Newpoptab.com

Browser hijackers are usually search engines that are distributed in a malicious manner that involves replacing your browser’s homepage address without your authorization. For this malicious action alone you should remove Newpoptab.com. However, there is more to this than you might think. We have concluded that it was designed to feature promotional links and redirect you to shady websites. Furthermore, it can gather information about you automatically and use it to personalize the promoted links you see in the search results. This search engine is bad news, so the sooner you get rid of it, the better.

We have no doubt that Newpoptab.com comes from a shady background. It does not feature the name of the company that set it up or who owns it. Unfortunately, there is no concrete information about how this hijacker is distributed. However, we have received information suggesting that it is distributed in a browser extension. The name of this extension is unknown and we have yet to get our hands on a sample, but the information we got suggests that this extension is used exclusively to inject this hijacker into your browsing. Also, this extension is said to be compatible with Google Chrome only, but there is no reason to think that there is not a version for Mozilla Firefox or even Microsoft Internet Explorer. Now, the extension itself may be featured on a dedicated distribution website, but more realistically, it should be bundled with freeware installers featured on low-grade freeware distributing sites. Now that we know how it is most likely distributed, let us move on to how it works.

We think that the software installers that distribute it install the browser extension secretly and, in turn, the extension sets Newpoptab.com as your browser’s homepage. The creators of this hijacker expect you to use it as a regular search engine. They count on you ignoring the obvious change of the homepage address and enter your search queries into its search box. We want to inform you that the search results Newpoptab.com presents can be littered with promotional links that are included in the search results. Our research has revealed that it often features links to such as Testpc24.newpcsoft2update.com which is a malicious website that features a malicious software bundle that features adware, potentially unwanted programs, and other shady applications. Also, it often promotes a Russian site 247-benefit.com. However, the content it promotes can change, and more unreliable sites can be promoted, so you should not use it for searching the web.

Our research has also revealed that this hijacker can personalize and tailor the promotional campaign for each unique user. However, in order to do this, it collects information about you. We have found that it can collect anonymous information about you automatically, store it and even share it with third parties. This anonymous information includes your browsing history, entered search queries, IP address, Internet Service Provider name, and so on. This information may not be much, but you should not allow a malicious search engine gather information about you.

We hope that you found the information about Newpoptab.com useful. Clearly, this search engine is nothing more than a browser hijacker, and its developers have set it up to replace your browser’s homepage address for the single purpose of subjecting you to promotional links and ads. The ads can redirect to shady websites that feature questionable software and other content. Therefore, we recommend that you remove this highly unreliable search engine from your computer.

How to replace the homepage address

Microsoft Internet Explorer

1. Open the browser.
2. Simultaneously press Alt+T keys.
3. In the dropdown menu, select Internet Options.
4. Enter a new address in the address line.
5. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the browser.
2. Simultaneously press Alt+T keys.
3. In the dropdown menu, click Options and select General.
4. In the Home page line, type a new homepage address.
5. Exit the Options menu.

Google Chrome

1. Open the browser.
2. Simultaneously press Alt+F keys.
3. Select Settings.
4. Click Set pages and enter a new URL.
5. Click OK.