Discover the steps to eliminate the Chill Tab virus from your Mac and protect your personal information from hackers.
What is Chill Tab?
Chill Tab is a notorious browser hijacker that modifies the search bar on many Mac systems. It tracks users' IP addresses and search queries, potentially compromising private data.
How did it get installed?
You might have unintentionally installed it through deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers, or other third-party downloads.
How do I get rid of it?
Follow these steps to manually remove Chill Tab:
1. Remove Suspicious Login Items
- Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
- Ensure your profile is highlighted and the lock icon is unlocked, then click the Login Items tab.
- Select any recently-added suspicious applications, then click the - (minus) sign to disable the application.
2. Remove Malicious Profile Configurations
Check for any new profile configurations that may have been added to your Mac:
- Go to System Preferences > Profiles.
- If there are no profiles, you can skip this step. Otherwise, select any profile you did not set up and click the Remove button.
3. Stop Suspicious Processes
- Open Activity Monitor.
- Look for any running processes related to Chill Tab.
- Select the process and click the X icon to stop it.
4. Remove Chill Tab from Applications
Uninstall any unfamiliar applications that might have been bundled with third-party apps:
- Go to Finder > Applications.
- Double-click Uninstall Chill Tab or Chill Tab Uninstaller and follow the instructions.
- Drag any Chill Tab-related items to the Trash and empty it.
5. Remove Chill Tab Extensions on Web Browsers
Delete any browser extensions causing redirections:
Remove Chill Tab in Safari
- Open Safari.
- Go to Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
- Find the Chill Tab extension and click the Uninstall button.
Remove Chill Tab in Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Go to Chrome > Preferences > Extensions.
- Locate the Chill Tab extension and click the Uninstall button.
Remove Chill Tab in Firefox
- Open Firefox.
- Go to Firefox > Preferences > Extensions & Themes.
- Find the Chill Tab extension, click the icon beside it, and select Remove.
6. Remove Chill Tab Files and Folders
Delete any hidden files associated with Chill Tab:
- Open Finder.
- Press COMMAND + SHIFT + . to show hidden files.
- Go to Go > Go to Folder... and type the following locations one at a time:
~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
- Drag and drop Chill Tab-related items to the Trash.
7. Fix Website Redirection Settings on Web Browsers
Restore any changes made by Chill Tab:
Fix Website Redirection in Safari
- Open Safari.
- Go to Safari > Preferences > Privacy.
- Click the Manage Website Data... button and then Remove All.
Fix Website Redirection in Chrome
- Open Google Chrome.
- Go to Chrome > Preferences > Search engine.
- Select Manage search engines and site search.
- Under Search engines, choose a default search engine.
- Remove any unfamiliar or unused search engines.
Fix Website Redirection in Firefox
- Open Firefox.
- Go to Firefox > Preferences > Search.
- Select your preferred search engine under Default Search Engine.
8. Reset Your Browser
Before resetting, back up your bookmarks and favorites. This will uninstall add-ons, delete browser history, reset your homepage, and remove all custom settings.
Remove Chill Tab with Trend Micro Antivirus One
If you prefer a quicker solution, Trend Micro Antivirus One can protect your Mac from various threats, including browser hijackers. It offers real-time scanning and removal of threats before they can cause harm.
Download Antivirus One from the App Store and follow these steps:
- Open Antivirus One.
- Click Adware Cleaner, then click Clean Now.