How to remove Show Tabs browser hijacker

Easy tips to delete Show Tabs virus

Show Tabs is a browser hijacker application that modifies the installed web browsers’ settings on the compromised host system to promote an address a fake search engine – fxsmash.xyz. This app can read the browsing history and possibly personal data. Most often, people download/ install such apps unknowingly/ unintentionally. For this reason, the hijacker virus is also called potentially unwanted application.

As a rule, browser hijackers promote fake search engines by modifying browsers’ settings and assigning them the homepage, new tab page and default search engine options. The Show Tabs app sets setsfxsmash.xyz to all those options. Some of the users might see no such changes at all and simply see the promoted URL address when entering search queries in the URL bar. The said URL is considered as fake search engine because it shows results generated by Search.yahoo.com (Yahoo search engine).

Although, not all fake search engines display results generated by legit web searching tools. Some of them might provide misleading results, including unwanted ads or show results from dubious search engines. In one way or another, it is strongly recommended you to use Google, Yahoo, Bing or other legit web search directly and avoid using it through a fake search engine like fxsmash.xyz from Show Tabs browser hijacker type applications.

It is important to mention that the changes made by the browser hijacker can’t undo until the main culprit is removed. The hijacker virus is capable of redo any changed made by the users. Thus, fxsmash.xyz removal from the settings will be happened only after the Show Tabs is no longer running on the system anymore. As mentioned earlier, the browser hijacker can read browsing history. However, it is common that it collects other browsing based data like:

• IP addresses,
• Geo-locations,
• Type of OS and browser used and etc.

The PUA can even access to the personal details as well. The worst part is that the collected data could be used for money generation purpose through various illegal means. For example, it could be used in marketing purposes, sold to third parties, potent crooks. Thus, the system infection with such unwanted apps can be the reason behind the problems related to online privacy, browser safety or other issues. To prevent any such issues from happening in future, immediately remove Show Tabs from the system. Below the post, you will find complete guide on how this is to be done.

How did Show Tabs infiltrate my systems?

In most cases, users download/ install browser hijackers and other apps of this kind after clicking on deceptive advertisements or when software developers use bundling method. Ads can cause unwanted downloads when they are designed to run certain scripts. In the second case, the unwanted apps are distributed through bundling, i.e., packing them with regular products as additional offers. Such additional components can be declined within Custom/Advanced and similar settings. When users rush these setups and skip most of the installation steps, they lead to the inadvertent installation of unwanted applications.

How to prevent PUAs intrusion?

Programs and files should always be downloaded from official websites and direct links. Avoid p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders/ installers. Also, the download/ installation process should be handled with care. You should check the offers to download/ install bundled apps and decline them through the checkboxes or settings like Custom/Advanced. Furthermore, the ads appear on any shady sites should not be trusted. Usually, such ads open untrustworthy sites or cause downloads/ installations of some unwanted, potentially malicious applications.

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 Show Tabs:

Remove the related items of Show Tabs 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 Show Tabs 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 (Show Tabs) 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 Show Tabs 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 Show Tabs 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 Show Tabs 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 Show Tabs 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 Show Tabs (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.