Do you know what start-search.com is?
Start-search.com is a browser hijacker that modifies your default homepage and search engine settings without your permission. This browser hijacker sets your homepage to start-search.com and you are forced to make use of this domain for your searches. This infection is directly related to browse-search.com, Pinwid Ltd. and Snap.do which are all related to adware distribution and potential computer security issues. Therefore, you need to remove start-search.com from your computer as soon as possible, and then invest in a powerful security application that would safeguard your PC in the future from similar threats.
Start-search.com screenshot
Scroll down for full removal instructions
Even though start-search.com is said to be created by PinWid Ltd, this browser hijacker does not have a direct download link. Thus, it means that it is distributed with various installers and start-search.com gets installed onto your computer when you download freeware from unreliable sources. What is more, although PinWid Ltd is an official company based in Israel, it is notorious for adware distribution. In other words, the company is known to promote and distribute a variety of potentially unwanted applications such as Muvic Smartbar, Linkury Smartbar, BeeCoupons Smartbar and many others. It is very likely that start-search.com might be bundled within the setup file of one of those browser extensions.
As far as start-search.com hijacker’s behavior is concerned, we did not have to research much to figure it out. Our guys at research lab were quick to notice that start-search.com is practically identical to Snap.do – start-search.com hijacks all the main browsers (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer), and modifies the default browser’s shortcut to open feed.helperbar.com each time you try accessing the Internet. This domain then redirects you to start-search.com, and it seems like nothing has happened, but the truth is that it is merely one of the many ways how start-search.com manages to track your Internet browsing habits, collecting data on what you search for online and what websites you frequent.
After all, start-search.com has been created to generate advertising revenue, so with your web browsing habits pattern out in the open, start-search.com will know exactly what kind of ads to display. Stay away from anything that is delivered via start-search.com. Do not even click the search results as well! You will only be exposed to a vast amount of commercial content leading to further adware installations and perhaps even financial losses.
You need to remove start-search.com if you want to protect your computer, your personal information and your money. Scan your system with a licensed antimalware tool to determine what programs start-search.com has arrived with. Uninstall all the unwanted applications via Control Panel and then reset your browser settings following the instructions below.
Stay away from unreliable and unfamiliar websites and acquire a powerful computer security application that will help you protect your system from similar intruders.
How to remove start-search.com
Internet Explorer
- Press Alt+T and click Internet options.
- Select Advanced tab and click Reset.
- Mark Delete personal settings and press Reset.
- Click Close.
Mozilla Firefox
- Press Alt+H and click Troubleshooting information.
- Press Reset Firefox at the top right corner of a new tab.
- Click Reset Firefox on a pop-up box. Click Finish.
Google Chrome
- Press Alt+F and go to Settings.
- Scroll down to the bottom and click Show Advanced settings.
- Scroll down to Reset Browser Settings.
- Click the Reset Browser Settings button.
- Press Reset on a dialog box.
If these instructions do not help you get rid of start-search.com completely, please try out the instructions below. In case you have any further questions on browser hijackers or start-search.com, please leave us a comment.
In non-techie terms:
Start-search.com changes your default homepage and search engine settings in order to generate financial revenue to its creators. Remove start-search.com from your computer immediately, because browser hijackers can eventually lead to serious computer security problems.