The homepage in IE, Firefox or Google Chrome is changed to Search.StartNow.com suddenly? What particular things does this site do to reset all the default settings of your browser? You cannot access the previous homepage and search engine? You encounter pop-up windows constantly when you are online? Are there any side effects if this browser hijacker stays in your computer for a long time? How to restore the browser?
Search.StartNow.com is a browser hijacker or redirect which can install in the computer together with some free programs on the Internet. The purpose of this hijacker is to hijack your searches, simultaneously promoting business websites. It interrupts your browsing and changes your search results by adding annoying advertisements. It is able to affect Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome. Once it enters the computer, it changes your homepage and default search engine, which is so unfair for it won’t ask for the user’s permission. It is not a reliable search provider because it creates tons of ads to earn revenue instead of displaying regular search results as Google, Bing and Yahoo do. It penetrates into your system when you are installing unknown free programs. Many users usually skip the installation steps quickly to make the whole procedure faster and more convenient. However, some free programs contain this kind of hijacker. You should follow each installation step to see what you do not want to agree with.
By modifying the default browser configuration, Search.StartNow.com forces you to access its own domain or other sites it promotes. Impacts on users’ online experience are significant since it can provide a variety of pop-up ads such as banner ads and coupons to increase the developers’ income. The redirect may also download other things to your computer without your permission and create system junk files. When you use it to find something, it can collect your online activities and report to its developers so as to show you some ads that are very close to your search query. Search.StartNow.com is able to load automatically each time the computer is turned on with its advanced technology. System performance is slow because a lot of system resources are used, which will mainly be reflected in visiting websites. Therefore, in order to avoid accidental damages or loss of data, computer users need to terminate it as soon as possible.
1. It is able to become the startup page of your web browser via modifying browser settings. No matter which browser you are using (Internet Explorer, Safari, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Opera), you can see the browser is occupied by it completely.
2. It may also install plug-ins, extensions and toolbars in the browser so as to record your search history as well as cookies.
3. You need to wait for a long time when visiting websites because the browser always gets stuck and is slow in reaction.
4. This annoying redirect may also result in unstable Internet connection and system freezes frequently.
5. You are forced to receive many advertisement windows when the computer is connected to the Internet.
Search.StartNow.com browser hijacker has the ability to change the default browser settings and redirect you to random sites (usually sites playing unreliable advertisements or even containing virulent Trojan viruses, spyware and other infections). You may have noticed that most browser hijackers won’t be detected by antivirus programs. The same goes to this one. Its considerable visitor volume benefits numerous product manufacturers, freeware developers and website promoters, thus, they are willing to maintain long-term relationship with it. Actually, the main reason for the failure detection of antivirus programs is its successful disguise. Through making use of advanced technology, it maintains the ability to combine its components with system files or to generate fake system files, which confuses computer users as well as antivirus programs. They cannot identify it accurately and timely, let alone remove it thoroughly. Therefore, manual removal is the best choice to drive it away from your computer. In this case, you are advised to delete every file generated by it manually so as to spare all later trouble. The manual removal needs to be handled carefully so as to avoid any subsequent damages. Users can follow the manual guide here to have the hijacker removed instantly.
1. Clean Add-ons and Extensions
* Internet Explorer:
(1). Click Tools in the Menu bar and then click Internet Options
(3). Click Programs tab, click Manage add-ons and disable the suspicious add-ons
* Firefox:
(1). Click Tools in the Menu bar and then click Add-ons
(2). Click Extensions, select the related browser add-ons and click Disable
* Google Chrome:
(1). Click Customize and control Google Chrome button → Tools → Extensions
(2). Disable the extensions of Search.StartNow.com
2. End Relevant Processes
(1). Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc together to pop up Windows Task Manager, click Processes tab
*For Win 8 Users:
Click More details when you see the Task Manager box
And then click Details tab
(2). Find out and end Search.StartNow.com’s processes
3. Show Hidden Files
(1). Click on Start button and then on Control Panel
(2). Click on Appearance and Personalization
(3). Click on Folder Options
(4). Click on the View tab in the Folder Options window
(5). Choose Show hidden files, folders, and drives under the Hidden files and folders category
(6). Click OK at the bottom of the Folder Options window
*For Win 8 Users:
Press Win+E together to open Computer window, click View and then click Options
Click View tab in the Folder Options window, choose Show hidden files, folders, and drives under the Hidden files and folders category
4. Delete Relevant Registry Entries and Files
(1). Delete the registry entries related to Search.StartNow.com through Registry Editor
Press Win+R to bring up the Run window, type “regedit” and click “OK”
While the Registry Editor is open, search and delete its registry entries
(2). Find out and remove the associated files
Search.StartNow.com is a browser hijacker. It seems to be a real and genuine search service provider. However, it will change your browser settings without asking for your approval. It is able to infect all popular browsers, such as Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. Once it is in your computer, you will find that your browser’s homepage and default search engine are changed to its domain without your consent. It is an advertising-supported search engine, from which you cannot get reliable search results because the search results it provides contain a lot of ads and sponsorship links. You may receive many annoying pop-up ads or may be redirected to some other unknown sites. You are not advised to use Search.StartNow.com or keep it in your computer.
The above manual removal is quite dangerous and complicated, which needs sufficient professional skills. Therefore, only computer users with rich computer knowledge are recommended to implement the process because any errors including deleting important system files and registry entries will crash your computer system. If you have no idea of how to process the manual removal, please contact experts from YooCare Online Tech Support for further assistance.
Published by on February 14, 2014 5:08 am, last updated on February 14, 2014 5:08 am
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