How to remove Search-startpage.com [Chrome, Firefox, IE, Edge]

The Search-startpage.com is a new browser hijacker from the big family of browser hijackers. It modifies your Mozilla Firefox, Chrome, IE and Edge’s start page, new tab page and default search provider and can reroute your internet browser to various annoying web-sites. Of course, it is not a malware or virus in the “general meaning” of this word. It’ll not delete or damage your files, but it can change some machine’s settings or download and install other harmful applications. So, you’d better to remove Search-startpage.com browser hijacker infection using the step-by-step instructions below and thereby revert back your favorite home page and search provider.

http://search-startpage.com/

If your computer is infected by Search-startpage.com browser hijacker infection you will be forced to use its own search engine. It could seem not to be dangerous, but you still should be very careful, since it may show unwanted and harmful ads designed to trick you into buying certain questionable software or products, provide search results that may reroute your web-browser to some deceptive, misleading or malicious pages. We suggest that you use only the reliable search provider such as Google, Yahoo or Bing.

Table of contents

What is Search-startpage.com
Search-startpage.com removal guidance
1. How to manually remove Search-startpage.com
2. How to delete Search-startpage.com startpage with free software
Stop Search-startpage.com and other undesired web pages
How can you prevent your system from the attack of Search-startpage.com browser hijacker
To sum up

Often, the system which has been infected by Search-startpage.com browser hijacker, will be also infected with ‘ad-supported’ software (also known as adware) that shows a huge count of various ads. It can be pop-ups, text links in the web-pages, banners where they never had. What is more, the adware may replace the legitimate advertisements with malicious ads that will offer to download and install malware and unwanted software or visit the various dangerous and misleading web-sites.

A malicious software that may introduce certain unwanted changes to certain settings of web browsers on Search-startpage.com commonly affects only Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Edge. However, possible situations, when any other web browsers will be affected too. The Search-startpage.com browser hijacker may modify the Target property of web-browser’s shortcuts, so every time you launch the internet browser, instead of your homepage, you will see a completely different web site.

So, it’s very important to free your computer of browser hijacker ASAP. The step by step tutorial, which is shown below, will assist you to get rid of Search-startpage.com from the Google Chrome, FF, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer and other internet browsers.

Search-startpage.com removal guidance

Without a doubt, the browser hijacker is harmful to your computer. So you need to quickly and completely remove this malicious software. To remove this hijacker infection, you can use the manual removal guide that are given below or free malware removal utility such as Zemana Anti-malware, Malwarebytes or AdwCleaner (all are free). We recommend you use automatic removal way which will help you to get rid of Search-startpage.com easily and safely. Manual removal is best used only if you are well versed in computer or in the case where browser hijacker is not removed automatically. Read this manual carefully, bookmark or print it, because you may need to close your web browser or restart your computer.

If you are using an Apple computer running Mac OS, then use the following step by step guidance How to delete browser hijacker, pop-ups, ads from Mac

How to manually remove Search-startpage.com

The few simple steps will help you remove Search-startpage.com search. These Search-startpage.com removal steps work for the Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge, as well as every version of MS Windows operating system.

Uninstall Search-startpage.com associated software by using MS Windows Control Panel

Some of PUPs, ‘ad supported’ software and hijacker can be uninstalled using the Add/Remove programs utility that is located in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. So, if you are using any version of Microsoft Windows and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to remove it through Add/Remove programs.

Windows 8, 8.1, 10

First, click Windows button

, then click Search

. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as shown on the screen below.

Once the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as shown in the figure below.

You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel as on the image below.

Very carefully look around the entire list of applications installed on your computer. Most likely, one or more of them are responsible for the appearance of pop up advertisements and internet browser redirect to the unwanted Search-startpage.com web-site. If you have many programs installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious software by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a suspicious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it, after that click ‘Uninstall’.

Windows XP, Vista, 7

First, click ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as on the image below.

When the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to press ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ like below.

You will see a list of software installed on your PC. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the programs that were installed last. Most likely they responsibility for the appearance of ads and web-browser redirect. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. Once the program which you need to delete is found, simply click on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ as shown below.

Fix infected web-browsers shortcuts to remove Search-startpage.com startpage

A hijacker infection may hijack various Windows shortcuts on your desktop (most often, all web-browsers shortcuts), so in this step you need to check and clean them by removing the argument like http://site.address/.

Right click on the internet browser’s shortcut, click Properties option. On the Shortcut tab, locate the Target field. Click inside, you will see a vertical line – arrow pointer, move it (using -> arrow key on your keyboard) to the right as possible. You will see a text “http://site.address” that has been added here. Remove everything after .exe. An example, for Google Chrome you should remove everything after chrome.exe.

To save changes, click OK . You need to clean all web-browser’s shortcuts. So, repeat this step for the Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox and Edge.

Remove Search-startpage.com search from Firefox

Resetting your Firefox is good initial troubleshooting step for any issues with your web browser program, including the reroute to Search-startpage.com site.

Click the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and click the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as shown on the image below.

A small menu will appear, press the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, press “Refresh Firefox” button like below.

Follow the onscreen procedure to revert back your Mozilla Firefox browser settings to its original state.

Get rid of Search-startpage.com from Google Chrome

Reset Chrome settings is a easy way to delete the hijacker infection, harmful and adware extensions, as well as to restore the browser’s newtab, start page and search engine by default that have been replaced by browser hijacker.

First start the Google Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal stripes (). It will show the main menu. Further, click the option named “Settings”. Another way to show the Google Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web browser adress bar and press Enter.

The browser will open the settings screen. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click the “Show advanced settings” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset settings” section is visible, as shown in the figure below and click the “Reset settings” button.

The Chrome will open the confirmation dialog box. You need to confirm your action, click the “Reset” button. The web browser will run the procedure of cleaning. Once it is finished, the web browser’s settings including new tab page, homepage and search provider by default back to the values that have been when the Google Chrome was first installed on your machine.

Delete Search-startpage.com homepage from IE

In order to recover all browser newtab page, startpage and search provider by default you need to reset the Microsoft Internet Explorer to the state, which was when the Microsoft Windows was installed on your personal computer.

First, start the IE, then click ‘gear’ icon . It will show the Tools drop-down menu on the right part of the browser, then click the “Internet Options” like below.

In the “Internet Options” screen, select the “Advanced” tab, then click the “Reset” button. The Internet Explorer will show the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” prompt. Further, click the “Delete personal settings” check box to select it. Next, press the “Reset” button like below.

Once the process is complete, press “Close” button. Close the Microsoft Internet Explorer and restart your computer for the changes to take effect. This step will help you to restore your browser’s newtab, home page and search engine by default to default state.

How to delete Search-startpage.com start page with free software

Many antivirus companies have created software that allow detect and delete hijacker, and thereby revert back all your typical internet browsers settings. Below is a a few of the free applications you may want to use. Your computer can have lots of potentially unwanted applications, adware and browser hijackers installed at the same time, so we recommend, if any unwanted or harmful program returns after restarting the personal computer, then boot your system into Safe Mode and use the anti malware utility again.

Scan and clean your PC system of Search-startpage.com with Zemana Anti-malware

We recommend using the Zemana Anti-malware. You can download and install Zemana Anti-malware to find and remove Search-startpage.com redirect from your PC. When installed and updated, the malware remover will automatically scan and detect all threats exist on the PC system.

Download Zemana anti-malware (ZAM) from the link below.

Zemana AntiMalware
164113 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After downloading is finished, close all applications and windows on your PC. Open a file location. Double-click on the icon that’s named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup.
Further, click Next button and follow the prompts.
Once installation is done, click the “Scan” button . This will start scanning the whole PC system to find out hijacker that cause a redirect to Search-startpage.com. This procedure can take quite a while, so please be patient. During the scan it will detect all threats exist on your system.
Once the system scan is finished, it’ll open you the results. Next, you need to click “Next”. Once disinfection is done, you can be prompted to restart your personal computer.

How to delete Search-startpage.com with Malwarebytes

Manual Search-startpage.com redirect removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the browser hijacker can be not completely removed. We recommend that use the Malwarebytes Free that are completely free your personal computer of hijacker infection. Moreover, the free program will allow you to remove malware, potentially unwanted applications, adware and toolbars that your computer can be infected too.

Download Malwarebytes on your computer from the link below. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.

Malwarebytes Anti-malware
326464 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020

When downloading is finished, close all programs and windows on your PC. Double-click the set up file named mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as shown below, click the “Yes” button.

It will open the “Setup wizard” that will help you install Malwarebytes on your computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.

Once installation is finished successfully, press Finish button. Malwarebytes will automatically start and you can see its main screen as shown on the image below.

Now press the “Scan Now” button . This will begin scanning the whole machine to find out hijacker infection . This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the tool is checking, you may see number of objects it has identified either as being malicious software.

Once the scan is finished, you can check all items found on your computer. Make sure all entries have ‘checkmark’ and click “Quarantine Selected” button. The Malwarebytes will start removing Search-startpage.com hijacker infection and other security threats. Once disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to reboot the personal computer.

We suggest you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the Malwarebytes to get rid of browser hijacker and other malicious software.

Scan your personal computer and delete Search-startpage.com redirect with AdwCleaner

The AdwCleaner tool is free and easy to use. It can scan and delete hijacker infection such as Search-startpage.com, malware, potentially unwanted software and adware in Firefox, Google Chrome, IE and MS Edge web-browsers and thereby revert back their default settings (newtab, homepage and search engine by default). AdwCleaner is powerful enough to find and get rid of malicious registry entries and files that are hidden on the machine.

Download AdwCleaner by clicking on the following link.

AdwCleaner download
225301 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
Select the folder in which you saved it as Desktop, and then press Save.
When the download is complete, start the AdwCleaner, double-click the adwcleaner_xxx.exe file.
If the “User Account Control” prompts, press Yes to continue.
Read the “Terms of use”, and click Accept.
In the AdwCleaner window, press the “Scan” for scanning your PC system for the Search-startpage.com hijacker which redirects your browser to the Search-startpage.com undesired web-page. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your computer and the speed of your PC system. While the tool is scanning, you may see number of objects it has identified as being infected by malware.
When it completes the scan, a list of all items found is produced. Review the scan results and then click “Clean”. If the AdwCleaner will ask you to reboot your computer, click “OK”.

The tutorial shown in detail in the following video.

Stop Search-startpage.com and other undesired web pages

Run ad blocker program such as AdGuard in order to block ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install harmful and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons which affect your system performance and impact your PC security. Browse the Net anonymously and stay safe online!

Installing the AdGuard adblocker program is simple. First you’ll need to download AdGuard by clicking on the following link.

When the download is done, double-click the downloaded file to start it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as shown on the screen below.

Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick guidance as shown in the figure below.

Press “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guide which will help you get to know AdGuard better.

Each time, when you start your system, AdGuard will start automatically and block pop-up advertisements, web pages such Search-startpage.com, as well as other malicious or misleading web sites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your desktop.

How can you prevent your system from the attack of Search-startpage.com browser hijacker

These days some free programs makers bundle additional software that could be potentially unwanted applications like the Search-startpage.com browser hijacker, with a view to making some money. These are not free programs as install an unwanted software on to your Windows computer. So whenever you install a new free application that downloaded from the Internet, be very careful during install. Carefully read the EULA (a text with I ACCEPT/I DECLINE button), choose custom or manual setup method, uncheck all optional software.

To sum up

Now your system should be clean of the Search-startpage.com . Uninstall AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you block unwanted advertisements and intrusive harmful web sites) and Malwarebytes (to periodically scan your system for new browser hijackers, malware and adware). Probably you are running an older version of Java or Adobe Flash Player. This can be a security risk, so download and install the latest version right now.

If you are still having problems while trying to remove Search-startpage.com search from the Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, IE and Microsoft Edge, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.