If your browser opens multiple tabs by itself, do not start by reinstalling Chrome, Edge, or Firefox. First find the trigger. A browser can open extra tabs because of a normal startup setting, a saved session, site pop-ups, notification permissions, sync, a bad extension, a modified shortcut, a scheduled task, or adware running in Windows. The fix depends on when the tabs appear.
Treat it as suspicious when the tabs lead to fake virus alerts, adult or streaming redirects, betting pages, unknown search engines, browser update prompts, login pages you did not request, or the same site after every reboot. That pattern is often a browser hijacker, notification-spam permission, unwanted app, or persistence task rather than a harmless browser preference.
For the exact case where the browser jumps into Chrome search settings and adds Travel-now.cc or its subdomains as the search provider, follow the Travel-now.cc removal guide before doing a full browser rebuild.
Find the trigger first
Open a note and write down exactly when the tabs appear. This prevents you from resetting the wrong thing and missing the source that keeps bringing the tabs back.
| When tabs open | Most likely place to check |
|---|---|
| Only when you launch the browser | Startup pages, session restore, profile sync, browser shortcut target, or a startup task. |
| When you click anywhere on one site | Pop-ups and redirects allowed for that site, malvertising scripts, or deceptive page overlays. |
| Even when the browser was closed | Windows Startup Apps, Task Scheduler, services, or adware launching the browser with a URL. |
| After you sign back into the profile | Sync restoring settings, extensions, homepage, search engine, or site permissions. |
| Across Chrome, Edge, and Firefox | A Windows-level app, proxy/DNS change, scheduled task, or bundled PUA. |
| After deleting an extension | A companion app, browser policy, or sync source reinstalling it. |
Start with normal browser settings
Some tab storms are not malware. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox can restore previous sessions, open a defined startup page, or let trusted sites use pop-ups. Check the simple settings before assuming a system infection.
- Check startup behavior. In Chrome and Edge, look for startup pages that open a group of URLs. In Firefox, check whether it restores previous windows and tabs. Remove unknown pages and test with one blank new-tab start.
- Review pop-ups and redirects. Chrome documents a dedicated Pop-ups and redirects site setting, and notes that continuing pop-ups can also come from notifications or malware [1]. Edge has a similar pop-up control [2], while Firefox blocks pop-ups by default and lets you remove exceptions [3].
- Revoke notification permissions. A site notification can look like a system alert and lead you into new browser tabs when clicked. Remove unknown sites from notification permissions, especially pages that used “Allow to continue”, “Allow to watch”, or fake CAPTCHA wording.
- Disable suspicious extensions. Turn off recently installed shopping helpers, downloaders, video tools, PDF tools, “search” extensions, VPN/proxy extensions, and anything with all-sites access that you do not recognize. If the extension returns after removal, use the Gridinsoft guide for a browser extension that keeps reinstalling itself.
- Test a clean profile without sync. Pause sync, open a temporary local browser profile, and browse without extensions. If the tab problem disappears, your old profile, sync data, extension set, or site permissions are part of the cause.
Check Windows persistence if tabs return
If tabs open after reboot, when the browser is closed, or across several browsers, move from browser settings to Windows persistence. The goal is to find what launches the browser with a URL.
- Browser shortcuts: right-click the browser shortcut, open Properties, and inspect the Target field. It should end with the browser executable, not with an extra URL after the closing quote.
- Startup Apps: disable unknown entries that appeared near the first unwanted tabs. Pay attention to random names, “update” helpers, or items launched from AppData, ProgramData, Temp, or Downloads.
- Task Scheduler: look for tasks that run at logon, on idle, or every few minutes and launch
chrome.exe,msedge.exe,firefox.exe,powershell.exe,cmd.exe,wscript.exe, ormshta.exewith a URL. - Installed apps by date: uninstall unknown ad blockers, media downloaders, coupon tools, cracked-software helpers, fake browser updates, search utilities, or “web protect” apps installed just before the symptom started.
- Proxy, DNS, and Secure DNS: reset unknown proxy settings and remove DNS providers you did not choose. If several devices on the same network redirect, also check the router DNS settings.
- Browser policies: on a personal PC, unexpected “Managed by your organization” policies can force extensions, startup pages, or search settings. On a work or school PC, ask the administrator before removing policies.
For a broader cleanup order across extensions, policies, apps, startup items, and browser settings, use Gridinsoft’s PUA and browser hijacker removal guide. If the problem is mostly notification spam, the focused guide on disabling browser push notifications is usually faster.
When to scan for malware or adware
Run a full security scan when the browser opens unknown tabs after every reboot, the tabs point to fake alerts or downloads, the issue affects multiple browsers, a suspicious installer ran recently, or you find a startup task/shortcut that launches a URL. Keep Microsoft Defender enabled, then use Gridinsoft Anti-Malware as a second opinion for PUA, adware, browser hijackers, and leftover persistence.
If you already clicked a fake update, installed a suggested player/extension, allowed exclusions, or signed into accounts while the tab storm was active, clean the device first. Then change important passwords from a clean device and sign out of suspicious sessions for email, banking, social media, work, gaming, and password-manager accounts.
What not to do
- Do not keep clicking through the tabs to “see where they go.” Redirect chains can lead to fake updates, phishing, and drive-by downloads.
- Do not reinstall the browser before checking sync, shortcuts, startup tasks, and installed apps. Reinstalling often keeps the same profile problem.
- Do not add browser or antivirus exclusions for a page or file that a pop-up tells you to trust.
- Do not install random “tab remover” or “adware cleaner” tools from the same redirect path. That can add another unwanted program.
FAQ
Is a browser opening multiple tabs by itself always a virus?
No. It can be a startup/session setting, pop-up permission, notification permission, extension, or sync issue. Treat it as possible adware or a hijacker when the tabs are unknown, repeat after cleanup, open after reboot, or lead to fake alerts and downloads.
Why does Chrome open tabs even after I reset it?
The restoring source may be outside the visible Chrome settings. Check sync, extensions, browser policies, shortcuts, Startup Apps, Task Scheduler, installed apps, proxy, and DNS before resetting again.
Can a website open tabs if pop-ups are blocked?
Some pop-ups are tied to clicks, site exceptions, notifications, deceptive overlays, or browser-specific behavior. Remove site exceptions and notification permissions for unknown sites, then scan the PC if tabs still appear without a clear click.
Should I change passwords after unwanted tabs opened?
Change passwords if you installed anything, entered credentials, allowed a suspicious extension, or saw signs of account access. Clean the PC first so new passwords are not typed into a still-compromised browser.
References
- Google Chrome Help. “Remove unwanted ads, pop-ups and malware.” Google, accessed June 5, 2026. https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2765944
- Microsoft Support. “Block pop-ups in Microsoft Edge.” Microsoft, accessed June 5, 2026. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/block-pop-ups-in-microsoft-edge-1d8ba4f8-f385-9a0b-e944-aa47339b6bb5
- Mozilla Support. “Pop-up blocker settings, exceptions and troubleshooting.” Mozilla, accessed June 5, 2026. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/pop-blocker-settings-exceptions-troubleshooting
