Spicystart.com – a search engine that delivers altered results
Spicystart.com is a questionable search engine that is promoted in software bundles and might be installed on the device without the user’s permission. Once inside, this browser hijacker might set its domain as a default search engine, homepage, and new tab address. Additionally, it might control your browsing sessions and collect browsing-related information.
The appearance of the website itself might seem legit at first sight. It has a convenient design and offers to look up for information in four standard categories: Web, Images, Videos, and News. However, the main problems might occur on the search results page.
The SpicyStart does not redirect to Yahoo, Google, or other legit search engines like many similar browser hijackers do. It uses its own results database, meaning that authors of this potentially unwanted program (PUP)[1] might alter results and hide sponsored links among organic search results.
| name | Spicystart.com |
|---|---|
| Type | Redirect virus, browser hijacker, PUP |
| Infection symptoms | Default browser settings are modified without your direct permission; search results are displayed from a different provider and contain misleading ads; deteriorated browsing speed |
| Risks | Privacy issues, monetary losses |
| Distribution | Fake Flash Player updates, software bundling, deceptive ads |
| Elimination | Remove the intruder by scanning your infected device with at least one of our recommended security tools |
| System health | Repair corrupted system files and delete all tracking cookies with the all-in-one FortectIntego PC optimization tool |
The major goal of the Spicystart.com virus is to control user’s browser habits and trick them into visiting third-party commercial websites. Developers seem to generate revenue from driving traffic to affiliate sites and pay-per-click advertising strategies.
Despite the fact, this activity is not fair and prevents users from finding necessary information; the biggest problems are related to the browser hijacker's redirect issues. The PUP might trigger redirects to harmful websites. Users might be forced to visit scam,[2] phishing, or other sites created by cybercriminals and suffer from crime.
Following this concerning issue, the browser hijacker might:
- Prevent users from replacing Spicystart.com with their preferred homepage and search engine;
- Install unknown add-ons, extensions, or plugins to Chrome, Firefox, Mozilla, or other web browsers;
- Collect non-personally identifiable information to serve targeted ads;
- Share, rent or sell aggregated information with business partners and third parties.
Developers claim that this search tool protects user’s privacy; however, if you read the Privacy Policy carefully, you might find some disagreements. Nevertheless, it does not collect personally identifiable information; further statements reveal that other details might be still tracked, used for marketing purposes, and even sold to unknown partners. The program collects:
- User IP address;
- Search terms;
- Clicked ads;
- Clicked organic and sponsored search results;
- User Agent.
The problem is that if you decide to look up information about yourself, you can easily show your identity to cybercriminals. If a suspicious program tracks information about you, there’s always a risk to deal with some privacy-related issues. If you don’t want them, take our advice and remove Spicystart.com right now.
You can uninstall this program either manually or automatically. A manual removal guide is given down below. Meanwhile, the automatic removal requires scanning the system with SpyHunterCombo Cleaner, MalwarebytesMalwarebytes, or another updated malware removal program. Such apps will prevent such threats from being installed on your device in the future.
Once the potentially unwanted program is eliminated, it's highly recommended to take care of the overall system condition. the easiest way to properly do that is by using the FortectIntego PC repair software as it will delete all tracking cookies and resolve all system-related inconsistencies automatically.
Browser hijackers travel alongside freeware
Users rarely decide to set this unknown search tool as their default one. Usually, it spreads in the form of a browser extension in freeware or shareware packages as an optional component. The Spicystart.com hijack might occur when users want to install some freeware quickly and relies on a Quick/Standard installation setup. Security researchers from zondervirus.nl[3] note that these settings are very popular among the majority of computer users.
Keep in mind that the above-mentioned settings do not reveal additional downloads and install them by default. To avoid browser hijack and other PUPs, you should install free programs using Advanced/Custom settings only because it allows rejecting third-party app download offers.
Simple instructions to remove Spicystart virus
If the hijacker was installed with freeware or shareware, it’s better to remove Spicystart.com using an anti-malware/anti-spyware tool. Then you can be sure that all hijacker-related entries are wiped out entirely and that the infection won't renew itself.
However, if you feel capable of manually removing the potentially unwanted program, you should look at the instructions presented down below. You will need to find all apps, files, and other components that are related to the PUP and protects it from elimination.
Uninstall from Windows
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Delete from macOS
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- 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.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- 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.
Instructions for Chromium-based Edge
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Remove from Google Chrome
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- 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:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
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