This article informs you about MusicTab browser extension and provides help for the removal process of all suspicious and potentially undesired files from the affected system.
MusicTab is a browser extension that alters the setting of your browser new tab to provide the chance for you to listen tens of thousands worldwide radio stations. Even if it seems to be a useful and legitimate program, it could access your browser without your explicit permission. Once it is running in your browser it obtains the right to spy on almost all of your online activities. Furthermore, upon installation it hijacks the start page and default search engine by configuring them to display a hoax search engine.
Threat Summary
| Name | MusicTab Newtab |
| Type | Browser Extension, PUP |
| Short Description | A questionable program that hijacks your browser and starts to appear on each browsing session. |
| Symptoms | Your homepage, new tab page and search engine could display the main page of a browser hijacker. Browser slowdowns could occur due to increased number of online ads. |
| 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 MusicTab Newtab. |
MusicTab Newtab – Spread Techniques
MusicTab is considered to be an undesired program mainly because it often lands on computer systems without asking users for their explicit permission. This is usually realized with the help of shady techniques that are designed to trick you into installing the undesired program without noticing its presence.
The so-called software bundling is one of these techniques. It is known to be used for the distribution of variety of PUPs. For its realization could be used various free third-party programs. The purpose of these programs is to deliver the configuration code of the PUP by offering it as an extra. Where the extras reside is in the installers of these apps. To conceal the presence of added extras developers do not disclose properly all details you should learn before finishing the installing process.
Happily, in some cases such information is hidden in Advanced/Custom configuration options. That’s why we recommend you to be careful each time when you are installing a freshly downloaded program especially if you obtained it from a doubtful source.
MusicTab Newtab – More About Its Impact
MusicTab Newtab is a browser extension compatible with Chrome and Firefox web browsers. As described by its owners it is an app that lets you listen a large number of worldwide high quality radio stations. However, it has been identified as a potentially undesired program that sneaks into your browser without your permission.
Once MusicTab is running in your browser it obtains the right to:
- Access your data for all websites
- Monitor extension usage and manage themes
- Access browser tabs
In addition, it changes your preferred start page as well as the default search engine with the domain of a hoax search engine – https://newtab.getmusictab.org/113/default/index.html
What’s more currently, the services of this deceptive browser extension are unavailable. During our research we tested the app and found out that every time a random radio station is selected, the app MusicTab displays a notification that states:
“Could not play your station…”
So if you could not even use it, why should you keep it in your browser? Not only that you cannot listen online radio but you could expose your privacy at risk by having this extension installed in the browser.
On one hand it is stated to be able to obtain certain details from your browser in its privacy policy. These details could be used for the adjustment of aggressive advertising campaigns target of which will be you and your browser. As a result you may witness the presence of many annoying ads of all kinds (pop-ups, pop-unders, images, sliders, banners etc.) in the websites you visit. Be careful with these ads as some of them could attempt to trick you into entering sensitive details such as banking credentials, telephone number, email address, etc. Other could land you on corrupted web pages that are set to deliver and activate malware code directly on your device.
On the other hand, once the owners of this undesired extension have a record of your data, they could easily misuse it by selling it to third-parties of unknown origin and even hacker collectives.
MusicTab Newtab – Privacy Policy
The official website along with the extension itself are owned by a company called Tightrope Interactive, Inc. In the privacy policy section that is accessible from a link presented on the bottom of musictab.org’s main page, we found out both personally and non-personally identifiable data is collected from all users who are using the services provided by Tightrope Interactive, Inc. company.
Among the collected details are:
- Your IP address
- Your geographic location
- The type of Web Browser you are using
- The version of the web browser
- The Operating System
- The websites you visit
- The searches you enter
- Information collected by tracking technologies such as cookies, web beacons, and pixels
As we mentioned, the records of your data could be used for advertising purposes, disclosed to third-parties of unknown origin or even sold to hacker collectives.
How to Remove MusicTab Newtab Extension
In order to remove MusicTab browser extension and all associated files that enable its appearance in the browser, you need to pass through several removal steps. They are all presented in the removal guide below. The guide enables you to choose between manual and automatic removal approach. Our advice is to combine the steps as this way you will be able not only to get rid of this particular undesired program but also strengthen the security of your device. Have in mind that files associated with this browser extension may have different names than MusicTab.
In case that you have further questions or need additional help with the removal process, don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact us at our email.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove MusicTab Newtab from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of MusicTab Newtab from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove MusicTab Newtab from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase MusicTab Newtab from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall MusicTab Newtab from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove MusicTab Newtab from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate MusicTab Newtab from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove MusicTab Newtab from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove MusicTab Newtab
Step 2: Uninstall MusicTab Newtab 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 MusicTab Newtab 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 MusicTab Newtab 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 MusicTab Newtab from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall MusicTab Newtab 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 MusicTab Newtab 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 MusicTab Newtab 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 MusicTab Newtab 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 MusicTab Newtab 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 MusicTab Newtab 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 MusicTab Newtab will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate MusicTab Newtab 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.
