Search.StartNow.com virus - How to remove

Search.StartNow.com virus is a browser hijacker that is distributed together with free software that users can download by themselves. Once inside, the program modifies some settings of your Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. It changes your homepage to search.startnow.com and default search engine to search.yahoo.com. These modifications are made in order to be able to advertise various sponsored websites.

The program was created by cyber criminals who seek to earn money from affiliate links. They change your search provider, so they could include a bunch of sponsored links to your search results. Although users can only blame themselves for allowing to make these changes in their browsers, Search.StartNow.com virus creators misuse people’s inexperience and a habit of skipping the installation instructions by using deceptive methods of application distribution therefore it is not surprising that many users do not notice its infiltration.

To avoid Search.StartNow.com virus, always pay attention to the installation steps of the programs that you are getting from the Internet free of charge. They include free music players, video players, PDF creators, download managers, etc. If you see any pre-selected confirmation boxes next to suggestions to change your start page or a search provider, always deselect them. Also never agree to download any additional software that is not familiar to you.

If your browser have already been affected, remove Search.StartNow.com virus as soon as you detect it. Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs list and uninstall it from there. It is recommended to uninstalling ALL programs installed on the same date as problems have appeared. Some versions of this hijacker install software that blocks browser settings from changing. To identify them, scanning with Spyhunter or other reputable antispyware tool might be useful. Then you can uninstall the extensions and reset settings in your browsers.

How To remove Search.StartNow.com virus from Internet Explorer:

1. Click arrow on the right of search box
2. Do following: On IE8-9 choose Manage Search providers, On ie7 click change search defaults
3. Remove Search.StartNow.com from the list

How To remove Search.StartNow.com virus from Firefox :

1. Enter “about:config” in url bar. This will open settings page
2. Type “Keyword.url” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
3. Type “browser.search.defaultengine” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
4. Type “browser.search.selectedengine” in the search box. Right click it & reset it.
5. Search for ‘browser.newtab.url’. Right-click and reset. This will make sure that the search page won’t launch on each new tab.
6. If the settings revert and scan with anti-malware programs are clean: Close Firefox, open file explorer and enter %AppData% in the address bar. enter user.js in search box. If this file exists, rename it and start Firefox again. You will have to repeat the steps above.

How To remove Search.StartNow.com virus from Google Chrome:

1. Click 3 horizontal lines icon on browser toolbar.
2. Select Settings.
3. Select Basics ->Manage Search engines.
4. Remove unnecessary search engines from the list.
5. Go back to settings. On Startup choose open blank page ( you can remove undesired pages from the set pages link too).

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