This article has been created to demonstrate how to remove unTabs browser extension virus from your Google Chrome browser and your PC completely.
A suspicious browser extension which claims to be of legitimate character, but is associated with intrusive software has been reported by users. The extension is called unTabs and it is for the web browser Google Chrome. The browser extension is distributed via third-party software and has been associated with information collection and multiple third-party advertisements so it’s removal is strongly advisable. If you have the unTabs browser extension on your computer and are struggling to remove it, we recommend you to read this post.
Threat Summary
| Name | unTabs |
| Type | PUA (Potentially Unwanted Application), Adware |
| Short Description | unTabs aims to display advertisements from various third-party websites and may collect crucial information from your computer. |
| Symptoms | May slow down your computer significantly, display various forms of advertisements and be associated with other adware. |
| Distribution Method | Via third-party installers and bundling. |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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Malware Removal Tool
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss unTabs. |
unTabs Virus Extension -How Did I Get It
The primary method which unTabs uses to spread is to be silently installed on your computer along third-party program installers. Usually these may be freeware programs that you are looking to download on your computer. These programs could be your free media player, codec pack, file converter, torrent downloader or any other app you have googled for. There are some suspicious websites that spread modified installers of freeware programs and unTabs may be bundled within those installers “as a free useful extra”. You can usually encounter the unTabs application in one of the steps of the “Custom” or “Advanced” installation modes in the setup of the program you may have recently installed.
Other methods by which unTabs may have been situated on your computer is if you have visited a suspicious website and approved it as a browser extension on Google Chrome.
unTabs Extension – More Information
The unTabs extension is initially advertised on their web page as a completely legitimate program that helps to save opened tabs for later so that your PC is faster:
However, the app is nothing like it says it is. Instead it aims to display you multiple advertisements and slow down your computer even more.
Once is situated on your PC, it immediately attacks your web browser and your Windows system. For starters, unTabs creates multiple different types of files in the following system folder:
→ %System32%\GroupPolicyUsers
%System32%\GroupPolicy
In addition to creating files in the system directory of Windows, the suspicious application also creates multiple different Windows registries in the Windows Registry Editor. These value strings include attacking the following sub-keys:
- Google Chrome
- Run
After the unTabs virus has already modified your computer, the suspicious extension may collect the following information from it, in order to display it’s targeted advertisements:
- Your IP address and location.
- System language.
- Browsing history.
- Online clicks.
Although this information is not known to be shared with third-parties, the unTabs extension may display you advertisements based on what you have searched online to get you to click on them. And this cannot be good in any way, because some of those advertisements may lead to third-party websites that may be tech support scams, phishing sites or even malicious web sites that may infect your computer.
But this is not where the nightmare ends. The application is reported to also run processes in the background of Windows which may take up system resources, like the CPU and the RAM. This results in your computer slowing down significantly.
How to Remove unTabs Fully from Your Computer and Chrome
Many affected users of the app have reported it very difficult to delete it. Reinstalling Google Chrome does not help either. Many users also report it to have malware-like behavior and similar to malware, this unwanted software stays persistent on your computer. This is why, security experts recommend to use adware-specific software for the removal of the program. It will not only remove one or two files of the program, but permanently eradicate it from your computer, so that you will never have to hear the name unTabs once more.
For more information and removal instructions, we advise you to follow the steps below. They are specifically designed to help you eliminate this unwanted application. For maximum effectiveness it Is recommended to follow the automatic instructions than the manual ones.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove unTabs from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of unTabs from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove unTabs from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase unTabs from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall unTabs from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove unTabs from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate unTabs from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove unTabs from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove unTabs
Step 2: Uninstall unTabs 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 unTabs 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 unTabs 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 unTabs from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall unTabs 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 unTabs 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 unTabs files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as unTabs, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac 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 unTabs 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 unTabs 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 unTabs 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 unTabs 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 unTabs will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate unTabs 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.
