What is A Cool Tab Search

A Cool Tab Search is a type of adware that infects computers and web browsers by displaying unwanted advertisements and redirecting users to sponsored websites. This adware typically infiltrates systems through software bundling, where it is often included in free software downloads. Once installed, A Cool Tab Search will start displaying pop-up ads, banners, and in-text advertisements on the user’s browser, disrupting their online experience and potentially exposing them to malicious websites.

A Cool Tab Search adware can also change the browser’s settings, such as the default search engine and homepage, without the user’s consent. This can make it difficult for users to revert back to their preferred settings and can lead to a decrease in browsing performance. Additionally, A Cool Tab Search may collect user data, such as browsing history and search queries, to deliver targeted advertisements. To protect against A Cool Tab Search adware, users should be cautious when downloading free software and always opt for custom installation to deselect any additional programs. Regularly running antivirus scans can also help detect and remove any potentially harmful adware from the system.

Brief overview:

Name	A Cool Tab Search
Type of threat	Browser hijacker
Symptoms	Browser hijacker changes homepage and search engine of browser so that users are forced to use them. It fills the targeted browser with commercial content in form of pop-ups, banners, in-text links, audio/video ads, etc. Also, hijacker can occasionally cause redirects to third-party websites
Infiltration	Freeware programs, illegal software, software cracks, torrents, fake updates
Manual Removal	To eliminate threat manually, you should remove all files and applications related to the browser hijacker
Removal Tool	To completely get rid of hijacker, We recommend using SpyHunter. This is the only way you can be 100% sure that all components of the threat are removed from the system.

How to uninstall A Cool Tab Search hijacker from your computer?

The easiest and most modern way of removing pop-ups, trojans, ransomware, or other viruses is to use automatic removal tools. See our Anti-malware tools below for further instructions.

Recommended Anti-malware tools:

Sometimes, an extension cannot be removed because it is supposedly “Managed by your organization”. If this is your case, we recommend that you also use this guide – How to remove Managed by your organization from Chrome?

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Step 1: Remove A Cool Tab Search hijacker from system

For Windows 7:

1. Click on the Start button and select Control Panel.
2. Double-click on the Uninstall a Program option.
3. Locate any programs related to the A Cool Tab Search browser hijacker.
4. Right-click on the program and select Uninstall.

For Windows 8 and 8.1:

1. Press the Windows key + X and select Control Panel.
2. Click on Uninstall a Program under Programs.
3. Identify and uninstall any programs associated with the A Cool Tab Search browser hijacker.

For Windows 10 and 11:

1. Click on the Start menu and select Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Apps & Features.
3. Locate and uninstall any programs linked to the A Cool Tab Search browser hijacker.

For Mac:

1. Click on Finder in the Dock.
2. In Finder, go to Applications folder.
3. Select and drag any suspicious applications to Trash.
4. In browsers, remove any unwanted extensions related to the hijacker.
5. In browsers, reset settings to default if needed.

By following these steps tailored for each version of Windows, you can effectively remove the A Cool Tab Search browser hijacker from your system without the need for third-party programs.

Step 2: Remove A Cool Tab Search from browsers

Google Chrome:

If you cannot remove the extension from Google Chrome, as the delete icon is greyed out and the extension is marked as “managed by your organization”, you should first perform steps described in the How to remove Managed by your organization from Chrome? article and only then proceed with the removal.

1. Launch Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner and select More tools > Extensions.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and choose Add-ons.
3. Find suspicious add-ons related to A Cool Tab Search and select Remove.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Start Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner and choose Extensions.
3. Locate any suspicious extensions linked to A Cool Tab Search and click on Remove.

Safari:

1. Launch Safari on your Mac.
2. Go to Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
3. Find any suspicious extensions associated with A Cool Tab Search and click on Uninstall.

Android & iOS (Chrome):

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android or iOS device.
2. Tap on the three dots in the top-right corner, go to Settings, then select Extensions.
3. Identify any suspicious extensions related to A Cool Tab Search and disable or delete them.

Step 3: Resetting your browser settings

Resetting browser settings is a crucial step in combating browser hijackers as it effectively undoes unauthorized changes made by these malicious programs. By resetting settings to their original state, users can regain control of their browsers and eliminate unwanted alterations like homepage redirects and intrusive pop-ups. This process helps restore the browser’s security and functionality, making it a key strategy in removing browser hijackers and safeguarding against potential threats.

Google Chrome:

1. Launch Google Chrome.
2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Scroll down and click on Advanced > Reset settings.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Mozilla Firefox.
2. Click on the three horizontal lines in the top-right corner and choose Options.
3. Navigate to the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information. Click on Refresh Firefox.

Microsoft Edge:

1. Start Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the three dots in the top-right corner and choose Settings.
3. Scroll down and click on Reset settings.

Safari:

1. Launch Safari on your Mac.
2. Go to Safari > Preferences.
3. Select the Privacy tab and click on Manage Website Data. Remove all data to reset Safari.

Android & iOS (Chrome):

1. Open the Chrome app on your Android or iOS device.
2. Navigate to the browser settings and look for options like Clear cache or Clear all data to reset Chrome.

While manual removal steps are helpful, antimalware tools offer advanced scanning capabilities and real-time protection to safeguard your system against a wide range of malware. Using an antimalware tool can provide a more comprehensive and efficient solution for removing persistent threats like browser hijackers.