MediaStart

MediaStart might look like a pretty cool tool, but our research team says that it is a potentially unwanted program. What does it mean? It means that the application is not a direct computer security threat, but it might have certain features that can be deemed undesirable. What’s more, it is possible to add this extension to your browser accidentally, so if that is really the case, it is about time you remove MediaStart from your system. While you are at it, you should also scan it with a security tool to make sure it is absolutely safe.

To put it simply, MediaStart is a Chrome extension. It is very similar to MusicBrowsing and other applications that are developed by the same authors. It also means that it is not a computer infection, as it doesn’t hide from you, and it is possible to add it to your browser via official sources. We can find it on the Chrome Web Store, so it’s not like the extension tries to masquerade as something else or present itself as something it is not.

On the other hand, we should remember that potentially unwanted programs may have more than just one distribution method. If you added MediaStart to your browser accidentally, it might have arrived at your system in a software bundle.

Software bundles or packages usually come from file-sharing websites. When you download freeware from third-party sources, you should remember that third-party installers often carry more than just one application, and if you want to avoid installing them all, you need to be attentive during the setup process. You should be able to deselect the programs you do not want or need, but if you breeze through the installation without paying attention to the information in front of you, MediaStart and other unwanted apps will surely be added to your system.

Luckily, MediaStart is not too intrusive. This application does not change your search engine settings like most of the other potentially unwanted browser extensions. It does modify your homepage and new tab settings, however. If you are not aware of the fact you have added this extension, this sudden modification might come as a surprise. You might also think that you were infected by a browser hijacker. It’s also the reason why sometimes such browser extensions are categorized as browser hijackers, too. However, all modifications are performed with the user’s consent (even if the users are not aware of the fact that they have agreed to it).

Perhaps the most annoying part about MediaStart is that it can display commercial ads. In fact, that’s what most of the unwanted applications do. They collect information on your web browsing habits, and then they start displaying custom commercial content.

MediaStart and other similar apps rely on commercial content promotion because they need to cover their development costs. These apps are distributed for free, and so they creators make money through only advertising. It is nothing fishy or illegal, but we have to remember that these apps do not review the content they promote.

So what happens? Sure, at first it might seem that it is a cool idea: when you see customized ads, you might come across something that you like faster. However, since MediaStart doesn’t review what kind of content is embedded in those ads, the extension might as well be exploited by malevolent third parties to promote corrupted content. If this happens, users become exposed to dangerous content that could lead to fishy online marketing websites or even malware-related web pages. Therefore, if you did not want to have this application added to your browser, you might as well remove MediaStart right now.

Our research team says that you can remove MediaStart by deleing the extension via your browser’s settings. On the other hand, you might also want to consider resetting your browser if there are more unfamiliar extensions added. You can also use a reliable antispyware scanner to run a full system scan and see if there are more potentially unwanted programs installed. Such programs often come in groups, and so if you want to delete one of them, you should get rid of them all. Finally, acquire a security tool that would help you perform regular system scans for a full checkup.

How to Reset Chrome

1. Press Alt+F and click Settings.
2. Scroll down and press Advanced.
3. Scroll down again and click Restore settings to their original defaults.
4. Click Reset settings on the confirmation box.