uTab

The uTab software can be seen in the company of free media players and fake updates to Adobe Flash and Java. The uTab program may be promoted to improve the new tab page in Google Chrome and deliver faster search services. Usually, the uTab application is installed by other programs as a way to divert the user's Web traffic to a particular ad platform that poses as a search engine. The uTab program is known to run from 'C:\Program Files\UTab\utab.exe' and register a browser extension with the same name in Chrome. Users have reported that removing the uTab extension via the Extensions Manager proves to be futile as the application is re-introduced after re-engaging the browser automatically.

Computer security researchers alert that uTab does not provide developer information and may be used to inject advertisements into the browser without your knowledge. The uTab extension may be copied to the extensions library in Google Chrome and may be marked as a 'Read Only' file in Windows. You may be shown notifications from online marketers, and you may experience browser redirects to limited time deals while the uTab extension is running in the background. Attempts to remove the uTab extension manually may be met with a notification in Google Chrome that says:

"uTab" Added
Another program on your computer added an extension that may change the way Chrome works.
It can:
• Read and change all your data on the websites you visit.
• Replace the page you see when opening a new tab.
• Manage your apps, extensions, and themes.
• Read and change your browsing history.
• Read and change your bookmarks.
• Display notifications.

uTab is considered to be a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) that may hijack your new tab page and load a stripped-down version of the default new tab in Google Chrome. The uTab New Tab page may appear similar to Google.com without the doodles, the speed dial, the search lenses, and the services menu in the top-right corner of the site surface. You should exercise caution when you notice that your default tab is substituted by an unfamiliar page. Browser hijackers and ad-supported programs may modify your new tab and primary search provider to monetize your Internet activity. The uTab program may record your IP address, detect your physical location, your Internet history, content you download and preferred videos to help ad publishers direct tailor-suited offers to your screen. You may want to use a trust-worthy anti-malware instrument and remove uTab safely.