Search.mystartabsearch.com Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is search.mystartabsearch.com?
search.mystartabsearc.com is another fake search engine that claims to be legitimate and supposedly provides improved results.
The search engine is promoted using the MyStarTab extension powered by Imali Media. MyStarTab is a browser hijacker that encourages you to enjoy an enhanced search experience, quickly find movies and TV shows, and access social media from search.mystartabsearch.com with a single click.
MyStarTab also encourages you to access websites such as imdb.com, netflix.com, hulu.com, cbs.com, cnn.com and many others. It is a browser hijacker that is installed as an extension and targets Google Chrome web browsers. When a browser is hijacked, the MyStarTab app takes control over it by changing the settings.
When a search query is made, you are redirected to the Yahoo search engine at search.yahoo.com It also assigns the search engine, new tab, and homepage settings to search.mystartabsearch.com When used to search, this search engine collects browsing-related data such as visited websites, search queries, terms, and IP addresses.
It is likely that collected data will be shared with third parties so that app developers can generate revenue. Therefore, you might receive misleading or unwanted search results or offered various services and products. You may also be tricked into installing software that could diminish your browsing experience or affect the entire operating system.
Using fake search engines such as the search.mystartabsearch.com, and having browser hijackers such as MyStarTab installed, will cause trouble and has little benefit. It might also cause privacy issues or even identity theft.
| Name | MyStarTab browser hijacker |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). User's are forced to visit hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Internet browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), displaying of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
Browser hijackers like MyStarTab are nothing new and there are many available, including, for example Instant Games Now, Your Easy Emails, and The News Source. Most offer an enhanced browsing experience and dubious 'useful features' such as quick access to various websites.
The main purpose of these browser hijackers and their fake search engines is to generate revenue for their developers by causing unwanted/misleading redirects and collecting information about your online behaviour while using a search engine.
How did MyStarTab install on my computer?
Browser hijackers are often installed in a number of ways. If you have visited the mystartab.com website and clicked the "Add to Chrome" button, this is how it was installed. In many cases, browser hijackers infiltrate the system through intrusive advertisements or using the bundling method, when particular software such as a browser hijacker is installed with other software that you downloaded from the Internet.
These browser hijackers are often found in "Advanced, "Custom", or other similar settings or options. These potentially unwanted programs are also sometimes installed through torrents or email attachments sent from unknown users. It is also possible that you clicked a "Download" button or pop-up ad.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
All previously described methods can lead to installation of potentially unwanted programs such as MyStarTab, and cause serious problems such as computer infections and privacy breaches. Pay close attention when installing software, especially if it is free. Check all available installation options and checkboxes - check what you are agreeing to.
Do not jump though installation steps without checking them first. Do not download software from unknown sources/unofficial websites, do not click suspicious ads, and avoid using third party software download managers. Have an antivirus program installed and keep it enabled.
If your computer is already infected with MyStarTab, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Website promoting MyStarTab browser hijacker:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is search.mystartabsearch.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall MyStarTab application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.mystartabsearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove MyStarTab browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.mystartabsearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.mystartabsearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
MyStarTab browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "MyStarTab"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.mystartabsearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
MyStarTab browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.mystartabsearch.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "mystartabsearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mystartab browser hijacker, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "MyStartab", "MyStarTab DS" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "MyStartab", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.mystartabsearch.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list, look for "search.mystartabsearch.com", and when located, click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mystartab browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "MyStarTab", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.mystartabsearch.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "mystartabsearch.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with mystartab browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon 
(at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon 
near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mystartab browser hijacker, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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