Startsearch.org

Have you recently encountered Startsearch.org? Did you install it onto your browser? Was it installed without your notice? Are you still thinking about whether or not you should install it? Whichever situation you are in, we want to help you understand this search tool and figure out if you should delete it if you have installed it already. What’s our verdict? We classify this seemingly harmless search tool as a browser hijacker that is not as beneficial as you might believe it to be. Needless to say, we advise erasing this search tool from your browsers, and you will learn all about this process by reading the report. If you think you know all there is to know, you can jump to the Startsearch.org removal guide below. Nonetheless, if you have a minute or two, we advise learning more about the threat first.

So, how did Startsearch.org slither in? If it was installed with your permission, the chances are that it was offered to you as an additional free offer along with some other program? Well, if that is case, we advise that you research this program as well. We also advise installing a legitimate malware scanner to quickly examine your operating system. You should definitely use this tool if the hijacker has taken over your browsers without your notice because there is a possibility that other infections have slithered in without any warning as well. Have you uncovered any additional threats? If you have, do not forget to remove them from your operating system as well. Well, what if additional threats were not installed and what if you gave permission to have your homepage and search provider modified? According to our researchers, you still should consider deleting Startsearch.org from your browsers.

The interface of Startsearch.org is not distinctive in any way. At the bottom of the page, we have links to Contact and Privacy Policy pages. Right above that, we have quick-access links routing to Youtube, Yahoo, Facebook, AliExpress, eBay, Amazon, Instagram, and Pinterest websites. Above that, we see a search dialog box that is meant to help us surf the web. Unfortunately, it does not look like it is safe to interact with the search results represented by Startsearch.org. This is because most of the search results shown are actually advertisements. All of the links at the top, the bottom, and on the right display sponsored links, and, unfortunately, it is hard to say whether or not they are trustworthy. Even the Privacy Policy does not share information about third-party partners (a.k.a., advertisers), which makes them unpredictable and, potentially, unreliable.

Speaking of the Privacy Policy – which you can review at startsearch.org/privacy_policy.php – did you notice the statement indicating that “aggregated demographic information” about you can be shared with undisclosed third parties? Although it is suggested that personal information is not recorded or shared with other parties, are you sure you want Startsearch.org to share ANY kind of information with unknown parties? If you do not, we strongly recommend removing this search tool immediately. You should also delete tracking cookies that were downloaded by this hijacker. If these tracking cookies remain active, they will continue spying on you, recording information, and possibly leaking it to third parties. The instructions below include the removal of tracking cookies as well.

According to our malware analysts, you should be able to delete Startsearch.org from your operating system by resetting your browsers. We strongly encourage you to reset browsers because this ensures the elimination of tracking cookies as well. If you are not sure how to clean up your operating system, you can employ anti-malware software. This software is designed to automatically find and erase all existing threats, and, as you already know, other threats might run along with Startsearch.org. If you choose to eliminate all threats manually, use a malware scanner beforehand to help you identify all of them, and then scan your PC afterward to make sure that you have successfully cleaned your operating system.

Startsearch.org Removal

Mozilla Firefox:

1. Open Firefox and launch the Tools menu by tapping Alt+H keys.
2. Select Troubleshooting Information to access the about:support menu.
3. Click the Refresh Firefox… button on the right and then click Refresh Firefox again for confirmation.

Internet Explorer:

1. Open Internet Explorer and launch the Tools menu by tapping Alt+T keys.
2. Select Internet options and click the Advanced tab.
3. Click the Reset button at the bottom, check Delete personal settings, and then click Reset again.

Google Chrome:

1. Open Chrome, launch a menu on the right by tapping Alt+F keys, and select Settings.
2. Navigate to the bottom, click Show advanced settings…, and scroll to the bottom again.
3. Click Reset settings and then click the Reset button again for confirmation.