No matter which browser you use – Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge or any other browser, just like you open a new tab page in your browser, you will come across about:blank and now you wonder if this is genuine You received the prompt, or is your computer now under malicious threat? In this article, we’ll try to understand about:blank and even find a way to remove it if it upsets you. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
What is about:blank?
about:blankTips and guides:about:blank is not an actual page, it’s built directly into your browser. It is a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier). When you type about:blank, a blank page will appear. This message tells you that your browser doesn’t have a default home page or a default page set for new tabs.
With the About section, you ask the browser to display a built-in internal web page. For example, when you type about:settings, your browser’s settings page will open. So, if you want a dinosaur game that appears when there is no internet reception, open a new tab and type about:dino.
about:blank malware or other malicious threats?
about:blank deletion tutorial: In general, about:blank is not a malicious threat. However, if you accidentally click on a link or website or download a file that you shouldn’t have, and you notice the about:blank page afterward, we recommend that you run an antivirus scan. This is because, in this case, a blank page may actually trick you into downloading malicious content or prompt you to click on an ad.
For example, Systweak Antivirus is one of the best antivirus software for Windows. It identifies and eliminates a wide range of malicious threats in real-time. As a result of its updated database, new definitions are installed periodically. In addition to real-time protection, Systweak Antivirus can also stop you from stumbling upon websites that might inject malware into your computer.
Here’s how to use Systweak Antivirus to stay protected –
1. Download, run, and install Systweak Antivirus
2. Click on the magnifying glass on the left side of the interface.
3. Select the scanning mode
If Systweak Antivirus perceives any threats, it immediately finds and removes them. To learn more about Systweak Antivirus, its features, and pricing, you can check out this article.
Not a Windows user? Here are some of the best antivirus programs for Mac.
about:blank tips and guides: When is about:blank useful?
You must be wondering what is the significance of about:blank page in Chrome or Firefox or any other browser? Well, it is useful in the following situations-
- If you open the link, a blank page opens to download the item
- When you don’t want to open an actual web page as the default start page
- Your browser isn’t sure what to display
- When you want your browser not to use too many network or computer resources
- You accidentally clicked on a malicious link or website
How to set or remove about:blank as your start page?
about:blank removal tutorial: You can’t actually get rid of the about:blank page completely because it’s part of your web browser. However, you can delete it temporarily, or set or delete it as your start page. For the purposes of this blog, we will consider Chrome –
- Set or remove about:blank –
1. Open Chrome
2. Click on the three vertical dots on the right side of the top.
3. Click Settings
4. Click on the hamburger icon from the left side
5. Click the radio button that says open a specific page or set of pages
- To set or delete about:blank on Apple Safari on Mac, follow this path –
Safari > Preferences > General
Now type about:blank in the home section. And, if you don’t want about:blank, you can enter the URL you want.
Summary
To sum up about:blank, there is also a purpose. Web browsers can’t open pages without any content. It has to show something, so about:blank. You can even go this way, with a blank page in front of you, and you can think about which website to visit in a more focused way instead of a cluttered web page. What do you think? Leave your suggestions and ideas in the comments section below.
