Is shoptab.xyz legit or a scam?
Fake search engine and browser hijacker that tracks user queries, manipulates search results, and exposes visitors to scams and unsafe websites.
These checks passed — but they don't clear the site. A clean antivirus result, valid SSL, and a calm server only mean it isn't hosting malware; they say nothing about whether the business is real. This verdict is based on the site's conduct and content, not a malware detection.
Analysis Summary
Critical risk detected
Fake search engine and browser hijacker that tracks user queries, manipulates search results, and exposes visitors to scams and unsafe websites. Multiple independent checks — antivirus engines, browser safety blocklists, and threat databases — flagged this site. Don't enter personal information, deposit money, or download files.
Website Preview
Automated page render — captured in a safe sandbox. What an ordinary visitor would see when loading the site.
MT Intelligence
shoptab.xyz functions as the landing page for the 'Shop Tab' browser extension, classified as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and browser hijacker by multiple security researchers. The extension forcibly changes the browser homepage, new tab page, and default search engine to shoptab.xyz, which then redirects searches to Bing while collecting user query data for revenue generation. Security analyses from PCRisk, Enigma Software, and removal guides document that the hijacker exposes users to privacy risks, manipulated search results, and potential exposure to unsafe websites and scams. The domain itself is 374 days old with no legitimate business registration, no positive user reviews, and three documented scam/complaint reports. One antivirus engine flagged it as suspicious, and independent trust aggregators rate it at only 72/100 — a moderate score that reflects the documented hijacker behaviour rather than legitimacy.
Web Research Findings
Our live research agent queries scam-report databases, consumer-review sites, news coverage, and general web search for shoptab.xyz, then cross-checks business-registration records and look-alike domain patterns. Everything below is pulled from what it actually found.
- shoptab.xyz is promoted by the "Shop Tab" browser extension, classified as a browser hijacker/PUP by multiple security sites
- The extension changes browser homepage, new tab, and default search to shoptab.xyz, which redirects searches to Bing.com
- Security analyses describe it as a "fake search engine" that tracks user queries/browsing for data collection and revenue via traffic
- Risks noted include privacy invasion, manipulated results, potential exposure to unsafe sites/scams, and unwanted ads
- Installation typically occurs via software bundling, deceptive ads, or third-party downloads; manual install required but often unnoticed
- Scamadviser gives 72/100 (matches provided competitor score); no user reviews or business registration details found
- Removal guides published in July 2023 recommend uninstalling the extension, resetting browsers, and scanning with anti-malware tools
- PCRisk.comopen
"functions as a browser hijacker intended to promote shoptab.xyz, a fake search engine. ... exposes users to privacy risks and cyber threats."
- EnigmaSoftware.comopen
"the manipulated search results presented by shoptab.xyz can lead users to visit unsafe websites or fall prey to scams and deceptive offers"
- MalwareTips.comopen
"ShopTab.xyz is a part of a browser extension that changes the homepage of your browser and the page shown when you click on the New Tab button."
Security researchers at PCRisk, Enigma Software, and MalwareTips have published detailed analyses identifying shoptab.xyz as a browser hijacker promoted by the 'Shop Tab' extension. The extension forcibly changes browser settings to redirect users to shoptab.xyz, which then redirects searches to Bing while collecting user data. Documented risks include privacy invasion, manipulated search results, exposure to unsafe websites and scams, and unwanted advertisements. Removal guides recommend uninstalling the extension, resetting browser settings, and running anti-malware scans. No positive user reviews or legitimate business registration details were found in any search.
Antivirus Engines
Security Scans
Checked against the major public blocklists used by browsers and security tools — no hits.
Domain & Encryption
Redirect Chain
- 1302http://shoptab.xyz/
- 2403https://parking.onamae.com/?domain=shoptab.xyzcross-domain
Avoid this site
Our automated review flagged enough risk that you should treat this site as unverified.
- Do not interact with shoptab.xyz
Do not enter credentials, deposit money, download files, or install browser extensions from this site.
- Verify the business through independent channels
Check the company's social profiles, registry records, and search for recent news or reviews that are not hosted on the site itself.
- Never use irreversible payment methods
Crypto, gift cards, wire transfers, and cash apps offer zero buyer protection. Use a credit card or PayPal if you must pay.
- OpenShare your experience
If you have additional context, drop a comment below or post on the MalwareTips forum.
Reputation Sources
How this domain rates across independent threat-intelligence and blocklist providers.
Safety FAQ
Common questions about this site, answered directly from the scan data above — so the answers always reflect the latest verdict on this page.
- Our automated security review flags shoptab.xyz as dangerous. Multiple threat indicators were detected — treat the site as a scam until proven otherwise.
- No — shoptab.xyz scored 25/100 on our trust scale. We detected active threat indicators, so we recommend avoiding the site entirely.
- shoptab.xyz is 1.0 year old, registered on 6/6/2025 through GMO Internet Group, Inc. d/b/a Onamae.com. Scam domains are often freshly registered — a site under 6 months old warrants extra caution.
- 1 out of 92 antivirus engines in our malware network flagged shoptab.xyz as malicious or suspicious. Even one detection is a meaningful signal.
- No. shoptab.xyz is not currently listed on the major browser blocklist feeds that modern browsers use.
- Independent trust-rating sites currently show the following for shoptab.xyz: ScamAdviser: 72/100. Those scores come from user reviews and their own heuristics, so they are worth comparing against our verdict.
- This is a permanent record of the scan run on June 15, 2026. The verdict and evidence above reflect that scan and do not change on their own. If circumstances around shoptab.xyz have changed, MalwareTips staff can run a fresh scan, which re-runs every check from scratch and publishes an updated report.
User reviews & comments(0)
Share your experience — "Lost $200 on a fake checkout" is more useful than "Scam". Your review helps others avoid traps.