Start.mysearchs.com Browser Hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is start.mysearchs.com?
The start.mysearchs.com website is promoted using the MySearchs toolbar (created by Montiera technologies LTD or Pay-By-Ads). This browser hijacker infiltrates Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) via free software downloads. Many computer users refer to this toolbar as the MySearchs virus or malware.
These negative associations are made since the developers employ a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. The toolbar installs together with free software downloaded from the Internet, and therefore, most users feel it was installed without their consent.
Note, that after successful installation, this browser add-on assigns the browser default search engine and homepage settings to start.mysearchs.com
Furthermore, computer users are unable to revert these settings, since this toolbar is installed with a 'helper object', which 'protects' the Internet browser settings (preventing them from being changed by the user). Today, most free software download websites employ 'download clients' and 'installers' to monetize their free software download services.
These programs offer installation of promoted browsers add-ons together with the chosen free software. Technically, this toolbar is not a virus or malware, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP), adware, or a browser hijacker.
This software generates unwanted ads, causes browser redirects, and diminished browser performance, and for these reasons, you are advised to eliminate it from your system.
The Mysearchs toolbar is similar to other potentially unwanted applications that install without users' consent together with free software. Examples include the astromenda.com, Keep My Search, search-goal.com, Groovorio, Enhanced-search.com, and Royal-search.com toolbars.
Further examination of this adware reveals a close relationship between these browser toolbars, since they are developed by Montiera Technologies and use deceptive methods to install on Internet browsers.
The best way to avoid installation of the start.mysearchs.com browser hijacker, or other similar toolbars, is to pay close attention when downloading and installing freeware. If your download is managed by a 'download client', click the 'decline' button if installation of additional programs or browser add-ons is offered.
When installing your downloaded free software, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any 'hidden' additional installation options. To remove the MySearchs toolbar, and eliminate browser redirects to start.mysearchs.com, use the removal guide provided.
MySearchs browser hijacker 'protecting' Internet browser settings:
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Quick menu:
- What is start.mysearchs.com?
- STEP 1. Uninstall MySearchs toolbar using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove start.mysearchs.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove start.mysearchs.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove start.mysearchs.com homepage from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove start.mysearchs.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Start.mysearchs.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 "MySearchs" ( and other recently-installed suspicious applications), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs (which cause browser redirects to the start.mysearchs.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Start.mysearchs.com browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
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 "MySearchs Toolbar" and "MySearchs Helper Object", 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://start.mysearchs.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 "MySearchs".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mysearchs toolbar, 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:
Remove MySearchs.com related Google Chrome extensions:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries 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 hxxp://start.mysearchs.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 "MySearchs" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mysearchs toolbar, 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:
Remove MySearchs.com related Mozilla Firefox extensions:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "MySearchs".
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu, then select "Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://start.mysearchs.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: "mysearchs.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with mysearchs toolbar 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 mysearchs toolbar, 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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