An infection with the dangerous Mojotab Redirect leads to serious security issues. Victims can restore and protect their computers by following our complete removal guide.
Remove Mojotab Redirect and Restore PC
Manual Removal Guide
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Distribution of Mojotab Redirect
Mojotab is a new malware which has been reported in various attacks worldwide. At the moment the security experts have not been able to identify a single tactic that is being used to infect the targets. We presume that the hackers are using several of the most important methods to carry out the malicious campaigns.
A common way of setting browser hijacker attacks is the use of email spam messages. They may directly distribute malicious file attachments containing scripts that lead to an infection. Other cases can utilize complex social engineering tricks and hyperlinks that are specifically made to confuse the intended targets into infecting themselves. Two more scenarios that are used in combination with email messages rely on infected files used as payloads ‒ documents and software installers.
- Infected Software Installers ‒ The criminals craft malicious packages made out of legitimate software installers. They are taken from the official vendor download sites, modified and then posted on online sites or attached (either as file attachments) or linked in the email messages.
- Infected Documents ‒ They represent dangerous files that usually come in the form of some of the most popular document types: rich text documents, spreadsheets and databases. When the users open them up a notification prompt will ask them to enable the built-in scripts (macros). If this is done then the malware is installed on the victim computer.
The malware browser plugins can be uploaded to hacker-controlled sites and P2P networks like BitTorrent as well. The hacker operators frequently utilize template design, text and images to create portals that look like legitimate download sources. They may also use domain names that are very similar to legitimate sites and advertise them via pop-ups or ad networks.
The browser hijacker code associated with the Mojotab Redirect can be found in numerous malware toolbars. They are usually made for the most popular web browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Microsoft Edge. They can be distributed on such download sites or even on the browsers repositories (such as the Chrome Web Store for Google Chrome) using fake developer accounts.
Impact of Mojotab Redirect
The MojoTab redirect is a dangerous new malware which has just been reported by the security community. At the moment one of the most popular ways to get infected by it is the installation of malware extension. They are usually found on the official software repositories of the most popular web browsers. Furthermore the Mojotab redirect is available in several versions targeting the most widely used application such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer.
One of the dangers associated with installing such malware code is that it can be renamed with different names and published on the relevant extension sites. The reports indicate that it was uploaded to the Chrome Web Store multiple times in order to evade total deletion by the Google team. Installation however is possible by visiting certain download hosting sites, getting infected with malware software installers or visiting archive pages.
One of the first actions initiated by it is the modification of the default home page, search engine and new tabs page to point to a certain hacker-controlled site. This ensures that the next time the victims open up their browsers they will be shown this site. Upon first visit tracking cookies are instituted as well which actively monitor all user interactions and send the harvested information to the hacker operators. Its important to note that other security and privacy implications should also be taken into account.
Advanced hijackers that are similar to the Mojotab redirect perform an in-depth information extracting process which is able to extract data such as: hardware components, installed software applications and user settings. Due to the fact that all user activity is transmitted to the hacker operators the victims may not know that their personal information is sent to hacker operators operating at different parts of the world. Furthermore redirects like this one are a very popular source of spreading other malware infections to the target computers, including dangerous ransomware strains.
The Mojotab redirect is designed to appeal to computer users by employing a web design that follows the latest web trends:
- Top Menu Bar ‒ It shows the name of the Mojotab redirect redirect along with the menu options drop-down menu that lists the following toggles: Logo, Greetings, Search (MojoTab/Google), Todo List and Clock.
- Main Search Engine ‒ Shows the search engine box.
- Bottom Links Bar ‒ They show links to the most popular social networks and other related popular services.
The Mojotab redirect is being operated by a company called MadX Services and their privacy policy and license agreement showcases the majority of the security and privacy concerns which we are discussing in this article. Every time the user visits the site information is collected is automatically harvested from the victim browsers and computers categorized into two primary types:
- Personally Identifiable Data ‒ They contain information that directly reveals the identity of the victims by acquiring their real name, address, phone number, email address (and possibly contents), as well as account credentials.
- Anonymous Metrics ‒ While this category may not seem intrusive as the previous the magnitude of data harvested makes it extremely dangerous for the victim’s privacy as well.
The victims should know that if the Mojotab redirect is accessed through a mobile device additional information ca be collected by the malware code such as the IP address of the device, the one way hashed device ID, regional settings, operating system, model and make of the device and advanced usage statistics. Similar tactics are available are available if the site is accessed through a separate application instance. The victims should known that the search engine returns mainly sponsored results and ads. If the users visit some of the shown results they may get infected with malware. Pop-ups and redirects can also be easily acquired by using such sites.
One of the reasons behind the information harvesting of various data by the virus is attributed to the fact that often whole networks of related browser redirects are used to create profiles of the users. This information can then be shared or sold to marketing agencies and companies.
Mojotab Redirect is a very dangerous threat that must be eliminated completely to prevent any privacy and security risks for the victim users. This is why we we recommend that all users remove the active infections by following our in-depth removal guide.
Remove Mojotab Redirect and Restore PC
WARNING! Manual removal of the Mojotab Redirect requires being familiar with system files and registries. Removing important data accidentally can lead to permanent system damage. If you don’t feel comfortable with manual instructions, download a powerful anti-malware tool that will scan your system for malware and clean it safely for you.
SpyHunter anti-malware tool will diagnose all current threats on the computer. By purchasing the full version, you will be able to remove all malware threats instantly. Additional information about SpyHunter / Help to uninstall SpyHunter
Mojotab Redirect – Manual Removal Steps
Start the PC in Safe Mode with Network
This will isolate all files and objects created by the ransomware so they will be removed efficiently. The steps bellow are applicable to all Windows versions.
1. Hit the WIN Key + R
2. A Run window will appear. In it, write msconfig and then press Enter
3. A Configuration box shall appear. In it Choose the tab named Boot
4. Mark Safe Boot option and then go to Network under it to tick it too
5. Apply -> OK
Remove Mojotab from Windows
Here’s a way to remove the program. This method will work regardless if you’re on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP. Simply selecting the program and pressing delete won’t work, as it’ll leave a lot of small files. That’s bad because these leftovers can linger on and cause all sorts of problems. The best way to delete a program is to uninstall it. Here’s how you can do that:
1. Hold the “Windows” button (It’s between CTRL and Alt on most keyboards) and press “R”. You’ll see a pop-up window.
2. In the textbox, type “appwiz.cpl”, then press“ Enter ”.
3. The “Programs and features” menu should now appear. It’s a list of all the programs installed on the PC. Here you can find the program, select it, and press “Uninstall“.
Remove Mojotab Virus From Your Browser
Before resetting your browser’s settings, you should know that this action will wipe out all your recorded usernames, passwords, and other types of data. Make sure to save them in some way.
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1. Start Mozilla Firefox. In the upper right corner, click on the Open menu icon and select “Add-ons“.
2. Inside the Add-ons Manager select “Extensions“. Search the list of extensions for suspicious entries. If you find any, select them and click “Remove“.
3. Click again on the Open menu icon, then click “Options“.
4. In the Options window, under “General” tab, click “Restore to Default“.
5. Select “Search” in the left menu, mark the unknown search engine and press “Remove”.
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1. Start Google Chrome. On the upper-right corner, there a “Customize and Control” menu icon. Click on it, then click on “Settings“.
2. Click “Extensions” in the left menu. Then click on the trash bin icon to remove the suspicious extension.
3. Again in the left menu, under Chrome, Click on “Settings“. Go under “On Startup” and set a new page.
4. Afterward, scroll down to “Search“, click on “Manage search engines“.
5. In the default search settings list, find the unknown search engine and click on “X“. Then select your search engine of choice and click “Make default“. When you are ready click “Done” button in the right bottom corner.
2. In the “Manage add-ons” window, bellow “Add-on Types“, select “Toolbars and Extensions“. If you see a suspicious toolbar, select it and click “Remove“.
3. Then again in the “Manage Add-ons” window, in “Add-on Types“, Select “Search Providers“. Chose a search engine and click “Set as default“. Select the unknown search engine and click “Remove and Close”.
4. Open the Tools menu, select “Internet Options”.
5. In the “General” tab, in “Home page”, enter your preferred page. Click “Apply” and “OK”.
Repair Windows Registry
1. Again type simultaneously the WIN Key + R key combination
2. In the box, write regedit and hit Enter
3. Type the CTRL+ F and then write the malicious name in the search type field to locate the malicious executable
4. In case you have discovered registry keys and values related to the name, you should delete them, but be careful not to delete legitimate keys
Click for more information about Windows Registry and further repair help
