Popularlinksnewtab.com Hijacker - How to remove

Popularlinksnewtab.com is an alternative home page for web browsers that could be considered yet another Yahoo redirect virus.

Popularlinksnewtab.com is related to the PopularLinks New Tab browser add-on which, when installed, replaces the new tab page in your browser. It offers a search bar and links to popular websites.

It’s developed by Aztec media, the company behind a few browser hijackers – applications that make potentially unwanted changes to web browsers. It’s not malicious, but it’s also unhelpful.

About Popularlinksnewtab.com:

Classification	Adware, browser hijacker.
PopularLinks New Tab effects	Popularlinksnewtab.com replaces your home page, web search results are returned by Yahoo.com.
How browser hijackers spread	They come bundled with other programs, they are advertised online and promoted by other hijackers.
How to remove Popularlinksnewtab.com	Uninstall PopularLinks New Tab, check your device for malware with Spyhunter for PC, Combo Cleaner for Mac, and other antivirus tools, review your browser settings to remove traces of unwanted websites.

Problems with Popularlinksnewtab.com

Changes made to your web browser

Popularlinksnewtab.com is very close in appearance to Linkeyproject.com, Thepopularlinks.com, Moviesfanatic.com, Default-search.net, BLPSearch, and other Aztec media sites. These sites are new tab replacers that redirect search queries. They’re not especially useful and really, they take away some choices that are available with vanilla new tabs:

• PopularLinks New Tab replacing the new tab page means that you won’t have your pinned links and bookmarks in your new tab page.
• This also means that you can’t use your favorite search engine in your new tab, as Popularlinksnewtab.com only offers Yahoo.com.
• No background picture for the new tab.
• There are ads on your new tab page.

Overall, it’s just not a very good experience if you value choice and personalization.

Ads and redirects

On top of that, Popularlinksnewtab.com advertises Torch browser on the new tab. Torch browser is a Chromium-based browser that is detected by quite a few antivirus scanners as Malicious, Unsafe, Unwanted, and Adware (Virustotal.com).

Besides that, PopularLinks New Tab offers a web search box but does not allow you to choose your preferred search engine. Selecting a search engine is an essential feature of new tab extensions.

How to avoid browser hijackers

Be careful when installing freeware

There are many websites and browser extensions out there that seek to profit by showing you advertisements, despite not offering any useful features. Such programs are considered adware.

Because people usually don’t want to install programs that aren’t helpful, adware infections find other ways to spread.

One is to come bundled with a useful program. When you’re installing software, be careful and read all the pages in the setup. Select custom or advanced installation settings and refuse optional offers. Optional offers are used to promote software that may be unwanted. They sometimes slip in and get installed because users simply don’t notice them.

Avoid deceptive ads

Deceptive ads, such as fake Download, Start, and Continue buttons can be used to promote potentially unwanted programs and browser add-ons.

Popularlinksnewtab.com may also be advertised by other adware infections. Alternative search engines and browser hijackers promote each other, so if you have one adware installed, others might soon follow.

How to remove Popularlinksnewtab.com

Remove unwanted programs

Uninstall PopularLinks New Tab and other potentially unwanted programs.

Scan your computer with an anti-malware application, like Spyhunter for Windows, Combo Cleaner for macOS, or others and remove potentially unwanted programs, if any are found. This is especially relevant if you suspect that bundlers may have installed programs on your device.

Review browser settings

Check your browser notification settings for unwanted sites.

You can uninstall PopularLinks New Tab and restore your new tab manually, as described below. Review your new tab settings and default search engine settings. Set them to your preferred sites.

If you use the default new tab on your browser, remember that you can customize it with your favorite links and background pictures. If you use a new tab extension, make sure to find one that is reputable and has an acceptable privacy policy.

Automatic Malware removal tools

Remove unwanted extensions

TopHow To remove Popularlinksnewtab.com Hijacker from Google Chrome:

• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select More Tools→Extensions
  
• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.
  
• Click on the 3 horizontal lines icon on a browser toolbar and Select Settings
  
• Select Manage Search engines
  
• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list
  
• Go back to settings. On Startup choose Open blank page (you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).
• If your homepage was changed, click on Chrome menu on the top right corner, select Settings. Select Open a specific page or set of pages and click on Set pages.
  
• Delete malicious search websites at a new Startup pages window by clicking “X” next to them.
  

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings

If you are still experiencing any issues related to Popularlinksnewtab.com Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings.

• Click on a Chrome’s menu button (three horizontal lines) and select Settings.
• Scroll to the end of the page and click on theReset browser settings button.
  
• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.
  

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.

How to remove Popularlinksnewtab.com Hijacker from Microsoft Edge:Top

• Click on the menu button on the top right corner of a Microsoft Edge window. Select “Extensions”.

• Select all malicious extensions and delete them.

• Click on the three-dot menu on the browser toolbar and Select Settings

• Select Privacy and Services and scroll down. Press on Address bar.

• Choose Manage search engines.

• Remove unnecessary search engines from the list: open the three-dot menu and choose Remove.

• Go back to Settings. Open On start-up.
• Delete malicious search websites at Open specific page or pages by opening the three-dot menu and clicking Delete.

(Optional) Reset your browser’s settings If you are still experiencing any issues related to Popularlinksnewtab.com Hijacker, reset the settings of your browser to its default settings

• Click on Edge's menu button and select Settings. Click on the Reset Settings button on the left.
• Press the Restore settings to their default values option.

• Click on the Reset button on the confirmation box.

If you cannot reset your browser settings and the problem persists, scan your system with an anti-malware program.