How to uninstall the Perfect Startpage browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Perfect Startpage?
Perfect Startpage browser hijacker promotes perfectstartpage.com, a fake search engine, by modifying specific browser settings. These apps also collect information relating to users' browsing habits. People often download and install browser hijackers inadvertently and, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
After installation, Perfect Startpage sets perfectstartpage.com as the address of the homepage, default search engine and new tab, so that users are forced to visit this site when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar. If used to search, perfectstartpage.com displays results generated by Google (redirects users to google.com).
Therefore, perfectstartpage.com is classified as a fake search engine. To remove this URL from browser settings, it is necessary to uninstall Perfect Startpage first. Generally, browser hijackers prevent users from modifying the aforementioned settings until they are no longer installed.
Furthermore, Perfect Startpage and similar apps track information - browsing data such as IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, and other details. They might also be capable of accessing sensitive details. The information could be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misused to generate revenue in other ways.
In summary, browser hijackers are often designed to promote a fake search engine, but can also be the reason behind problems relating to browsing safety, privacy, identity theft, etc. Therefore, never trust PUAs and remove all browser hijackers immediately.
| Name | Perfect Startpage |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Browser Extension(s) | Perfect Startpage |
| Supposed Functionality | This app supposedly improves the browsing experience. |
| Promoted URL | perfectstartpage.com |
| Serving IP Address (perfectstartpage.com) | 172.67.130.169 |
| Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
| Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the 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. |
Weather Discover, Track Package Tab and Palo APP are some of examples of other PUAs that are also classified as browser hijackers. These apps supposedly improve the browsing experience, include various features, and are useful in other ways. In fact, most are useless and can cause serious issues.
How did Perfect Startpage install on my computer?
Users often downloaded and install browser hijackers and other PUAs together with other programs. I.e., when they are included into the download/installation set-ups as 'additional offers'.
This distribution method is called "bundling". Unwanted downloads and installations are caused when users do not check and change settings that are available in the set-ups - i.e. they fail to decline offers to download and install additionally-included apps.
Typically, such offers can be found in "Advanced", "Custom", and other similar settings of set-ups. Additionally, unwanted downloads and installations are caused by clicking deceptive advertisements that execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised to download software and files only from official websites and via direct links. Other sources/tools such as third party downloaders/installers Peer-to-Peer networks (eMule, torrent clients), unofficial websites should not be used, since they are often used to distribute PUAs and, in some cases, even malicious programs.
Check all settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" and decline offers to download or install potentially unwanted apps. Do not click advertisements that are displayed on dubious pages, since they can open other dubious pages or cause unwanted downloads and installations.
Remove any unknown extensions, add-ons and plug-ins installed on the browser, and programs of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Perfect Startpage, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
perfectstartpage.com redirects to google.com (GIF):
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Quick menu:
- What is Perfect Startpage?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Perfect Startpage application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove perfectstartpage.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Perfect Startpage browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove perfectstartpage.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove perfectstartpage.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Perfect Startpage 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, "Perfect Startpage"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the perfectstartpage.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Perfect Startpage 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://perfectstartpage.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 "Perfect Startpage".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the perfectstartpage.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 "Perfect Startpage" 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 "Perfect Startpage", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.perfectstartpage.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 "perfectstartpage.com", 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 perfectstartpage.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 "Perfect Startpage", 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 "Perfect Startpage", remove hxxp://perfectstartpage.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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the 
button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with perfectstartpage.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 perfectstartpage.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.
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