Tabs000.online

Tabs000.online is a fake search engine developed in Russia, and its primary objective is to hijack your web browser’s homepage and replace it with its address. For this reason alone you should remove it, but there is more to it to discuss and, in this description, we will focus on this hijacker’s search feature, promotional campaigns and issues regarding privacy of the user. To learn more about it, please continue reading.

While gathering information on this fake search engine, we found that its developers are based in Russia. However, we have no other information to help us pinpoint the company that set it up, who controls and owns it and which entities are engaged in promoting their content on it. Therefore, we want to focus more about how it is currently being distributed because that is how you can avoid getting similar infections on your PC in the first place. It seems that Tabs000.online is being bundled with malicious installers that are also likely to feature adware, potentially unwanted programs, and so on and put up on shady websites promoted on other sides and adware-type programs. It could also be found bundled with software distributed on freeware hosting sites. In any case, the reason we have classified Tabs000.online as a browser hijacker is the fact that the installers it comes in are configured to inject it into your browser secretly without your knowledge or approval. Without a doubt, this kind of distribution method is malicious and should not be permitted.

We are almost certain that the installers it comes with are designed to inject it into the three most popular web browsers that include Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, and Google Chrome. It will replace the homepage address of the said browsers and also change Chrome’s new tab page. As a result, each time you open your browser to search the web, you will be presented with Tabs000.online. If you decide to use it performing your online searches, then be advised that it will redirect all of the search queries to Bing.com. We do not know if this hijacker has any sway in modifying Bing’s search results and injecting advertisements and promotional links in them, but this cannot be ruled out. However, if Tabs000.online does not show ads, then it is a net loss because its owners have to pay for the servers that host it. We also want to mention that the same server also hosts Monsear.xyz and Wowstart.online that are similar to this particular browser hijacker.

Now, going back to Tabs000.online’s profitability, it is clear that it is a burden if it does not generate revenue and the only way it can do that is by showing commercial advertisements which is fine as longs as they are labeled as such. However, since its developer is unknown and seems to hide purposefully, we think that this browser hijacker may include links to shady websites or even malicious websites that steal information feature downloads of highly malicious software, and so on.

Now let us talk privacy. Even though this fake search engine does not have a privacy policy, it would be naïve to think that it did not collect information about you. Even if it does not show advertisements that would be tailored by your browsing preferences, this hijacker is most likely configured to collect anonymous information such as your IP address and, by extension, your approximate geographical location, browser type, search history, entered search terms, websites visited, and so on. You should not allow such a search engine collect this information because it is bound to be misused.

In closing, Tabs000.online is just another browser hijacker set up by some shady developers in Russia to hijack your web browser’s homepage and expect you to use it for conducting online searches. As a result of this, it can show you questionable promotional links in its search results. Therefore, if you value your computer’s security, you ought to remove it using the instructions featured below.

Change the homepage address

Google Chrome

1. Open the browser.
2. Press Alt+F.
3. Select Settings.
4. Click Set pages and enter a new homepage address.
5. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the browser.
2. Press Alt+T and click Options.
3. Select the General tab.
4. Enter a new homepage address.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Open the browser.
2. Press Alt+T and select Internet Options.
3. Erase Tabs000.online from the Home page line.
4. Enter a new homepage address.
5. Click Apply and OK.