How to remove Search.tb.ask.com

What is Search.tb.ask.com

Search.tb.ask.com or hp.tb.ask.com is unwanted search engine by Mindspark Interactive, that is often used in toolbars designed by this company. Can be also promoted separately. It can infect Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. Search queries are redirected to int.search.tb.ask.com, which is Ask.com search engine result page. Ask.com is legitimate search engine, but results it delivers can be filled with sponsored links and extra advertising. Distribution methods are doubtful, and Mindspark Toolbars are classified as browser hijackers and potentially unwanted programs. In this article, we will show how to remove Search.tb.ask.com and reset browser settings in Windows.

How Search.tb.ask.com infected your PC

As we said, Search.tb.ask.com is distributed via Mindspark or Ask toolbars. It can be bundled with installers of Java, Adobe products or any other legitimate third-party program. It can be also advertised using pop-ups and browser scam. If users download anything from untrusted sources or accept offers inside the installers Search.tb.ask.com search engine along with toolbar or adware extension will be set up in all browsers.

Download Removal Tool

Download Removal Tool

To remove Search.tb.ask.com completely we recommend you to use SpyHunter 5. It detects and removes all files, folders and registry keys of Search.tb.ask.com and several millions of other adware, hijackers, toolbars.

Remove Search.tb.ask.com manually for free

Here is manual step-by-step tutorial for full Search.tb.ask.com removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of Search.tb.ask.com installer on operating systems with latest updates and browser versions.

Note: Search.tb.ask.com can be installed as Google Chrome extension as Administrator (you may see Installed by enterprise policy inscription near it), and this will not allow removal. Therefore, before starting removal process, perform these actions:

1. Start the Command Prompt by clicking the Start menu button and typing command prompt (or just searching for “command prompt” in Windows 10 search field). Right click on the Command Prompt result and choose Run as Administrator.



2. Type in and execute the following commands:

   
rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers"
rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy"
gpupdate /force

Remove Search.tb.ask.com from Control Panel

To start removing Search.tb.ask.com you should uninstall it using Control Panel. It can be present by different names – “Search.tb.ask.com”. It should uninstall correctly, however, we recommend you to use IObit Uninstaller to clean leftover items after uninstalling. Here are instructions for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Remove Search.tb.ask.com from Windows XP:

1. Click on Start button.
2. Choose Control Panel.
3. Click Add or Remove Programs.
4. Find Search.tb.ask.com.
5. Click Uninstall.

Remove Search.tb.ask.com from Windows 7:

1. Click Start button.
2. Then go to Control Panel.
3. Click Uninstall a Program.
4. Find Search.tb.ask.com and click Uninstall.

Remove Search.tb.ask.com from Windows 8:

1. Hover mouse pointer to the bottom-right corner to see Menu.
2. Click Search.
3. After that click Apps.
4. Then Control Panel.
5. Click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
6. Find Search.tb.ask.com, click Uninstall.

Remove Search.tb.ask.com from Windows 10:

There are 2 ways to uninstall Search.tb.ask.com from Windows 10

Way one

1. Click on the Start button.
2. In opened menu choose Settings.
3. Click on the System tile.
4. Click Apps & features and locate Search.tb.ask.com in the list.
5. Click on it and then click Uninstall button near it.

Way two (classic)

1. Right-click on the Start button.
2. In opened menu choose Programs and Features.
3. Locate Search.tb.ask.com in the list.
4. Click on it and then click Uninstall button above.

Cannot uninstall Search.tb.ask.com

In some cases Search.tb.ask.com won’t uninstall and gives you message that “You do not have sufficient access to uninstall Search.tb.ask.com. Please, contact your system administrator” when you try to remove it from Control Panel or “Access denied” error when removing Search.tb.ask.com folder and files. This happens, because process or service does not allow you to do it. In this case I will recommend you to use SpyHunter 5 or Malwarebytes or uninstall Search.tb.ask.com in Safe Mode. To boot in Safe Mode do the following:

1. Reboot your computer.
2. While it starts booting press F8 button.
3. This will open Advanced Boot Options menu.
4. Choose Safe Mode and wait until Windows loads.
5. Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a program and remove “Search.tb.ask.com”

>> See detailed instructions and video tutorial on how to boot in Safe Mode

Remove malicious add-ons from your browsers

Uninstalling Search.tb.ask.com from Control Panel often does not bring desired effect. It sometimes have browser extension and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove Search.tb.ask.com related extension from your browsers manually.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions/.
3. Find Search.tb.ask.com.
4. Click the trash can icon to remove them.
5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
3. Choose Search.tb.ask.com.
4. Click Disable or Remove button.
5. Remove all suspicious extensions from the list.

Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):

Note: There is no feature to remove browser extensions from browser in latest version of Internet Explorer. To remove Search.tb.ask.com from Internet Explorer, please, perform instructions for uninstalling program from Control Panel. To disable Search.tb.ask.com, please, do the following:

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
3. In opened menu Manage Add-ons.
4. Select Toolbars and Extensions.
5. Click Disable Search.tb.ask.com.
6. Also disable other suspicious extensions from the list.

Opera Browser:

Generally, Search.tb.ask.com does not install in Opera browser however you can always double check. Do the following:

1. Start Opera browser.
2. Go to Tools > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
3. Find Search.tb.ask.com extension.
4. Click Uninstall button.
5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Reset browsers settings (homepage, default search)

Search.tb.ask.com installs search engine that hijacks your browsers. Here is instruction to reset your browsers homepage, newtab and search engine to default values.

Google Chrome:

1. Start Google Chrome browser
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings/.
3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
5. Click Reset browser settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
3. Click Reset Firefox… button.
4. Click Reset Firefox to confirm.

Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):

1. Start Internet Explorer.
2. Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
3. In opened menu choose Internet options.
4. Click Advanced tab.
5. Click Reset button.
6. Choose Delete personal settings and click Reset.

Opera Browser:

1. Close Opera and open command prompt from the start menu.
2. Type following command del %AppData%\Opera\Opera\operaprefs.ini
3. Start Opera.

Alternative way to remove adware browser extensions and reset browser settings

For safe and effective browser extension removal use avast! Browser Cleanup utility. Run it with administrator privileges and remove all extensions with bad rating including related to Search.tb.ask.com. You can also reset your browser settings for each of your browsers: Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox.

Download Avast Browser Cleanup

Cleaning browsers shortcuts

You can clean your browser shortcuts manually right-clicking on your browser icon, choosing “Properties” and removing hijacker address from “Target” field (leave just the path to your browser). However it is easier to use free Shortcut Cleaner from BleepingComputer. Download it here – its FREE:

Download Shortcut Cleaner

Final tips

Be careful surfing the internet and downloading software, as programs like Search.tb.ask.com may become a real headache as they are hard to remove and break your privacy. To keep safe from such threats we recommend you always use antivirus and one of anti-malware programs available on the market. One of the best anti-spyware and anti-malware programs is SpyHunter 5. It can protect your PC from threats like Search.tb.ask.com.