Foxstart. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Foxstart is a browser hijacker which claims to be all-in-one Start Page
Foxstart is a deceptive search engine which does not provide accurate search results.
Foxstart is a fraudulent search engine which allows computer users to directly perform queries in Yahoo, YouTube, eBay, Wikipedia, Pinterest and other websites from one Start Page. Although, experts warn that this potentially unwanted program (PUP)[1] might seem legitimate and useful at first. Later, users notice browser modifications which can help generate intrusive ads or provide personal information for third-parties.
| Name | Foxstart |
|---|---|
| Type | Browser hijacker |
| Sub-type | Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP) |
| Danger level | Medium. Performs only browser changes |
| Symptoms | After the infiltration, your new tab URL, homepage and default search engine is assigned to Foxstart.com |
| Compatible OS | Windows and Mac OS |
| Distribution | This application infiltrates the system once the person installs freeware unattentively |
| Removal | You can get rid of Foxstart easily with Reimage |
As soon as it infiltrates the system via software-bundles, Foxstart causes changes in the start page, default search engine, and blocks such well-known search engines as Google, Yahoo or Bing. In other terms, users are forced to perform search queries through Foxstart.com website.
Some people do not find such changes significant and continue using this fraudulent search engine. Unfortunately, users are not aware that Foxstart might collect non-personally identifiable information about its users. The gathered data usually includes the following and may be shared with third-parties without your consent:
- Browser history;
- ISP;
- Geolocation;
- IP address.
While this data might not personally identify you, it can be used to draw the picture of your browsing habits and customize online ads accordingly. This way, the developers of Foxstart would increase the chances of you clicking on the e-commerce content and generating pay-per-click[2] revenue for them.
Click 'Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features' (if you are 'Windows XP' user, click on 'Add/Remove Programs').
If you are 'Windows 10 / Windows 8' user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once 'Quick Access Menu' shows up, select 'Control Panel' and 'Uninstall a Program'.
Right click on each of suspicious entries and select 'Uninstall'
Right click on browsers' icon and select 'Properties'
Select 'Shortcut' tab and delete 'http://isearch.babylon.com...' or other suspicious URL
Cick 'Go' and select 'Applications'
Click on every malicious entry and select 'Move to Trash'
Click on menu icon and select 'Manage add-ons'
Right click on each of malicious entries and select 'Disable'
Delete malicious URL, enter your desired domain name and click 'Apply' to save changes
Go to 'Advanced' tab and click on 'Reset' button. Now select 'Delete personal settings' and click on 'Reset' button again
Go to Settings and select 'Choose what to clear'
Select 'Clear' button
Open the start menu and select 'Task Manager'
Right-click 'Microsoft Edge' and select 'Go to details'
Select 'More details' if 'Go to details' option fails to show up
Find Microsoft Edge entries and select 'End Task'
Go to Microsoft Edge folder on your computer, right-click every entry and click 'Delete'
Find Windows PowerShell, right-click it and select 'Run as administrator'
Copy and paste a required command and press 'Enter'
Click on menu icon and select 'Add-ons'
Select 'Extensions' and look for malicious entries. Click 'Remove' to get rid of each of them
When in 'General' tab, delete malicious URL from 'Home Page' section or click on 'Restore to Default' button. Click 'OK' to save changes
Click on menu icon and then on '?'. Select 'Troubleshooting Information'
Click on 'Reset Firefox' button for a couple of times
Click on menu icon. Select 'Tools' and 'Extensions'
Look for malicious entries and delete each of them by clicking on the Trash bin icon
After clicking on menu and 'Settings', select 'Set pages'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', select 'Manage search engines...'
Click 'X' to remove malicious URLs
When in 'Settings', scroll down to 'Reset browser settings' button and click on it
Click on 'Reset' button to complete your removal
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Preferences'
Go to 'Extensions' and uninstall malicious add-ons
When in 'General', delete malicious URL and enter your desired domain name
Click on 'Safari' and select 'Reset Safari...'
Select all options and click on 'Reset' button
Furthermore, the query results of Foxstart are altered to push affiliate content. Likewise, if you continue using this fraudulent search engine, you will never receive the best and search results. In fact, some links might even lead you to potentially malicious websites and increase the risk of malware infections.
If you want to protect your computer and obtain reliable search results, you should remove Foxstart without hesitation. Our security researchers have created instructions to help you get rid of this PUP and reset modifications in the most popular browsers, like Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, and others.
Additionally, you can complete these steps faster if you install a professional security tool for Foxstart removal. Our top choice is Reimage. Although, you might use similar antivirus of your choice as well.
Software-bundles is the main PUP infiltration source
According to the experts[3], people can visit the page of this fraudulent search engine and set it as the default search engine manually. However, latest research revealed that the primary way how potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) enter the system is the software-bundles.
Some free programs online carry additional components inside their installers. People who agree to Quick or Recommended installation mode are not fully disclosed about other applications and end up installing them together with the primary software.
If you want to avoid potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), you should change the installation mode to Custom or Advanced and monitor the procedure carefully. Opt out all check marks which allow installing unknown software or changing your browser settings.
Easy ways to uninstall Foxstart virus
While Foxstart virus is merely a term used by frustrated computer users, this application can be really annoying. Luckily, researchers present two easy ways how you can remove Foxstart from your computer.
You can complete Foxstart removal automatically if you download and install a professional antivirus tool. You can find our top security programs listed below. Run a full system scan with one of them and your computer will be free from PUPs.
If you want to uninstall Foxstart manually, you might need some extra help. For that, check the step-by-step instructions which are appended at the end of this article. Also, don't forget to reset the affected browsers.
You can remove virus damage automatically with a help of one of these programs: Reimage, Malwarebytes MalwarebytesCombo Cleaner, Plumbytes Anti-MalwareMalwarebytes Malwarebytes. We recommend these applications because they detect potentially unwanted programs and viruses with all their files and registry entries that are related to them.
To remove Foxstart, follow these steps:
Uninstall Foxstart from Windows systems
Browser hijackers might infiltrate more potentially unwanted programs. Thus, search for and delete all suspicious software from Windows.
-
Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
-
If you are Windows 10 / Windows 8 user, then right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel and Uninstall a Program.
- Uninstall Foxstart and related programs
Here, look for Foxstart or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Foxstart from Windows shortcuts
Right click on the shortcut of Mozilla Firefox and select Properties. -
Go to Shortcut tab and look at the Target field. Delete malicious URL that is related to your virus.
Repeat steps that are given above with all browsers' shortcuts, including Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Make sure you check all locations of these shortcuts, including Desktop, Start Menu and taskbar.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariRemove Foxstart from Mac OS X system
If you believe that your Mac is infected with Foxstart, you should eliminate all recently installed applications that you are not aware of.
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
-
Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Foxstart or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Eliminate Foxstart from Internet Explorer (IE)
-
Remove dangerous add-ons
Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top right corner of the browser and choose Manage Add-ons. -
You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for Foxstart and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
-
Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of the browser and select Internet Options. Stay in General tab. -
Here, remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Click Apply to save changes.
-
Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
-
When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Foxstart removal.
Delete Foxstart from Microsoft Edge
Reset Microsoft Edge settings (Method 1):
- Launch Microsoft Edge app and click More (three dots at the top right corner of the screen).
- Click Settings to open more options.
-
Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
-
Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
-
Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
-
Right-click on it and choose Go to details option. If can’t see Go to details option, click More details and repeat previous steps.
-
When Details tab shows up, find every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right click on each of them and select End Task to end these entries.
Resetting Microsoft Edge browser (Method 2):
If Method 1 failed to help you, you need to use an advanced Edge reset method.
- Note: you need to backup your data before using this method.
- Find this folder on your computer:
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_8wekyb3d8bbwe. -
Select every entry which is saved on it and right click with your mouse. Then Delete option.
- Click the Start button (Windows logo) and type in window power in Search my stuff line.
-
Right-click the Windows PowerShell entry and choose Run as administrator.
- Once Administrator: Windows PowerShell window shows up, paste this command line after PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> and press Enter:
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers -Name Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml -Verbose}
Once these steps are finished, Foxstart should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariErase Foxstart from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Complete Foxstart removal requires you to delete suspicious entries and reset Mozilla Firefox.
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Remove dangerous extensions
Open Mozilla Firefox, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Add-ons → Extensions. -
Here, select Foxstart and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
-
Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Click on the menu (top right corner), choose Options → General. - Here, delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
-
Click OK to save these changes.
-
Reset Mozilla Firefox
Click on the Firefox menu on the top left and click on the question mark. Here, choose Troubleshooting Information. -
Now you will see Reset Firefox to its default state message with Reset Firefox button. Click this button for several times and complete Foxstart removal.
Get rid of Foxstart from Google Chrome
-
Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Foxstart and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
-
Change your homepage and default search engine if it was altered by your virus
Click on menu icon and choose Settings. -
Here, look for the Open a specific page or set of pages under On startup option and click on Set pages.
- Now you should see another window. Here, delete malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
-
Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
-
When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
-
Reset Google Chrome
Click on menu icon on the top right of your Google Chrome and select Settings. -
Scroll down to the end of the page and click on Reset browser settings.
-
Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Foxstart removal.
Uninstall Foxstart from Safari
- Remove dangerous extensions
Open Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu at the top left of the screen. Once you do this, select Preferences. -
Here, select Extensions and look for Foxstart or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
-
Change your homepage if it was altered by virus:
Open your Safari web browser and click on Safari in menu section. Here, select Preferences as it was displayed previously and select General. -
Here, look at the Homepage field. If it was altered by Foxstart, remove unwanted link and enter the one that you want to use for your searches. Remember to include the "http://" before typing in the address of the page.
-
Reset Safari
Open Safari browser and click on Safari in menu section at the top left of the screen. Here, select Reset Safari.... -
Now you will see a detailed dialog window filled with reset options. All of those options are usually checked, but you can specify which of them you want to reset. Click the Reset button to complete Foxstart removal process.
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References
- ^ Margaret Rouse. PUP (potentially unwanted program). SearchSecurity. TechTarget.
- ^ Pay-per-click. Wikipedia. The Free Encyclopedia.
- ^ LesVirus. LesVirus. Security and Spyware News.