Web-startpage.com virus. How to remove? (Uninstall guide)
Web-startpage.com – a search engine that is used for marketing purposes
Web-startpage.com is a questionable search engine that redirects search queries to Yahoo and might deliver an excessive amount of online ads. The program is promoted in software packages and might enter the system silently.
The search engine is presented as a legitimate application that allows customizing the main page with photo backgrounds and choosing the language from French, Czech,[1] Lithuanian, and other languages. The Web-startpage.com also allows searching for the information in the web, image, videos and news categories.
Despite the fact that it redirects searches to Yahoo; this legitimate functionality should not trick you. The Web-startpage.com virus might still reroute searches to questionable or irrelevant websites. What is more, it might also display intrusive, aggressive and misleading ads that might also redirect to high-risk Internet sites.
Web-startpage.com redirect tendencies are suspicious. Legitimate programs reveal partnerships with third-parties in the Terms of Agreements[2] or another official document. Nevertheless, the main page includes links to them; they are not active. Therefore, you cannot learn more about the developers, their purposes or how they treat your personal information.
Usually, these questionable applications are capable of tracking browsing-related information, such as browsing history, search queries, clicked ads, etc. Typically it is used for delivering targeted ads, but it might also be shared with third-parties. As a result, your browser might start crashing due to the extensive amount of commercial content.
Stealthy infiltration, redirects, and lack of official information are the main reasons why this tool is known as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and a browser hijacker.[3] Therefore, you should get rid of it as soon as it shows up on your browser. The best way to remove Web-startpage.com from the PC is to use reputable anti-malware, such as Reimage.
If you decide to opt for the manual Web-startpage.com removal, you should not forget that hijacker-related components might be installed to each of the web browser, including Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, etc. Thus, you should follow our prepared instructions carefully.
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
Bundling helps to promote and spread the hijacker
Various freeware and shareware spread the hijacker. This search engine might be offered to download as an optional component. However, if you install a new program under Standard/Quick setup, you might not be informed about it. These settings do not openly disclose about third-party apps and install them by default.
To avoid Web-startpage.com hijack, you should pay more attention to software installation:
- opt for Automatic/Custom settings;
- monitor installation procedure and do not rush to click “Next” button;
- reject installation of third-party software, by unmarking pre-selected entries;
- read Privacy Policy, EULA and other official documents (if they are not included, do not install software);
- choose reliable sources for downloads.
Removal of the Web-startpage.com virus
Browser hijacker can be wiped out from the system using two methods – manual and automatic. The main difference between these two options is that manual Web-startpage.com removal requires locating and deleting hijacker-related entries without any help. Meanwhile, automatic deletion requires scanning the system with reputable security software.
If you feel skilled enough and want to remove Web-startpage.com manually, you should take your time and be attentive. You have to:
- uninstall suspicious programs via Control Panel;
- uninstall unknown browser extensions from each of the web browsers;
- reset each of the web browsers.
Browser reset is necessary in order to get rid of tracking cookies and other suspicious elements that might be impossible to remove manually. Therefore, if after manual removal the hijacker comes back, you should finish elimination procedure with anti-malware.
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 Web-startpage.com virus, follow these steps:
Eliminate Web-startpage.com from Windows systems
Go to Control Panel to remove Web-startpage.com. If you cannot find anything suspicious there, check the list of browser extensions. One of it might be responsible for hijacking your browser.
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Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
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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 Web-startpage.com and related programs
Here, look for Web-startpage.com or any other recently installed suspicious programs. -
Uninstall them and click OK to save these changes.
- Remove Web-startpage.com 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 ChromeSafariErase Web-startpage.com from Mac OS X system
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If you are using OS X, click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications.
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Wait until you see Applications folder and look for Web-startpage.com or any other suspicious programs on it. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash.
Get rid of Web-startpage.com from Internet Explorer (IE)
Follow the instructions below to get rid of the hijacker-related entries from the Internet Explorer:
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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 Web-startpage.com and other suspicious plugins. Disable these entries by clicking Disable:
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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.
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Reset Internet Explorer
Click on the gear icon (menu) again and select Internet options. Go to Advanced tab. - Here, select Reset.
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When in the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset again to complete Web-startpage.com removal.
Remove Web-startpage.com virus from Microsoft Edge
In order to get back control over the hijacked Microsoft Edge, you should get rid of all suspicious entries by following these steps:
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.
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Once Settings window shows up, click Choose what to clear button under Clear browsing data option.
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Here, select all what you want to remove and click Clear.
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Now you should right-click on the Start button (Windows logo). Here, select Task Manager.
- When in Processes tab, search for Microsoft Edge.
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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.
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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.
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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, Web-startpage.com should be removed from your Microsoft Edge browser.
WindowsMac OS XInternet ExplorerMicrosoft EdgeFirefoxGoogle ChromeSafariUninstall Web-startpage.com from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Check the list of Firefox extensions and get rid of suspicious entries. Then reset Firefox in order to remove tracking cookies.
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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 Web-startpage.com and other questionable plugins. Click Remove to delete these entries.
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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.
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Click OK to save these changes.
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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 Web-startpage.com removal.
Delete Web-startpage.com from Google Chrome
Termination of the hijacker from Chrome requires uninstalling suspicious browser extensions and resetting the browser.
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Delete malicious plugins
Open Google Chrome, click on the menu icon (top right corner) and select Tools → Extensions. -
Here, select Web-startpage.com and other malicious plugins and select trash icon to delete these entries.
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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.
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Click on menu icon again and choose Settings → Manage Search engines under the Search section.
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When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search sites. You should leave only Google or your preferred domain name.
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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.
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Click Reset to confirm this action and complete Web-startpage.com removal.
Eliminate Web-startpage.com 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 Web-startpage.com or other suspicious entries. Click on the Uninstall button to get rid each of them.
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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 Web-startpage.com, 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.
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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 Web-startpage.com removal process.
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References
- ^ OdstranitVirus. OdstranitVirus. The Czech website about computer viruses and their removal.
- ^ Robert Glancy. Will you read this article about terms and conditions? You really should do. The Guardian. Latest US news, world news, sports, business, opinion, analysis and reviews.
- ^ Browser hijacker. Techopedia. Technology dictionary.
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