Score Stars Browser Hijacker

What is portal.score-stars.com?

Score Stars (Score Stars New Tab) is a browser hijacker, a potentially unwanted application (PUA) designed to provide sports scores and results. Most people download and install apps of this type accidentally.

Once installed, Score Stars modifies browser settings and continually collects information relating to users' browsing habits. This app also promotes a fake search engine called portal.score-stars.com

Like most browser hijackers, Score Stars can be installed on browsers such as Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome and Internet Explorer. Immediately after installation, it appoints portal.score-stars.com as the new default search engine, homepage, and new browser tab URL.

Therefore, it is impossible to avoid this site when the hijacked browser/new tab is opened, or a search query is entered into the URL bar. Score Stars prevents users from undoing any of these changes. The only way to undo them is to uninstall it.

Another problem with this browser hijacker and portal.score-stars.com is that developers have designed them to gather information such as geolocations, URLs of visited websites, entered search queries, IP addresses, and so on. Unfortunately, some of the recorded information might include personal, sensitive details.

People who develop browser hijackers and fake search engines share the data with third parties, who then misuse it to generate revenue. Note, they might include cyber criminals. To avoid problems with browsing safety and online privacy, uninstall Score Stars and so not use any other apps of this type in future.

Threat Summary:

Name	Score Starts
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Browser Extension(s)	Score Starts New Tab
Supposed Functionality	Access to information about various football matches.
Promoted URLs	score-stars.com
Serving IP Address (score-stars.com)	40.74.245.188
Observed Domains (score-stars.com)	api.score-stars.com, feed.score-stars.com, install.score-stars.com, portal.score-stars.com
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Symptoms	Manipulated internet browser(s) settings (homepage, default internet search engine, new tab settings). Users 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 browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites.
Malware Removal (Windows)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Score Stars is just a typical browser hijacker and is very similar to other apps of this type such as Fast Weather App, Easy Speed Test App, and Mega Media Start. People who develop PUAs usually promote them as legitimate apps. Unfortunately, few are legitimate. Most PUAs are used to generate revenue and provide regular users with no real value.

How did Score Stars install on my computer?

People often download and install PUAs inadvertently - they are tricked by developers who use a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". Developers include unwanted apps into download/installation set-ups of regular software that users wish to download and install.

All information about the bundling of PUAs into set-ups is hidden in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar parts.

Typically, people allow unwanted apps to be downloaded/installed by leaving all download or installation setup settings unchanged. PUAs also infiltrate when users click intrusive, deceptive advertisements - these run scripts that cause unwanted downloads and installations.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

The safest way to download software is using legitimate, official websites and direct download links. Some examples of download sources that should not be trusted are Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule etc.), third party downloaders, installers, unofficial pages and other channels of this kind.

Download and install by checking all setup settings (such as "Custom", "Advanced") and deselecting all additionally, unwanted apps. Avoid clicking intrusive advertisements, especially if they are displayed on pages relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc.

When clicked, they open untrustworthy or even malicious websites or cause unwanted downloads/installations. If your browser causes these ads and redirects, check the list of installed browser apps and remove unwanted extensions, plug-ins or add-ons immediately.

Unwanted programs installed on the operating system/computer should also be uninstalled. If your computer is already infected with Score Stars, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Score Stars browser hijacker:

Another website promoting Score Stars:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is portal.score-stars.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Score Stars application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove portal.score-stars.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Score Stars browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove portal.score-stars.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove portal.score-stars.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Score Stars 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, "Score Stars"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the portal.score-stars.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Score Stars 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://portal.score-stars.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 "portal.score-starts.com".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the score-stars.com redirect, 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 "Score Stars" 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 "Score Stars", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.portal.score-stars.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on 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 "portal.score-stars.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 score-stars.com redirect, 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 "Score Stars", 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, disable "Score Stars" remove hxxp://portal.score-stars.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: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with score-stars.com redirect 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 score-stars.com redirect, 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.

Post a comment:
If you have additional information on score-stars.com redirect or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.

▼ Show Discussion