FunTabSafeSearch(.)com is the main online domain of a browser hijacker. Imali Media Ltd. is the company that created the unwanted software. All search queries you make will be filtered by redirects of another hijacker called SafeFinder, as well as the main hijacker in use. The unwanted program will modify your browser settings, and change the homepage, search engine, and new tab to Search.FunTabSafeSearch(.)com. A toolbar or an extension could be set to your browsers. Advertisements can show when you browse. To remove the hijacker and its files, you should read the whole article.
Threat Summary
| Name | FunTabSafeSearch(.)com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | All browsers on your computer could be affected. The hijacker can redirect you and filter each of your searches. |
| Symptoms | Browser settings which are altered are the homepage, search engine and new tab, browser plugins and a toolbar. You could see third party content and adverts. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool | See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware Download Malware Removal Tool |
| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss FunTabSafeSearch(.)com. |
FunTabSafeSearch(.)com – Delivery
FunTabSafeSearch(.)com can use several tactics for delivery to get inside your browsers. This often happens with third-party installations. Software bundles, along with freeware install setups, can put the hijacker inside your PC. These setups could have additional components selected for installing, by default. Browser settings can be modified without notification, and the unwanted software can be in your computer system without you knowing it. To avoid installations of this sort, you have to find Custom or Advanced settings inside a setup and deselect any unneeded components.
FunTabSafeSearch(.)com can be delivered to your computer machine via advertising content, such as banners, pop-ups or any other advertisement types for that matter. The hijacker might also be delivered through suspicious websites which are hosting redirecting links. Those websites might be partnered with FunTabSafeSearch(.)com. Browsers that can be affected are: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox.
FunTabSafeSearch(.)com – Overview
FunTabSafeSearch(.)com is the main online domain and search engine of the browser hijacker which goes by relatively the same name – Fun Tab Safe. The company that made it is Imali Media Ltd., which is known for the production of many more browser hijacker programs in the past. You can see more articles for Imali Media browser hijackers on our blog.
You can see a picture of the domain down below:
The FunTabSafeSearch(.)com page consists of a search bar, links with redirects to various services and some of them are wrapped as buttons below the search bar. On top of the page, there is a toolbar with additional redirects. You can see that in the image above this paragraph and know that this page replaces the search engine of all browsers you have, along with the new tab setting, and home page.
From the toolbar above, if you click on the “Repair Computer Errors” button, you will land on the following page:
That redirect exists in many other browsers and the Plus Network browser hijacker does the same thing. ReImagePlus or also known as ReImage Repair is a famous rogue security program.
If on your computer system resides any software related to FunTabSafeSearch(.)com, or you have a browser extension or add-on, then you will see drastic changes to your browsers. The add-ons and extensions can generate advertisements, display extra third-party content and get you on suspicious websites. The sites might be partnered with FunTabSafeSearch(.)com.
In the above picture, you can view the search results page of FunTabSafeSearch(.)com. That page is non-existent as for any results you get redirected to Yahoo. Other reputable search engines could end up showing as results to your searches. The redirection is only a mere trick, trying to trick you into trusting the browser hijacker. As many people still fall victim to hijackers, surely that trick is still effective. With every single one of your search queries, data is transmitted via the following redirect:
Through the Safe Finder service, the FunTabSafeSearch(.)com browser hijacker collects and sends information about you to its servers, as well. The information is stored there.
The search engines are connected in a way and possibly disclose all information related to you between each other. They could be possible affiliates or partners. You should be very wary around their websites and fake search engines that only redirect. Refrain from giving any personal details about you or your browsing activity.
FunTabSafeSearch(.)com – Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy of the FunTabSafeSearch(.)com is in fact, the one of Imali Media Ltd. The policy of Safe Finder is also applied as you should have guessed. The policies of both hijackers openly state that information is gathered about you as any usage of their sites is like giving them automatic approval for the data collection. FunTabSafeSearch(.)com acquires both personally and non-personally identifying information. Third parties can also get all of that information, as well.
You can see the Privacy Policy of Imali Media here:
According to the Privacy Policy, various types of information are being collected.
Information, collected by Imali Media, in general:
- Your IP (internet protocol) address
- The type of browser you use
- The time at which you visited the site
- Which pages you visited throughout the site
Information you provide that can be collected:
- Your name
- Your email address
- Country of origin
- Your nickname
- Telephone number
- Website
- Company
- Job title
Information collected when you download and install the plugin:
- Demographic information
- Your gender
- Your age
- Occupation
- Household income
- Zip code
- Your country
- Mobile telephone number
- Your E-mail address
As written in the policy, information may also be acquired if you complete or fill a questionnaire, subscription form or a contest entry form.
Information collected automatically from the plugin:
- Searches you perform using Imali Media domains
- The ways in which you use various features
- Pages you view on those domains
- Page view count
- Impressions and clicks
The information which is automatically gathered will be kept on servers of Imali Media and could be disclosed to its partners. That information will be gathered, when your web browser accesses the site of the hijacker and if you use the related plug-in. Cookies obtain this type of information.
See the following quote from the policy that is about all external links hosted on the site:
Our Site includes links to other third party Web sites (such as Google, Facebook, Youtube etc.) whose privacy practices may differ from those of Browsing Product. Our service may also be linked to sites or services operated by the Browsing Product affiliates or third parties, and may carry advertisements or offer content, functionality, games, rewards programs, newsletters, contests or sweepstakes, or applications developed and maintained by third parties including, any online store.
Imali Media says with the text quoted above, that whatever link, redirect or extra content you come in contact with, via their hijacker software, is not their fault, but the privacy policies of more sites will be in motion. So, in other words, various websites are held responsible for this kind of content. Avoid those sites and do not click on anything that comes from them. Adding to that – be careful when you use search engines, overall, and what you type in their search bars. Take into consideration that the Safe Finder service also gathers information about you and your browsing activity.
Remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com Completely from Your PC
To remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal guide given below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the hijacker and all of its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer secure in the future.
- Guide 1: How to Remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com
Step 2: Uninstall FunTabSafeSearch(.)com and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.Step 3: Clean any registries, created by FunTabSafeSearch(.)com on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by FunTabSafeSearch(.)com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall FunTabSafeSearch(.)com and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the FunTabSafeSearch(.)com will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate FunTabSafeSearch(.)com from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
