Remove startgo123 virus – startgo123.com search index removal

Startgo123 is a potentially unwanted app that causes browsing issues, so it should be removed from an infected PC by means of a specially crafted procedure.

Online criminals’ disrespectful attitude toward end users’ Internet preferences is clearly objectified through browser hijackers like startgo123. The adverse effect from this offending applet is twofold. It replaces DNS settings and custom browser parameters on a contaminated computer with the startgo123.com value, thus constantly rerouting web traffic to that landing page. Another facet of its activity lies in endangering the victim’s privacy. To this end, the infection keeps track of Internet logs generated on the machine, as well as personally identifiable information. In particular, it may harvest such data as IP address, operating system build, geolocation, and the user’s browsing history along with web searches made. By molding the person’s profile based on their lifestyle and residence details, the program can serve accurate ads in the course of web surfing.

The very first symptom of the startgo123 breach is browser redirecting. Its interference with the homepage, search and new tab settings makes the rogue service’s page pop up whenever the victim opens Chrome, Firefox or IE. Opening a new tab within the same window and looking up random information via the omnibox will be returning the same landing page, startgo123.com, over and over. Furthermore, the adware changes shortcut settings for various Windows applications. As a result, every instance of clicking on the corresponding icons is going to bring up the pseudo search engine. The site itself was not found to contain viruses. Its default expanded mode displays multiple links to popular social networks, video resources, news and shopping sites. The central and right-hand parts of the page are occupied by large ad banners, where the advertisements match the victim’s interests.

Obviously, the startgo123.com website per se is not the actual problem. It’s the malicious code inside the computer that’s causing trouble. The affiliated rogue plugin trespasses on PCs over a mechanism called ‘bundling’. Its gist consists in distributing arbitrary products, possibly unsafe ones, as part of a complex installation. The brainwashing is all about the main software being installed – it tends to be a piece of benign freeware, such as a streaming video converter, media player or game. The setup wizard, however, already contains startgo123 in its default, or recommended, option. Unticking the bad entries on that stage can thwart infection, but very few people peruse the terms in these scenarios. If this fusion of adware and browser hijacker happens to be on a PC, the best way to get rid of it is through manual troubleshooting combined with the use of a reliable security suite.

Automated removal of startgo123 virus

Owing to an up-to-date database of malware signatures and intelligent behavioral detection, the recommended software can quickly locate the infection, eradicate it and remediate all harmful changes. So go ahead and do the following:

1. Download and install the antimalware tool. Open the solution and have it check your PC for PUPs and other types of malicious software by clicking the Start Computer Scan button

Download startgo123.com remover

2. Rest assured the scan report will list all items that may harm your operating system. Select the detected entries and click Fix Threats to get the troubleshooting completed.

Use Control Panel to get rid of startgo123 adware

• Open up the Control Panel from your Start menu in Windows and select Uninstall a program

• To facilitate the process of locating the threat, sort the programs list by date to get the latest ones displayed at the very top. Find Startgo123 or some other unfamiliar entry under the Name column, click Uninstall and follow further directions to get the removal done.

Restore web browser settings to their original defaults

In the circumstances of a complex browser hijack like this, executing a reset makes the most sense despite a few obvious downsides. Customizations such as saved passwords, bookmarked pages etc. will be gone, but so will all the changes made by the potentially unwanted program. The instructions below address the workflow for the web browsers most targeted by startgo123.com

Reset Google Chrome

• Open Chrome, expand the Customize and control Google Chrome menu and choose Settings

• Scroll down the settings screen and click Advanced down at the bottom

• Move on to the Reset and clean up sub-section and select the option that says Restore settings to their original defaults

• Finally, confirm the restoration by clicking Reset settings on the warning message

• Restart Chrome.

Reset Mozilla Firefox

• Open Firefox, type about:support in the URL area and press Enter. Alternatively, you can click on the Open menu icon in the top right-hand part of the browser window, then select the Help option and proceed to Troubleshooting Information

• On the Troubleshooting Information screen, spot the Refresh Firefox button and click on it

• Follow subsequent directions to reset Firefox to its original settings

• Restart the browser.

Reset Internet Explorer

• Select Internet options under IE’s Tools (Alt+X)

• Proceed by clicking on Advanced tab, then select Reset

• To confirm the intended changes, click Reset on the Reset Internet Explorer Settings screen after ascertaining that the Delete personal settings checkbox is enabled

• Reboot the machine to fully implement the fix.

Reset Safari

• Go to the Safari menu and select Preferences

• When on the Preferences screen, select the Privacy tab and hit the Remove All Website Data button if you are up to erasing all website data stored on your Mac. Otherwise, you can use a site-specific removal option described below

• A dialog will appear, asking you to validate your choice. Click the Remove Now button if you are sure. Be advised this will log you out of online services and undo personalized web browser settings such as saved passwords, etc.

• Safari also allows deleting data for specific sites rather than all sites in general. To use this option, click the Details button under Privacy tab

• Select the websites for which you would like to erase data and click the Remove button

• Click the Done button to confirm and exit. You can also select the Remove All option to remove all data stored by the listed websites.

Revise your security status

Post-factum assessment of the accuracy component in malware removal scenarios is a great habit that prevents the comeback of harmful code or replication of its unattended fractions. Make sure you are good to go by running an additional safety checkup.

Download Startgo123 removal tool