there are often hidden switches for installing hidden software. The program can help uncheck unnecessary checkboxes in installers and warn you about an attempt to install an unwanted program.
The free tool Unchecky monitors software installations and automatically disables the checkboxes that lead to the installation of third-party software. On our site is available by using the utility.
Sometimes when you install freeware, PUPs are an integral part of the offer and you cannot disable their installation. When you are faced with license agreement any program, then the temptation to click the “Next” button is very great, because reading the document can take a decent amount of time. However, sometimes it's better to review the agreement to find out that the program comes with a bunch of unnecessary "friends". In this situation the best way out will close the installer and search for another program that does not impose additional modules.
Might be worth looking into portable version programs - they do not need to be installed, which means they do not have an installer containing third-party software.
To check a suspicious installer, you can use the sandbox - in this case, unwanted software will not get access to files in real system. you can use virtual machine, such as VirtualBox or VMware, to install applications on a separate OS.
You did everything you could to avoid the PUP, but your browser was hacked anyway, it got panels, a page changed, and search system. If the antivirus does not detect the culprit and you cannot remove unwanted extension from a browser, try Malwarebytes Free.
Malwarebytes can scan the system looking for PUPs and remove them. The product can work safely in conjunction with an antivirus, can be configured to detect PUPs and process them as normal malware, i.e. suggesting removal.
Other than that, you can use free utilities to remove adware and PUPs - AdwCleaner, Junkware Removal Tool and Ultra Adware Killer.
Have you ever experienced PNP? How did you eliminate them? Tell in the comments!
Found a typo? Press Ctrl+Enter
Computer protection in our time, when almost everything is computerized, should be complex. Don't miss out on even the smallest opportunity. secure your personal computer. Having once ignored this possibility, after a while, it can backfire in the form big problems from your iron friend.
Let's take a look at the option today. PC protection from potentially unwanted programs. The program will help us Unchecky. Go!
Preventive PC protection from unwanted programs.
Any disease is easier to prevent than to treat it after infection. It's the same with computers. Protect your computer from viruses is still easier than to remove these viruses from an already infected computer. Viruses are malicious code, programs, algorithm, the purpose of which is to harm the computer by the most different ways. I think all PC users are familiar with the term virus and most of them take various steps to PC protection from them. But what is may not know everything. So let's first define the term potentially unwanted programs.
Potentially unwanted programs.
Potentially unwanted programs(PNP) it's originally not malware. However, they are weak point in computer protection from viruses. It is they that can be used by viral codes to achieve their goals.
PNPs include:
- Programs advertising nature(adware).
These programs are associated with showing ads to the user. In most cases, by clicking on such an advertisement, the user gets to a site with a virus code, from where the malicious code is introduced into the system. Advertising banners appear not only in browsers, but also in other programs installed in the system. Some advertising programs even send information, but the truth is that they first ask the user about it.
- Pornographic programs (pornware).
I don't think there is any need to explain here. And so everything is clear to everyone.
- Programs at risk (riskware).
These include auto-dialer programs, file download programs (downloader programs, downloaders that can download files from web pages in stealth mode), system activity monitors, password utilities, etc. These programs are useful and many use them, but they are vulnerable to virus writers and can easily be used by them for their own purposes.
Now about how they get into the system and how to prevent them from getting into the system.
Unchecky - ways unwanted programs get into the system.
They get into the system in most cases when installing another program. Those. the user himself installs them into the system. Of course, he does not suspect anything about this due to his inattention or ignorance. Let's give an example.
Let's take the program Start Menu 8, which I wrote about in the article
When you start the installation of this program, the installer window prompts you to select one of two installation options:
- Full installation (recommended)
- Custom installation (for experienced users)
Many, frightened by the words "for advanced users", afraid to do something "irreparable", leave a check mark on the first item and click the "Install" button.
Hidden by a specialist, so that you would be "afraid" to look there. In the meantime, the checkboxes set by default in both hidden items, with your tacit consent, will install two programs on your computer that you are not even aware of. This is the Hamster Free Archiver and Sputnik @Mail.ru
These two programs may not be that dangerous, but they are potentially unwanted programs, if only because they are installed "without your knowledge" ( Read about unscrupulous developers from @Mail.ru).
Unchecky - protect your PC from potentially unwanted programs.
How Unchecky protects your computer from installing the potential garbage described above? First, let's download this program. It is free and supports the Russian language. The author is a RaMMicHaeL. Here is the download link.
According to the previous example, if you had installed on your computer Unchecky program, then when installing the Start Menu 8 program, in the installer window, the checkmark would automatically be set to the item: Custom installation (for advanced users), and the checkboxes for Hamster Free Archiver and Sputnik @Mail.ru would be unchecked.
Utility Unchecky:
- automatically unchecks the checkboxes of additional programs;
- when the installed checkboxes are found in the installer third-party software displays a warning window;
- automatically updates itself.
Unchecky works in background and doesn't show up at all. This utility will be useful to users who are not very friendly with the computer, as well as those who often spend service maintenance such users.
That's all. Use the Unchecky utility and it will provide protecting your PC from potentially unwanted programs.
And this video clearly demonstrates the work of the Unchecky program.
In this article I will tell you what they are, where they come from and how to get rid of them.
According to the official classification, they are also called PNP(Potentially unwanted programs) ( English - Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) ).
What are they threatening us with?
1. Toolbars take up valuable space in the browser window, preventing free access to relevant and useful information.
2. Occupy RAM and processor resources and, depending on their number, can significantly slow down your computer.
3. Almost always run with operating system as well as with the browser, thereby significantly increase their loading time.
4. They can carry out some kind of their own behind the user's back "undocumented" activity: collect and transfer to their owners the history of visiting the Internet, personal information, passwords, modify web pages, search results, redirect to other resources.
5. Leading their "activities" can greatly slow down internet speed.
6. "Free" improvers, cleaners, updaters and optimizers are rarely useful, and often vice versa.
7. Not always well-written and tested by programmers, they can be the cause of a wide variety of other “glitches” of the computer.
Where do they come from?
Unlike an infection called "hijack startpage" like webalta.ru apeha.ru, www.ctel.ru, www.smaxi.net, mygame.com.ua, the user is partially to blame for these problems. Usually, these programs honestly warn the user that they will be installed (although this may not always be as clear as one would like).
Almost all free programs, games, as well as some paid ones have this “free appendage”:
At installing ICQ"Additional weights" are hidden in the item "Installation settings"
When updating programs, plugins:
At Adobe update Flash Player don't skip installing McAfee security scan Plus!
When downloading files from file hosting:
When downloading files from the Internet, do not miss the "offer" to install some Yandex.Bar
When installing games:
When installing games, if you do not pay attention to setting the parameters, a bunch of unnecessary options will be installed
It turns out that when installing paid programs (for example, NOD32 antivirus), you also need to be careful not to “pick up” some Yandex.bar along with a photo storage service “for only 590 rubles for 1 year”:
In my opinion, embed in paid programs promotional materials- that's bullshit!
I was pleasantly surprised that when installing Avira antivirus its SearchFree Toolbar IS NOT CHECKED by default
What do we get?
As a result of our inattentive actions, we will get such or similar pop-up windows, the inability to change the start page, the toolbar in the browser, new icon to tray and autorun:
Mail.ru: Internet settings management: “Wow, something has changed in the Internet settings!”
How to deal with it?
AskToolbar
Ask Toolbar Updater
AlterGeo Magic Scanner
Avira Search Free Toolbar
Bing Bar
Carambis Driver Updater
DAEMON Toolbar
Google Toolbar
[email protected]
Hamster Free ZIP Archive
Hamster Lite Archiver
ICQ Toolbar
livetools
McAfee Security Scan
McAfee SiteAdvisor
Norton Security Scan
Rambler Assistant
Skype Click to Call
Skype Toolbars
Ticno multibar
Ticno Indexator
Ticno Tabs
Uniblue DriverScanner
Vpets
Windows iLivid Toolbar
Yandex.Bar
Mail.Ru Satellite
When removed Guard.mail.ru resists and brazenly lies that he "protects the computer from malicious programs." In fact, it only guards Mail.ru services (start page, search, etc.)
Even better, use some advanced uninstaller program. For example Revouninstaller so that it cleans up behind these programs all possible "tails" that remain in the system after a normal uninstallation:
Revouninstaller uninstaller after uninstalling Yandex.Bar standard means finds and removes many more “tails” from it both in the registry and on the hard drive
After removing this muck, you need to manually fix it in browsers start pages, default search, remove unnecessary add-ons. Although, sometimes this is not enough: it is sometimes so deeply written in the browser that it is not possible to completely eradicate it.
In this case, it is also easier and faster to reinstall them using the uninstall program (but do not forget that in this case, bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history and necessary add-ons may be lost!).
http://www.1st.rv.ua/programmy-parazity-kak-izbavitsya/ — link
All these Yandex-, Rambler-, Mail.ru-, etc. bars as venereal diseases: once during the installation did not uncheck the box right place- everything, suffer, treat and delete.
Download Revo Uninstaller:
From the developer's site
From SoftPortal servers
How to use Pc-decrapifier
PC Decrapifier is a small, easy-to-use application specially designed to efficiently and quick removal unwanted software. On a new Windows machine, PC Decrapifier removes most of the preinstalled trial versions programs that slow down the system.
The tool is absolutely free, does everything automatically, and therefore extremely easy to use.
You just need to run PC Decrapifier, and the utility will get rid of unnecessary junk on its own.
Extremely helpful when buying personal computer or a laptop on which a huge number of unnecessary programs are initially installed.
You do not have to install the program - it is portable and starts immediately after clicking on the downloaded file.
PC Decrapifier is only free for personal use. When using the program for commercial purposes, you will need a commercial license.
Good luck to all of you, be careful and don't get caught!
