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  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Stealing programs
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Jan 2016

How to remove 1startpage.com

A step-by-step removal guide for affected devices. Follow the verified procedure below — most readers complete it in under 10 minutes.

Julie Splinters · Anti-malware specialist

Help! 1startpage.com is impossible to remove. I just cannot do it! I tried to replace my browser’s homepage, but it seems to be impossible to do that. Can you explain how did this page become my homepage without my intervention? Also, please help me to remove it!

1startpage.com description:

1startpage.com page is developed by Born To Be Net Consulting S.L. company. Sadly, we cannot verify that this website is safe. Although it looks like a regular search engine, it provides altered search results. Do not fall for the ‘Bing’ search logo on the main page – it is not the actual Bing search, but an altered version of it. That means 1startpage.com takes search results from Bing search engine but alters them and supplements with questionable hyperlinks that usually redirect the user to predetermined pages. These websites belong to the sponsors of this dubious search engine, and these redirects generate web traffic for them. Now, why you should avoid using this search engine and what problems it can cause for you?
1startpage.com redirect virus

Why should you avoid using this search engine?

Although 1startpage.com is a legitimate search engine and it is not harmful itself, it still can expose your system to various risks. First of all, you should know that this website can replace your homepage only after identically named potentially unwanted program (PUP) hijacks your PC and places suspicious extensions onto each of your web browsers. These extensions can track your browsing history, clicks, search queries, pages that you save to your bookmarks, your IP address, and other non-personal information. However, some of this information might still contain personal details. However, that is not the most irritating activity that this PUP does.

1startpage.com is said to provide modified search outcomes. Reportedly, this search engine displays sponsored search outcomes that can cause 1startpage.com redirects to questionable third-party websites (these sites belong to the sponsors of this PUP). You should avoid visiting such websites at all times because they might contain infectious or even malicious content! Of course, not in every case, but is it worth taking the risk? Keep in mind that such redirects generate pay-per-click profit for the developers of this browser hijacker, because such activity boosts the popularity of the affiliate websites. We suggest removing this hijacker as soon as possible, and use a reputable search engine instead. You can remove this program with an anti-spyware software. You can use FortectIntego (Windows OS) or FortectIntego (Windows and Mac OS).

How did 1startpage.com hijack my system without my consent?

Potentially unwanted apps are usually distributed as additions to other freeware or shareware. If you do not wish to end up with an unexpected software on your PC, you should carefully monitor every software’s installation setup. Do not blindly click ‘Next’ button all the time; read each statement and refuse to install suspicious content by selecting Advanced or Custom installation method and then deselecting the pre-selected agreements to install optional software. You should never choose Default or Standard installation mode because it does not allow to configure the installation process.

To learn how to remove this PC intruder, please continue reading the article on page 2.

How to eliminate this PC intruder?

The majority of computer security experts tend to label this hijacker as a 1startpage.com redirect virus. That is because this potentially unwanted program (PUP) may try to redirect you to predetermined websites that might be infectious. Do not let that happen – remove 1startpage.com virus before it leads you to dangerous web sources. You can delete this computer parasite with one of our recommended anti-spyware programs, or you can try to remove it manually. Follow the guide below to eliminate this browser hijacker from your computer:

Uninstall from Windows

Uninstall from Windows 10/8:

  1. Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
  2. Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 10/8

Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:

  1. Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
  2. In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.Uninstall from Windows 7/XP

Remove the unwanted program:

  1. In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
  2. If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.Uninstall the unwanted program from Windows

Delete from macOS

Remove the unwanted application:

  1. From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
  2. In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).Uninstall from Mac

Delete leftover files and folders:

  1. Select Go > Go to Folder.
  2. Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
  3. Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.Delete leftover files from Mac
  4. Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.

Remove from Microsoft Edge

Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:

  1. Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
  2. From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
  3. Click Remove.Remove extensions from Edge

Clear cookies and other browser data:

  1. Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
  2. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  3. Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.Clear Edge browsing data

Restore new tab and homepage settings:

  1. Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
  2. Then find On startup section.
  3. Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.

Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:

  1. Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
  2. Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
  3. Select Details tab.
  4. Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.Reset MS Edge

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):

  1. Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
  2. Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chromium Edge

Clear cache and site data:

  1. Click on Menu and go to Settings.
  2. Select Privacy, search and services.
  3. Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
  4. Under Time range, pick All time.
  5. Select Clear now.Clear browser data from Chroum Edge

Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. On the left side, pick Reset settings.
  3. Select Restore settings to their default values.
  4. Confirm with Reset.
  5. This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.Reset Chromium Edge

Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
  2. Select Add-ons.
  3. In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.Remove extensions from Firefox

Reset the homepage:

  1. Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
  2. Choose Settings.
  3. Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.

Clear cookies and site data:

  1. Click Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Go to Privacy & Security section.
  3. Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
  4. Click on Clear Data...
  5. Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.Clear cookies and site data from Firefox

Reset Mozilla Firefox

If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
  2. Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.Reset Firefox 1
  3. Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
  4. Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.Reset Firefox 2

Remove from Google Chrome

Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
  2. In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.Remove extensions from Chrome

Clear cache and web data from Chrome:

  1. Click on Menu and pick Settings.
  2. Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
  3. Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
  4. Click Clear data.Clear cache and web data from Chrome

Change your homepage:

  1. Click menu and choose Settings.
  2. Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
  3. Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.

Reset Google Chrome:

If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:

  1. Click on Menu and select Settings.
  2. In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
  3. Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
  4. Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
  5. Confirm with Reset settings.Reset Chrome 2

Delete from Safari

Remove dangerous extensions:

  1. Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
  2. Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.Remove extensions from Safari

Clear history and website data:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
  2. Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.Clear history from Safari

Reset Safari:

  1. Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
  2. Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
  3. From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.Reset Safari

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