What is Start-search.com - How to remove Start-search.com?

If your default homepage has been set as Start-search.com without your knowledge, then it is very likely that your computer has been infected with a redirect virus. This redirect virus is programmed by cyber hackers to make money by constantly displaying advertisements and sponsored links on the infected computers. Usually, it comes bundled with freeware or shareware, so most of the time users may not notice that they are installing this threat on their computers. Also, this redirect virus can slip into the targeted computers while users are visiting some malicious websites or opening spam email attachments.

Start-search.com redirect virus can cause a lot of inconvenience for its victims. After getting installed, it will change users’ browser settings without any permission. Users may soon notice that their default homepage has been set as Start-search.com. And an unknown search engine is provided in the middle of the page for users to search for web, images, videos, etc. The changes of homepage and search engine can occur to different types of Web browsers including Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. Apart from altering users’ default homepage and search engine, this redirect virus will also pop up various ads, sponsored links, banners and deals on users’ browsers. Note that clicking on the ads or links provided by the redirect virus may be dangerous, as users may be redirected to some malicious websites and be tricked into downloading malware onto their computers. Start-search.com redirect virus could even track users’ browser cookies and steal their confidential information without any knowledge. So, it is urgent to get rid of this redirect virus.

Note: We don’t recommend manually removing the redirect virus, if you have no experience of dealing with files and registry entries. Removing these items incorrectly or partially may cause your computer to experience critical errors. If you want to safely and quickly remove the redirect virus, you can choose to download and install SpyHunter on your PC right now.

Manual Guide to Remove Start-search.com Redirect Virus
Step 1: Remove add-ons related to the redirect virus, and reset your homepage as well as search engine.

Internet Explorer:
1. Open Internet Explorer, click Tools > Manage Add-ons.
remove-add-ons-IE
2. Look for any add-ons related to the redirect virus and remove them.
3. Click on the gear icon again and select “Internet options”.
4. Remove the unwanted URL and enter your preferred domain name.
5. Click on Tools again, select “Manage Add-ons” > “Search Providers”.
Manage Add-ons
6. Set your preferred search engine.

Google Chrome:
1. Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select “Tools” > Extensions.
chrome_extensions
2. Look for any add-ons related to Start-search.com redirect virus and click the trash icon on the right to delete them.
3. Click on menu icon, choose “Settings” > “On startup’” section > “set pages”.
reset homepage_Chrome_
4. Remove the unlike website URL by clicking on the “X” and enter your preferred website URL.
5. Click on the menu icon > “Settings” > “Search” section.
6. Click “Manage Search Engines…” and add your preferred website URL.

Mozilla Firefox:
1. Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon and select “Add-ons”.
Firefox-Add-ons
2. Select any add-ons related to the redirect virus and delete them.
3. Click Firefox, and choose “Options”.
4. Remove the undesired URL and enter your preferred website.
5. Click on the menu icon and question mark icon.
6. Click “Troubleshooting Information” and click “Reset Firefox”.
reset firefox settings_2

Step 2: Remove the files associated with Start-search.com redirect virus from your PC.
Start Control Panel, click on Appearance and Personalization link.

Then click on Folder Options.

Under the View tab, tick “Show hidden files, folders and drives” and non-tick “Hide protected operating system files (Recommended). And then hit OK.
show all-hidden files
Then in the local disk C, look for and delete any files associated with the redirect virus.

Step 3: Remove any registry entries related to the redirect virus.
Press Windows + R keys together and type “regedit” into the Run box, and then hit OK to open the Registry Editor.
regedit223
Click on File and search for the registry entries relevant to the redirect virus, and remove them all from your PC.
registry_editor


Guide to Automatically Remove Start-search.com Redirect Virus
SpyHunter is an advanced malware removal tool designed with latest technologies and can easily remove different types of threats. With the advanced scanning algorithms, this removal tool can automatically scan the entire system and detect out the existing threats easily. You can follow the steps below to remove the redirect virus as well as any other potential threats from your PC.

Step 1: Click on the download button below and save the file to your desktop.

Step 2: Once the file is downloaded, double click on it. And click on the “Run” button when a window appears and asks if you want to run this file.

Step 3: After that, SpyHunter installer will be downloaded. You can see the downloading process as shown below.

Step 4: Once downloading finishes, select the language, accept the SpyHunter license agreement and click “Next”.

Step 5: Keep following the wizard during the setup process. When you are presented with the prompt saying that SpyHunter has been successfully installed, click the “Finish” button.

Step 6: Then, launch SpyHunter by double-clicking on its icon, and then click on “Scan Computer Now” to scan your system for Start-search.com redirect virus and other potential threats.

Step 7: The scanning process may take 20 minutes or more (depending on the number of files in your system). So, you need to wait for some time until the system scan is completed.

Step 8: Once SpyHunter finishes scanning your computer, make sure that all malicious items are selected, and click on the “Fix Threats” button. Then, SpyHunter will begin remove all threats from your PC.

Attention: If you consider the manual removal way is a daunting task for you, then you can download and use a professional removal tool to deal with the threat. This will save you much time and energy. Most important of all, using a removal tool is much safer. With the advanced scanning algorithm, the removal tool is able to quickly and correctly detect out the malicious components of the redirect virus and then forcibly remove them from your PC.