Removal instructions for Tab Recovery

[Metallica]

What is Tab Recovery - Save & Organize Your Tabs?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Tab Recovery is a search hijacker. These so-called "hijackers" manipulate your browser(s), for example to change your startpage or searchscopes, so that the affected browser visits their site or one of their choice.
This particular one is also a browser NewTab.

How do I know if my computer is affected by Tab Recovery?

You may see this entry in your list of installed Chrome extensions:



this icon in the Chrome menu-bar:



these changed settings:



and this new startpage:



and searchpage:



You may have noticed these warnings during install:









How did Tab Recovery get on my computer?

Browser hijackers use different methods for distributing themselves. This particular one was downloaded from the webstore:



How do I remove Tab Recovery?

Our program Malwarebytes can detect and remove this potentially unwanted program.

• Please download Malwarebytes for Windows to your desktop.
• Double-click MBSetup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• When your Malwarebytes for Windows installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen.
• Click on the Get started button.
• Click Scan to start a Threat Scan.
• When the scan is finished click Quarantine to remove the found threats.
• Reboot the system if prompted to complete the removal process.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Tab Recovery?

• No, Malwarebytes removes Tab Recovery completely.

We hope our application and this guide have helped you eradicate this hijacker.

Technical details for experts

Possible signs in FRST logs:
 

CHR NewTab: Default ->  Active:"chrome-extension://pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll/newtab.html"
CHR DefaultSearchURL: Default -> hxxp://explormatrix.com/?q={searchTerms}
CHR DefaultSearchKeyword: Default -> e
CHR Extension: (ExplorMatrix) - C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll [2020-03-24]

Alterations made by the installer:
 

File system details [View: All details] (Selection)
---------------------------------------------------
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll\0.0.20_0
       Adds the file background.bundle.js"="3/9/2020 5:23 PM, 6625 bytes, A
       Adds the file icon-128.png"="3/24/2020 8:59 AM, 7719 bytes, A
       Adds the file icon-16.png"="3/24/2020 8:59 AM, 578 bytes, A
       Adds the file icon-32.png"="3/24/2020 8:59 AM, 1324 bytes, A
       Adds the file icon-48.png"="3/9/2020 5:23 PM, 2463 bytes, A
       Adds the file manifest.json"="3/24/2020 8:59 AM, 1746 bytes, A
       Adds the file newtab.bundle.js"="3/9/2020 5:23 PM, 1065230 bytes, A
       Adds the file newtab.html"="3/9/2020 5:23 PM, 1304 bytes, A
       Adds the file options.bundle.js"="3/9/2020 5:23 PM, 9608 bytes, A
       Adds the file options.html"="3/9/2020 5:23 PM, 170 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.bundle.js"="3/9/2020 5:23 PM, 10461 bytes, A
       Adds the file popup.html"="3/9/2020 5:23 PM, 293 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll\0.0.20_0\_metadata
       Adds the file computed_hashes.json"="3/24/2020 8:59 AM, 13348 bytes, A
       Adds the file verified_contents.json"="3/9/2020 5:23 PM, 2529 bytes, A
    Adds the folder C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll
       Adds the file 000003.log"="3/24/2020 9:07 AM, 41120 bytes, A
       Adds the file CURRENT"="3/24/2020 8:59 AM, 16 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOCK"="3/24/2020 8:59 AM, 0 bytes, A
       Adds the file LOG"="3/24/2020 9:08 AM, 185 bytes, A
       Adds the file MANIFEST-000001"="3/24/2020 8:59 AM, 41 bytes, A

Registry details [View: All details] (Selection)
------------------------------------------------
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings]
       "pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll"="REG_SZ", "B0889A1DD7A8E4BB42403445301E71644389315666FCD0AD532942ED863921A6"

Malwarebytes log:
 

Malwarebytes
www.malwarebytes.com

-Log Details-
Scan Date: 3/24/20
Scan Time: 9:17 AM
Log File: f5c18f44-6da7-11ea-b90e-00ffdcc6fdfc.json

-Software Information-
Version: 4.1.0.56
Components Version: 1.0.835
Update Package Version: 1.0.21278
License: Premium

-System Information-
OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
CPU: x64
File System: NTFS
User: {computername}\{username}

-Scan Summary-
Scan Type: Threat Scan
Scan Initiated By: Manual
Result: Completed
Objects Scanned: 234623
Threats Detected: 11
Threats Quarantined: 11
Time Elapsed: 10 min, 32 sec

-Scan Options-
Memory: Enabled
Startup: Enabled
Filesystem: Enabled
Archives: Enabled
Rootkits: Disabled
Heuristics: Enabled
PUP: Detect
PUM: Detect

-Scan Details-
Process: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Module: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Key: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Value: 1
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, HKCU\SOFTWARE\GOOGLE\CHROME\PREFERENCEMACS\Default\extensions.settings|pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll, Quarantined, 334, 803109, , , , 

Registry Data: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Data Stream: 0
(No malicious items detected)

Folder: 2
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Local Extension Settings\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll, Quarantined, 334, 803109, , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\DEFAULT\EXTENSIONS\PBKPCNLMAOPGBMJEPNNLINGGPBDLHFLL, Quarantined, 334, 803109, 1.0.21278, , ame, 

File: 8
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 334, 803109, , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Preferences, Replaced, 334, 803109, , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll\000003.log, Quarantined, 334, 803109, , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll\CURRENT, Quarantined, 334, 803109, , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll\LOCK, Quarantined, 334, 803109, , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll\LOG, Quarantined, 334, 803109, , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Extension Settings\pbkpcnlmaopgbmjepnnlinggpbdlhfll\MANIFEST-000001, Quarantined, 334, 803109, , , , 
PUP.Optional.ForcedExtension, C:\USERS\{username}\APPDATA\LOCAL\GOOGLE\CHROME\USER DATA\Default\Secure Preferences, Replaced, 334, 803108, 1.0.21278, , ame, 

Physical Sector: 0
(No malicious items detected)

WMI: 0
(No malicious items detected)


(end)

The full version of Malwarebytes could have protected your computer against this type of threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
• Malware Execution Prevention

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.