istart.webssearches.com Virus

What is istart.webssearches.com?

The istart.webssearches.com browser hijacker was created by EMG Technology Limited. This browser add-on is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application.

Developers of this plugin employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling', thus, most Internet users install this browser hijacker inadvertently without their consent when downloading free software.

After successful infiltration, this adware modifies Internet browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) settings by assigning the browser homepage, default search engine, and default tab fields to the istart.webssearches.com website.

Computer users should be aware that this browser hijacker not only applies browser redirects, but also tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording IP addresses, browser types, internet service providers (ISPs), cookie information, user searches performed, and webpages visited.

The presence of this browser hijacker on your system can result in malware infections and identity theft.

At time of research, this adware was distributed using deceptive free software 'download clients' and fake downloads (such as fake Java and fake browser update downloads).

The istart.webssearches.com browser hijacker is especially rogue since it modifies the shortcut targets of Internet browsers, thus blocking user attempts to set the homepage and default search engine settings. While this potentially unwanted program is not technically a virus, its behavior is similar to malware infections, and therefore, you are advised to eliminate it from your computer.

The istart.webssearches.com browser hijacker is identical to previous variants, which redirect users to the awesomehp.com, sweet-page.com, and nationzoom.com websites. To avoid installation of browser settings-changing adware such as this, computer users should express caution when downloading free software.

Today, most freeware download websites employ deceptive 'download clients' to trick computer users into installing advertised browser plug-ins together with the chosen free software. In most cases, advertised browser extensions add no real value, and moreover, cause browser redirects and generate intrusive ads.

When downloading free programs, closely inspect each step and decline installation of any promoted browser plug-ins. When installing downloaded freeware, use the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any bundled adware listed for installation.

Computer users who experience browser redirects to the istart.webssearches.com website, should use this removal guide to eliminate the Webssearches browser hijacker from their Internet browser/s.

Deceptive free software installers used in istart.webssearches.com browser hijacker distribution:

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Quick menu:

• What is istart.webssearches.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall WPM17.8.0.3442 and webssearches uninstaller applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove istart.webssearches.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove istart.webssearches.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove istart.webssearches.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove istart.webssearches.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Istart.webssearches.com 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 "WPM17.8.0.3442" and "webssearches uninstall", select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs (which cause browser redirects to the istart.webssearches.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

istart.webssearches.com homepage and default search engine removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser hijackers:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the Internet Explorer shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate the text (hxxp://istart.webssearches.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".

Change your homepage:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://istart.webssearches.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer.

Change your default search engine:

Click on 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, then remove "webssearches".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the webssearches.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:

Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:

This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the Google Chrome shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://istart.webssearches.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

Remove istart.webssearches.com related browser extensions:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: "Quick Start", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over istart.webssearches.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

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" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "webssearches" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the webssearches.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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the Mozilla Firefox shortcut on your Desktop and click the right mouse button over it. In the opened menu, choose "Properties". In the opened window, locate the Target field and eliminate all text (hxxp://istart.webssearches.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

Change your homepage:

To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window remove istart.webssearches.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change 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: "webssearches"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with webssearches.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 webssearches.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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