Cook Book Tab browser hijacker (Virus removal guide)

Cook Book Tab is a browser extension that functions as a browser hijacker. It alters the default search engine, homepage, and new tab settings in browsers, effectively forcing users to visit the cookbooktab.com website. This website then redirects users to Bing. While Bing is a legitimate search engine, the redirection process implemented by Cook Book Tab can pose risks to users’ online security.

Cookbooktab.com, the site to which users are redirected, is a fake search engine that may expose users to potentially harmful content or malware. These risks include computer damage and the potential theft of personal information. It is important for users to take action to remove the Cook Book Tab browser hijacker promptly to protect their online safety.

If you have encountered the Cook Book Tab Cookbooktab.com browser hijacker and need to remove it, read the full article for detailed steps.

The Cook Book Tab Hijacker Explained 🔍🔀

The Cook Book Tab is a specific type of browser hijacker. Unlike some hijackers that lead you to completely unknown or harmful websites, this one redirects you to cookbooktab.com, and then to Bing. While Bing is a legitimate and recognized search engine, Cook Book Tab uses it deceptively, hiding its suspicious activities behind a reputable site.

Why Redirect to Bing? 💰

Scammers or cybercriminals use this redirection mechanism for financial gain. Each time a user is redirected to Bing through cookbooktab.com, and they interact with the content or ads, it can generate revenue for the hijacker creators through ad clicks or affiliate marketing. Essentially, they earn money, using Bing as an unintended partner.

How Does This Happen? 🌐

Criminals use several clever methods to manipulate your browser and redirect your searches to their chosen sites. Here’s a closer look at some of the key tactics they use:

• Changing the Homepage: The hijacker changes your default homepage to one they control. When you open your browser, you see this new page, which might lead you to other harmful sites or create ad revenue for the criminals.
• Rogue Extensions: Cybercriminals might add dangerous extensions to your browser. These extensions can track and redirect your browsing, often without you noticing.
• Altering Trusted Extensions: Sometimes, they might tamper with an extension you already have and trust. This is harder to spot because you think you’re using a safe tool.
• Modifying Browser or Proxy Settings: By changing your browser or system’s proxy settings, the hijacker can control and redirect all your internet traffic, gaining considerable influence over your online activities.
• Changing System Settings: Advanced hijackers might alter specific settings of your computer. For example, by changing DNS settings, they can control which servers your system talks to when accessing a website, thus controlling your internet experience.
• Preventing Normal Settings Restoration: To keep their changes in place, hijackers often stop you from restoring your regular settings. They might disable browser settings, add software that undoes any fixes you try, or even change system permissions to block changes.

The techniques used in browser hijacking are varied and constantly changing. The goal is to stay hidden as long as possible while controlling your online activities.

Ways Cook Book Tab Gets Into Your Computer 🚪

Cook Book Tab can enter your computer in several ways:

• Software Bundling: The hijacker might come with other software, especially free or pirated programs. When you install the main software, the hijacker also gets installed without you knowing.
• Disguised Updates: Pop-ups or banners that suggest updating software might actually be hiding the hijacker.
• Dubious Email Attachments: Phishing emails with suspicious attachments can install the hijacker when opened.
• Visiting Compromised Websites: Just visiting a hacked or malicious website might start a background download of the hijacker.

In Summary, the Cook Book Tab hijacker is deceptive. It may seem harmless since it leads to a known search engine, but the route it takes is filled with risky detours that benefit scammers. To protect yourself, be cautious and maintain strong security practices on your computer.

Examples of Browser hijackers

Browser hijackers are a persistent and growing threat to computer security. They are often distributed through free software downloads, and once installed, they can cause a range of problems such as changing browser settings, redirecting search queries, displaying unwanted ads, and collecting personal data. Cook Book Tab is just one example of such hijackers, and unfortunately, there are many more out there. Ysearcher.com, Trendysearches.com, and Searchmenow.gg are examples of other browser hijackers similar to Cook Book Tab that you should be aware of. By learning to recognize these threats, you can take steps to protect your computer and your privacy.

Threat Summary

Name	Cook Book Tab, cookbooktab.com redirect
Type	Browser Hijacker
Primary Objective	Redirect users to Bing to generate revenue and potentially collect user data.
Common Symptoms	Unwanted redirects to cookbooktab.com, Altered browser homepage, New toolbars or extensions
Primary Infiltration Methods	Malicious Chrome extensions, Bundling with other software, Fake updates
Associated Risks	Data breaches, Malware infections, Privacy invasion, Financial losses
Underlying Techniques	Replacing legitimate browser extensions, Altering browser or system settings, Blocking restoration of normal settings
Primary Target	Google Chrome, but can affect other browsers
Removal	Resetting browser settings, Scanning and removal with reputable antivirus software

How to remove Cook Book Tab from Windows 11 (10, 8, 7, XP) 🛠️🚀

When Cook Book Tab gets into your Windows computer, it’s important to act quickly. This type of unwanted software can cause problems with your internet browsing and is a real risk to your online security. In the next steps, I’ll show you a straightforward way to remove Cook Book Tab from your Windows system. Let’s get started and get your computer back to normal.

To remove Cook Book Tab, perform the steps below:

1. Uninstall any suspicious programs
2. Fix Windows Policies
3. Remove Cook Book Tab from Chrome
4. Scan your computer for malware

Read this section to know how to manually remove the Cook Book Tab hijacker. Even if the step-by-step guide does not work for you, there are several free removers below which can easily handle such hijackers.

Uninstall any suspicious programs

The first step is to check your computer for any suspicious programs or extensions and remove them. To do this, go to the Control Panel (on Windows) or Applications (on Mac) and uninstall any programs that you don’t recognize or that you think may be associated with the Cook Book Tab hijacker.

Windows 7	Windows 8
Click ‘Start’. In the Start menu select ‘Control Panel’. Find and select ‘Programs and Features’ or ‘Uninstall a program’. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.	Press and hold Windows key and hit X key. Select ‘Programs and Features’ from the menu. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.
Windows 10	Mac OS
Press and hold Windows key and hit X key. Select ‘Programs and Features’ from the menu. Select the program. Click ‘Uninstall’.	On the top menu select ‘Go’, then ‘Applications’. Drag an unwanted application to the Trash bin. Right-click on the ‘Trash’ and select ‘Empty Trash’.

Fix Windows Policies to Remove a malicious hijacker

Sometimes, the removal is hindered by certain malware-induced policies. By making changes to the Windows Registry and addressing group policies, you can overcome this obstacle. Here’s how:

1. Open Windows Registry Editor:
   • Press the Windows key (🪟) and “R” simultaneously. This will bring up the Run dialog box.
   • Type “regedit” and hit Enter. The Windows Registry editor will now be visible.

   

2. Navigate and Remove Malicious Registry Entries:
   • Head over to “Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\”. Use this path as your guide.
   • Identify and delete the folders named Chromium and Chrome which are associated with the “Managed by your organization” malware.
   • Once done, exit the Windows Registry editor.

   

3. Address Group Policy Folders:
   • Hold the Windows key (🪟) and “X” together to open a quick-access menu.
   • From the menu, choose Command prompt (Administrator). You’ll be presented with a command prompt window.

   

4. Execute the Following Commands:
   • Input rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers" and hit Enter.
   • Next, type rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy" and press Enter.
   • Lastly, enter gpupdate /force and press Enter. If executed correctly, you’ll be greeted with messages indicating both the Computer Policy and User Policy have been updated successfully.

   

5. Restart Your Computer:
   • After executing the above steps, it’s crucial to restart your computer to ensure the changes take effect.

Remember, modifying the registry and group policies are advanced actions. Always proceed with caution and ensure you’re following the steps correctly.

Remove Cook Book Tab from Chrome

Having successfully fixed any restrictions that might have prevented the removal of unwanted extensions, it’s now time to tackle and eliminate Cook Book Tab from your Chrome browser.

1. Access Chrome Extensions: Open your Google Chrome browser. Locate the three horizontal dots at the top-right corner (the Chrome menu button) and click it to reveal a drop-down. From this list, opt for ‘More Tools’ and subsequently select ‘Extensions’. Alternatively, quickly navigate by typing chrome://extensions into Chrome’s address bar.
2. Inspect and Remove: Examine the list of installed extensions. Identify any unfamiliar or suspicious ones, or those you simply don’t need anymore. Click the “Remove” button beneath these extensions. A confirmation pop-up will appear; press “Remove” again.
3. Reset Your Browser: To ensure no traces remain, consider resetting your browser settings. This action disables all extensions, clears cookies, and undoes unwanted changes but preserves your bookmarks and saved passwords. To do this:
   • Revisit the Chrome main menu.
   • Choose “Settings”.
   • Find and select “Reset settings”.
   • Click on “Restore settings to their original defaults”.
   • Confirm by selecting the “Reset settings” button.

   

Note: If an unwanted extension remains despite these steps, consider using a trustworthy antivirus tool to scan your computer for any related malware or threats.

Scan your computer for malware

After you’ve tried to remove Cook Book Tab and reset your browser, there might still be hidden problems. Some bad files can stay hidden or look like normal ones. It’s always a good idea to do a full computer scan to catch these. This way, you can be sure everything harmful is gone. Let’s make sure your computer is clean and safe!

To fully ensure your computer’s safety, consider using MalwareBytes to automatically remove the Cook Book Tab hijacker. MalwareBytes is a trusted anti-malware tool with a strong track record. It’s been widely recognized for its efficiency in detecting and eliminating a broad range of threats, from sneaky browser extensions to more aggressive forms of malware. By employing advanced scanning techniques, MalwareBytes digs deep into your system, ensuring no malicious elements go unnoticed. Simply download, install, and run a full scan with MalwareBytes to clear out any lingering threats related to the Cook Book Tab or other potential risks.

1. Download Malwarebytes by clicking on the link below. Save it on your Windows desktop.
   
   

   Malwarebytes Anti-malware
   326379 downloads
   Author: Malwarebytes
   Category: Security tools
   Update: April 15, 2020
   
2. Once the download is done, close all applications and windows on your personal computer. Open a folder in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named MBsetup.
3. Choose “Personal computer” option and press Install button. Follow the prompts.
4. Once installation is finished, scan your computer. Run a full scan of your computer to detect and remove any browser hijackers and other forms of malware. The scan may take several minutes to complete, depending on the size of your hard drive and the speed of your computer.
5. Remove detected threats. If the scan finds any threats, click Quarantine to remove them. The software will automatically remove the browser hijacker and any associated malware. After the removal process is complete, restart your computer to ensure that any changes made by the hijacker are fully removed.

The following video demonstrates how to remove hijackers, adware and other malware with MalwareBytes.

What to Do After Removing the hijacker 🤔✅

After successfully removing the Cook Book Tab hijacker from your computer, it is important to take some additional steps to ensure that your computer and personal information remain secure. Here are some recommended actions to take:

1. It’s important to change your browser settings back to your preferred search engine and homepage. Make sure that Cook Book Tab is completely removed from your browser’s settings and that it cannot reappear.
2. If you entered any sensitive information such as login credentials or passwords while the browser hijacker was active, change them immediately. This will prevent any potential identity theft or unauthorized access to your accounts.
3. To remove any traces of the browser hijacker, clear your browser history and cache. This will help ensure that any data or information collected by the hijacker is removed from your system.
4. Use a reputable anti-malware program like Malwarebytes to scan your computer for any remaining malware or potentially unwanted programs (PUPs). This can help ensure that there are no hidden threats or malicious files on your computer.
5. Make sure that your browser and operating system are up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. This can help prevent future security issues and keep your system protected.
6. To avoid getting infected with similar malware in the future, be cautious of downloads and only download from reputable sources. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.

Conclusion 📝👋

Cook Book Tab and the cookbooktab.com redirects usually happen because of certain browser extensions. These extensions might look helpful at first, but they actually change your browser settings in a way you might not want. For example, they can make your searches go to cookbooktab.com instead of the search engine you normally use. It’s really important to be careful about which extensions you add to your browser. Make sure you get them from places you can trust. Also, it’s a good idea to regularly check your browser for extensions you don’t need or recognize and remove them. This can help keep your online experience safe and normal.

Remember, getting rid of Cook Book Tab is just the start. It’s always important to keep an eye out for similar problems in the future. By staying informed and careful, you can keep your browsing safe.