How to remove Free Forms Online Tab

Complete Free Forms Online Tab removal guide

Free Forms Online Tab is advertised as an app that provides quick access to various forms. However, it is actually a browser hijacker. It is designed to promote a fake search engine named hfreeforms.online and collect data related to users’ web browsing session on the compromised device. It is worthwhile to mention that users tend to download and install this app unintentionally- the reason why the app is also called potentially unwanted application.

Browser hijackers promote fake search engines by assigning the default homepage, new tab page and default search engines of the installed browsers such as Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox on the targeted device and assigning URL address of the fake search engine that they promote to these options. In this case, all these options are set to Hfreeforms.online. This site is completely useless, in the sense that, it cannot display its own search results. It displays results generated by search.yahoo.com –a legit web searching tool from yahoo web browser. The users are forced to visit this site all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter search queries on the URL bar. The only way to stop these things is to remove Free Forms Online Tab from the browser and the system. This is because this type of apps does not allow the users to restore the settings as long as they installed on the device.

There is yet another reason to perform its removal soon. The browser hijacker can track users’ browsing session and collect the data related to their web browsing activities. This allows them to collect the data include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISP, Geo-locations and Type of OS and browser used and so on. Such data could contain personal identifiable information. These data could be shared to potent crooks who misuse them to generate illicit revenue. Thus, the data tracking can result into huge risk of privacy and can cause identity exposure. To prevent such things, immediately remove Free Forms Online Tab from the device.

Freeware and shareware from often lead PUPs infiltration

Nowadays, many apps have their official websites available on Internet and therefore, there is a little or no reason for users to looking for any third party sites for any software download. However, from recent analyses, it is found that some third party sites acquire thousands of visitors on regular basis.  One reason of such a number of visitors to third party sites is obvious that not all apps are kept on official app stores due to variety of reasons and when users need of such apps they cone access such sites. While freeware is safe as it does not lock your personal files or steal personal information, it may lead you to some places from where you could install some malware, unwillingly or unknowingly however. For this reason, you must have to be cautious for betterment when you are using any third party sites:

• Download software after analyzing for review online
• During installation, choose Custom/Advanced option
• Opt out all additionally attached apps and decline all offers
• Read term and conditions and privacy policies, if provided
• Employ some antivirus tool that provides adequate protection

Remove Free Forms Online Tab

Manual malware removal guide is provided below in step by step manner. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble during removal process. You can use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove Free Forms Online Tab from the device.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Free Forms Online Tab:

Remove the related items of Free Forms Online Tab using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Free Forms Online Tab issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Free Forms Online Tab) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Free Forms Online Tab removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter. In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Free Forms Online Tab still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Free Forms Online Tab plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”. Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Free Forms Online Tab removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Free Forms Online Tab (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications. Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.