Manual Removal Guide for SimplyTech.HomeTab

The following instructions have been created to help you to get rid of "SimplyTech.HomeTab" manually.
Use this guide at your own risk; software should usually be better suited to remove malware, since it is able to look deeper.

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Threat Details:

Categories:

• malware

Description:

SimplyTech.HomeTab is a malicious software that gets installed without proper consent if bundled for instance in the CovusPro.Installer. It installs itself with generic names like newtab, hometab, browserupdate and launcher to avoid detection. It installes browser addons to display fraudulent advertising. The company also uses various names like Simply Tech, Predicted Media and HomeTab.

Removal Instructions:

Installed Software List:

You can try to uninstall products with the names listed below; for items identified by other properties or to avoid malware getting active again on uninstallation, use Spybot-S&D or RunAlyzer to locate and get rid of these entries.

• Products that have a key or property named "{c5eac06d-16a7-4836-866d-ebf3ecfdcdaa}_is1".
• Products that have a key or property named "Browser Updater_is1".
• Products that have a key or property named "Protected Search_is1".

Files:

Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these files.

• The file at "<$APPDATA>\HomeTab\HomeTab.dll".
• The file at "<$APPDATA>\SimplyTech\home\home.htm".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0\background.html".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0\bundler\background.html".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0\bundler\newtab.html".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0\html1.htm".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0\npwiddit.dll".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0\panel.htm".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0\pop.htm".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0\widdit.htm".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage\chrome-extension_djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf_0.localstorage".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage\chrome-extension_djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf_0.localstorage-journal".
• The file at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\HomeTab\contact.png".
• The file at "<$LOCALSETTINGS>\Temp\43169_3580\default_search_provider12.png".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Browser Updater\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.dll".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Browser Updater\Microsoft.Win32.TaskScheduler.xml".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Browser Updater\TaskSchedulerCreator.exe".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Browser Updater\TBUpdater.dll".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Browser Updater\unins000.dat".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Browser Updater\unins000.exe".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\chrome\HomeTab.crx".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\hometab_icon.ico".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\InstallHelper.dll".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\InstallHelperNet4.dll".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\Interop.IWshRuntimeLibrary.dll".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\chrome.manifest".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\chrome\HomeTab_3580.jar".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\components\wtb_complete.js".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\install.js".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\install.rdf".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\plugins\npwiddit.dll".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\pop.htm".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\System.Data.SQLite.dll".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\ToolbarUninstall.exe".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\unins000.dat".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\unins000.exe".
• The file at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Mozilla Firefox\searchplugins\Web Search.xml".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\Launcher.exe".
• The file at "<$WINDIR>\Tasks\Browser Updater.job".

Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SimplyTech.HomeTab uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify files!

Important: There are more files that cannot be safely described in simple words. Please use Spybot-S&D to remove them.

Folders:

Please use Windows Explorer or another file manager of your choice to locate and delete these folders.

• The directory at "<$APPDATA>\HomeTab".
• The directory at "<$APPDATA>\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<$ENV(HomeTab_FF_path)>\extensions\{aa9cc3fa-a5e4-449b-aab5-1ebdbc7314ee}".
• The directory at "<$APPDATA>\SimplyTech\home".
• The directory at "<$APPDATA>\SimplyTech".
• The directory at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0\bundler".
• The directory at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf\2.7_0".
• The directory at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf".
• The directory at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\HomeTab".
• The directory at "<$LOCALAPPDATA>\SimplyTech".
• The directory at "<$LOCALSETTINGS>\Temp\43169_3580".
• The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\Browser Updater".
• The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\chrome".
• The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\chrome".
• The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\components".
• The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com\plugins".
• The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab\support@HomeTab.com".
• The directory at "<$PROGRAMFILES>\HomeTab".

Make sure you set your file manager to display hidden and system files. If SimplyTech.HomeTab uses rootkit technologies, use our RootAlyzer or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.
You will have to use a global search for files without a name specified. Be extra careful, because just the name might not be enough to identify folders!

Registry:

You can use regedit.exe (included in Windows) to locate and delete these registry entries.

• A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "wtb.Band.1", plus associated values.
• A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "wtb.Band", plus associated values.
• A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "wtb.NotificationSource.1", plus associated values.
• A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "wtb.NotificationSource", plus associated values.
• A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "wtb.SourceSinkImpl.1", plus associated values.
• A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "wtb.SourceSinkImpl", plus associated values.
• A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "wtb.ToolbarInfo.1", plus associated values.
• A key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ named "wtb.ToolbarInfo", plus associated values.
• Delete the registry key "{3FC27B34-0C19-49DA-875E-1875DDD4A6B2}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\".
• Delete the registry key "{515e8851-15c5-4b5a-9c31-25d3dfc6302f}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
• Delete the registry key "{6e80943c-847c-4447-b830-f94e7dcbbd4e}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Extensions\".
• Delete the registry key "{74600557-e870-41ad-910a-83eba6cdc3ce}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
• Delete the registry key "{8DA8B89E-0C65-403B-8231-AB22ECFA0687}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\".
• Delete the registry key "{96edaac7-6183-4cb5-8823-b8b12d94f967}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
• Delete the registry key "{96edaac7-6183-4cb5-8823-b8b12d94f967}" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\ApprovedExtensionsMigration\".
• Delete the registry key "{96edaac7-6183-4cb5-8823-b8b12d94f967}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\".
• Delete the registry key "{A928E66C-F501-4E66-9953-855C712F93B2}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
• Delete the registry key "{A928E66C-F501-4E66-9953-855C712F93B2}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\".
• Delete the registry key "{afdbddaa-5d3f-42ee-b79c-185a7020515b}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\".
• Delete the registry key "{B0E28FA0-DF07-44B6-95CE-48BE26DB9266}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\".
• Delete the registry key "{B7DC94D1-A06F-411B-9396-70CC757A9133}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\".
• Delete the registry key "{cfd485f0-96bd-47cd-bb6d-cd7dda95f102}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Low Rights\ElevationPolicy\".
• Delete the registry key "{ddb73aac-1a18-4c2d-878a-eef8936ec374}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\".
• Delete the registry key "{E6B4EE8F-C38E-4994-BE28-229A3F92262C}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\".
• Delete the registry key "{FCA8936E-403A-4487-A966-70F80F1D5A6A}" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\".
• Delete the registry key "BrowserUpdater" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
• Delete the registry key "djbdlklldbflagkkpaljamjfbpefcbpf" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions\".
• Delete the registry key "HomeTab.DLL" at "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppID\".
• Delete the registry key "HomeTab" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
• Delete the registry key "HomeTab" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\Simplytech\".
• Delete the registry key "ProtectedSearch" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
• Delete the registry key "SimplyTech" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\".
• Delete the registry key "Simplytech" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\AppDataLow\Software\".
• Delete the registry value "{96edaac7-6183-4cb5-8823-b8b12d94f967}" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar\".
• Delete the registry value "newtab" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\AboutURLs\".
• Remove "about:newtab" from registry value "Start Default_Page_URL" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\".
• Remove "about:newtab" from registry value "Start Default_Page_URL" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search\".
• Remove "about:newtab" from registry value "Start Page" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\".
• Remove "about:newtab" from registry value "Start Page" at "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search\".
• Remove "about:newtab" from registry value "Start Page" at "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\".

If SimplyTech.HomeTab uses rootkit technologies, use our RegAlyzer, RootAlyzer or our Total Commander anti-rootkit plugins.

Browser:

The following browser plugins or items can either be removed directly in your browser, or through the help of e.g. Spybot-S&D or RunAlyzer.

• Please check your bookmarks for links to "about:newtab".

Final Words:

If neither Spybot-S&D nor self help did resolve the issue or you would prefer one on one help,

1. Please read these instructions before requesting assistance,
2. Then start your own thread in the Malware Removal Forum where a volunteer analyst will advise you as soon as available.

There are more files or system entries belonging to this product that <$SPYBOTSD> can remove, but that cannot be easily described in text. Please use <$SPYBOTSD> to make sure <$PRODUCTNAME> gets completely removed.