GetWab.com is a browser hijacker that forcibly redirects your web searches and homepage settings to its own search portal, generating revenue through manipulated advertising clicks and affiliate commissions. This potentially unwanted program (PUP) typically arrives bundled with free software downloads, quietly modifying your browser configuration without meaningful consent. While not a virus in the traditional sense, GetWab.com creates persistent annoyance and privacy concerns by tracking your browsing habits and exposing you to potentially malicious advertising networks.
Users infected with GetWab.com report frustrating redirects when attempting to use legitimate search engines, altered browser homepages that reset themselves even after manual changes, and an influx of sponsored search results that prioritize advertiser payments over relevance. The hijacker targets Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and other popular browsers across Windows systems, installing browser extensions or modifying configuration files to maintain control.
Threat Profile
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Threat Family | Browser Hijacker / Search Redirect PUP |
| Aliases | GetWab Search, Getwab.com redirect, GetWab Browser Hijacker |
| Platform | Windows (all versions); targets Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer |
| First Documented | Approximately 2016-2017 (variants continue circulating) |
| Distribution Method | Software bundling, fake software updates, deceptive pop-up installers, torrent packages |
| Persistence Mechanism | Browser extension installation, Windows Registry modification, scheduled tasks, browser policy manipulation |
| Primary Capabilities | Homepage hijacking, default search engine replacement, new tab redirection, search query interception, advertising injection, browsing data collection |
| Typical Artifacts | Browser extensions with randomized names, modified browser preference files, registry keys under HKCU\Software\Policies, scheduled tasks for reinstallation |
| Network Behavior | Redirects through multiple intermediary domains before reaching search results; communicates with advertising networks; may download additional PUPs |
| Data at Risk | Search queries, browsing history, clicked links, potentially form data depending on variant |
| Payload Severity | Low to Medium (primarily nuisance and privacy concern; may expose user to more dangerous threats) |
| Removal Difficulty | Moderate (reinstalls itself if all components not removed; requires browser reset in many cases) |
How It Spreads
GetWab.com rarely arrives alone. The hijacker predominantly spreads through software bundling, a deceptive distribution practice where free applications include additional "offers" during installation. These offers are often pre-checked by default and buried in "Custom" or "Advanced" installation screens that most users skip past. When you click through a standard installation using the "Express" or "Recommended" settings, you're unknowingly agreeing to install the hijacker alongside the software you actually wanted.
The hijacker also masquerades as urgent browser or Flash Player updates on suspicious websites. You might encounter a pop-up claiming your browser is out of date or that you need a particular plugin to view content. Clicking "Update" or "Install" downloads an installer that includes GetWab.com. Torrent sites and file-sharing platforms represent particularly high-risk sources, as cracked software packages frequently contain bundled hijackers and worse threats.
Common infection vectors include:
- Free software bundles — Download managers, PDF converters, video players, and system optimization utilities frequently bundle GetWab.com in their installers obtained from third-party download sites
- Fake update notifications — Pop-ups on streaming sites, adult content sites, and piracy platforms claiming you need to update Flash, Java, or your browser
- Malicious advertising (malvertising) — Legitimate-looking banner ads on questionable websites that trigger downloads when clicked
- Email attachments — Less common for this particular hijacker, but occasionally arrives as a secondary payload in document-based malware campaigns
- Cracked software packages — Pirated games, applications, and Windows activators from torrent sites routinely include browser hijackers
- Browser extension stores (unofficial) — Copycat extensions with slightly altered names that mimic legitimate tools
What It Does On Your Machine
Once installed, GetWab.com immediately asserts control over your browser configuration. It replaces your homepage with getwab.com or a similar domain in the GetWab network, changes your default search engine to redirect queries through its portal, and forces new tabs to open to its search page. These changes persist even after you manually reset them through browser settings because the hijacker modifies deeper configuration files and may install browser policies that override user preferences.
The search portal itself mimics legitimate search engines but serves results heavily weighted toward advertisers who pay for placement. While it may display some genuine search results (often pulled from Bing, Yahoo, or Google through backdoor APIs), the top results are typically sponsored links that generate revenue for the hijacker operators through affiliate commissions. More concerning, the hijacker tracks your search queries, clicked links, browsing timestamps, and potentially identifiable information like your IP address and system details. This data is valuable for building advertising profiles and may be sold to third-party data brokers.
The hijacker creates multiple persistence mechanisms to survive removal attempts. Browser extensions installed by GetWab.com often have randomized names and lack clear uninstall options. Windows Registry keys enforce the hijacked settings at the browser policy level, meaning even a fresh browser profile may still show GetWab as the homepage. Scheduled tasks can reinstall the hijacker's components after they're deleted, and modified browser shortcut targets can force the browser to open to GetWab.com regardless of your configured settings.
While GetWab.com itself isn't ransomware or a banking trojan, its presence signals compromised system security and creates pathways for more dangerous threats. The advertising networks it connects to have minimal vetting, meaning you might encounter tech support scams, fake antivirus warnings, or drive-by download exploits through the manipulated search results. The hijacker's data collection also represents a privacy violation, as your search behavior reveals personal interests, health concerns, financial situations, and other sensitive information.
Manual Removal — Step by Step
Disconnect and Document
Disconnect your computer from the internet by unplugging the Ethernet cable or turning off Wi-Fi. This prevents the hijacker from downloading additional components during removal and stops data transmission. Take a few screenshots of the hijacked browser behavior and note any unfamiliar programs in your Add/Remove Programs list for reference.
Uninstall Suspicious Programs
Open Settings → Apps → Apps & Features (Windows 10/11) or Control Panel → Programs and Features (Windows 7/8). Sort by install date and look for unfamiliar programs installed around the time the hijacking started. Uninstall anything suspicious, particularly items with names like "WebBar," generic browser extensions, download managers you don't remember installing, or anything with "GetWab" in the name. Reboot after uninstalling.
Remove Browser Extensions
Open each affected browser and navigate to its extensions page (Chrome: chrome://extensions, Firefox: about:addons, Edge: edge://extensions). Remove ALL extensions you don't explicitly recognize and use regularly. GetWab often installs extensions with innocuous-sounding names like "Helper," "Search Protector," or completely random strings. Don't worry about removing legitimate extensions; you can reinstall them later from official sources.
Reset Browser Settings
For Chrome: Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their original defaults. For Firefox: Help → More troubleshooting information → Refresh Firefox. For Edge: Settings → Reset settings → Restore settings to their default values. This removes hijacked homepages, search engines, and startup pages while preserving bookmarks and passwords. Check each browser's homepage and search engine settings manually afterward to verify the reset worked.
Clean the Windows Registry
Press Windows+R, type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies and delete any folders for Chrome, Edge, or Firefox if they exist (these shouldn't normally be present for home users). Also check HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies and remove browser-related policies. Search the registry (Ctrl+F) for "getwab" and delete any keys containing this term. Be cautious in the registry; only delete items you're confident are hijacker-related.
Remove Scheduled Tasks
Open Task Scheduler (search for it in the Start menu). Expand Task Scheduler Library and look for tasks with suspicious names, especially those created recently or with random alphanumeric names. Right-click any suspicious task, select Properties, and check what program it runs. If it points to a file in %TEMP%, %APPDATA%, or an unfamiliar folder, delete the task. GetWab commonly creates tasks that reinstall components every hour or at startup.
Check Browser Shortcuts
Right-click your browser shortcuts (on desktop, taskbar, or Start menu), select Properties, and examine the Target field. It should only contain the path to the browser executable, nothing more. If you see a URL appended after the .exe (like chrome.exe" http://getwab.com), delete everything after the closing quote mark and click OK. Check all shortcuts for all browsers you use.
Scan with Malwarebytes
Reconnect to the internet and download Malwarebytes Free from malwarebytes.com (verify the URL carefully). Install and run a full "Threat Scan." Malwarebytes specializes in detecting PUPs and browser hijackers that traditional antivirus sometimes misses. Quarantine and remove everything it finds. Reboot when prompted. Consider running a second scan with AdwCleaner (also from Malwarebytes) for additional coverage.
Change Important Passwords
If you entered any passwords while the hijacker was active—especially for banking, email, or social media—change those passwords now from a known-clean device if possible, or after completing all removal steps. Browser hijackers occasionally include keylogging capabilities in certain variants, and even if yours didn't, the compromised security justifies password updates.
Verify Removal and Monitor
Reboot your computer and test your browsers. Your homepage and search engine should remain at your chosen settings. Search for something benign and verify the results come from your legitimate search engine without redirects. Monitor your system for the next few days—if GetWab returns, you missed a persistence mechanism and should consider professional removal or a more aggressive cleanup.
Prevention
- Always use Custom installation for free software. Never click "Express" or "Recommended" when installing free programs. Choose "Custom" or "Advanced" installation and carefully uncheck any pre-selected offers for additional software, browser toolbars, or homepage changes. If the installer makes this difficult or confusing, abort and find the software elsewhere.
- Download software only from official sources. Obtain programs directly from the developer's website, not from third-party download sites like Softonic, Download.com, or CNET. These aggregator sites often wrap legitimate installers in their own bundleware. For open-source software, use the official GitHub repository or SourceForge page.
- Keep your actual browser and operating system updated. Legitimate update notifications come through your browser's built-in update mechanism or Windows Update, never through pop-ups on websites. Disable "Check for updates" prompts on sketchy sites by simply closing the tab. Real updates don't require you to download an installer file.
- Install a reputable ad blocker. Browser extensions like uBlock Origin (not uBlock) filter out malicious advertising and many deceptive download buttons. This significantly reduces exposure to malvertising and fake update prompts that distribute hijackers. Avoid ad blockers with questionable privacy policies themselves.
- Avoid piracy sites and cracked software. Torrent sites, cracked games, and software activation tools are the single highest-risk sources for browser hijackers, trojans, and worse. The money you save isn't worth the cleanup costs and security risks. Consider free alternatives or save for legitimate licenses.
- Run browser extensions minimally. Install only extensions you actively use from official browser stores (Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons). More extensions mean more attack surface and more opportunities for malicious code. Review your installed extensions monthly and remove anything you haven't used recently.
- Enable Windows Security and keep definitions updated. Windows Defender (Windows Security) has improved significantly and catches many common threats if kept updated. Don't disable it unless you have an alternative enterprise-grade antivirus. Supplement it with occasional scans using Malwarebytes for broader coverage.
- Create a standard user account for daily use. Operating as a Windows Administrator makes it easier for hijackers to modify system settings. Create a standard user account for everyday browsing and only use an admin account when installing legitimate software. This limits what malware can modify without your explicit permission.
Bring It In
If the manual removal steps above seem daunting, or if you've tried them and GetWab keeps reappearing, bring your computer to our Roswell location. Browser hijacker removal is straightforward work for our technicians, and we can typically complete it while you wait or within a few hours for drop-offs. We'll eliminate the hijacker, verify all persistence mechanisms are gone, check for any additional threats that might have slipped in alongside it, and optimize your browser configuration to prevent reinfection.
Beyond the immediate cleanup, we'll also review your system for signs of how the hijacker got in and recommend specific security improvements for your situation. Whether it's tightening browser security settings, removing high-risk software you didn't realize was problematic, or explaining how to spot bundleware during installation, we'll leave you better protected than before. Call us at (770) 739-5437 or stop by our shop at 1750 Hembree Road during business hours. No appointment necessary for diagnostics, and we'll give you an honest assessment of what's needed.