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  • Active
  • Severity: High
  • Stealing programs
  • Windows, Mac
  • Verified · Feb 2018

How to remove Webstart.me virus

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

Jake Doevan · Computer technology expert

WebStart.me impersonates legitimate search engine to make people visit third-party websites

Screenshot of Webstart.me

WebStart.me by RCPmedia is promoted as a legitimate search site, which supposedly stands out from the others due to multiplicity of apps integrated into its start page. Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Reddit, LinkedIn, Yahoo, are just a few exampled of quick access buttons that are available on the WebStart.me virus startup page. 

Nevertheless, instead of using those buttons, we would recommend people to care about WebStart.me removal. Security experts agree unanimously that it’s a potentially unwanted program (PUP)[1] and a browser hijacker. Such classification has been determined by doubtful distribution strategy (“bundling”) and arbitrary behavior on a compromised web browser. 

The main problem with the application is that it might sneak inside the computer and hijack the browser without asking user’s permission. It is often suggested to download in software packages and hijack all major web browsers when a user downloads some freeware incorrectly. For this reason, the application is known as WebStart.me virus.

However, technically speaking it’s a browser hijacker which cannot cause direct harm to the computer. Though, it can make browsing the unbearable. After the WebStart.me hijack, you might have to deal with these problems:

  • MyBrowserHome.com or another suspicious search tool set as your default one;
  • WebStart.me set as your homepage;
  • Altered New Tab page and functionality;
  • Installation of unknown toolbars, plugins or browser extensions;[2]
  • Increased amount of advertisements;
  • Redirects to third-party websites.

All these issues can be fixed by uninstalling this application. However, WebStart.me removal might not be smooth and simple. The hijacker might alter Windows registry and shortcuts to prevent users from the eliminating it easily. Therefore, you might need to put some effort.

The biggest issue that might be caused by the hijacker its ability to force users to visit promotional or potentially dangerous websites. The research has shown suspicious WebStart.me redirect tendencies when users are rerouted to unknown third-party sites instead of their interested webpage. These redirects might occur when users click on a search result, shortcut on the startup page or suddenly open the new browser's tab.

Additionally, the program might collect personal information about users, as well as browsing-related data with the help of cookies. Collected information might be shared with partners and other third-parties. Security experts from Les Virus[3] note that there’s a chance that your browser or inbox will be flooded with a bunch of ads and commercial content due to these data tracking activities.

To avoid possible threats to your privacy or encountering other risks, you should remove WebStart.me as soon as it hijacks your Chrome, Firefox, Mozilla or another web browser. The best way to get rid of the PUP is to scan the system with anti-malware/anti-spyware, for example, FortectIntego.

Picture of Webstart.me virus

Freeware makes the installation of the hijacker easier

Although users can set the described search site as their startup page after downloading it from the official site, it might also get inside the system in the software bundle. It might be offered to download as an extra component with various free programs. However, you should decline such suggestions by unmarking the ticks from pre-selected entries. Keep in mind that you can do it only by using Advanced/Custom software installation settings.

Deletion of the WebStart.me malware

In order to remove WebStart.me entirely, you have to uninstall all files and programs from the computer as well as web browsers that belongs to the PUP. Browser reset is also needed to delete tracking cookies and other invisible hijacker-related components.

WebStart.me removal instructions are delivered at the end of the article. However, if they seem complicated, unclear or the hijacker reappeared, you should opt for the automatic elimination option. By scanning the system with anti-malware, you will be able to delete leftovers of the hijacker.

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.

Reset Internet Explorer

Remove dangerous add-ons:

  1. Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
  2. Pick Manage Add-ons.
  3. You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.Remove add-ons from Internet Explorer

Change your homepage if it was altered:

  1. Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
  2. Select Internet Options.
  3. In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
  4. Click Apply and then select OK.Reset IE homepage

Delete temporary files:

  1. Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
  2. Under Browsing history, click Delete...
  3. Select relevant fields and press Delete.Clear temporary files from Internet Explorer

Reset Internet Explorer:

  1. Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
  2. Select Reset.
  3. In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.Reset Internet Explorer

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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