How to remove search.strtpoint.com

What is Search.StrtPoint.com?

Created by InstallMac, Start Point is a browser add-on and essentially a recommendation engine. This plug-in tracks your interests and then presents a personalized homepage (search.strtpoint.com) with your favourite news, etc.

The plug-in alone is useful, innovative, and popular with many Internet users, however, recent complaints from PC users regarding redirects to search.strtpoint.com make this an unwanted application. Search.strtpoint.com websites are related to StartPoint - redirects to these websites can be a consequence of computer infections and inadvertent installation of third party browser add-ons.

More about third-party apps causing unwanted redirects

If your Internet browser redirects you to the aforementioned websites without your consent, check if you have recently installed any browser toolbars such as Start Point or other browser add-ons. Search bars displayed within these websites redirect user-searches to the Google, Yahoo, or Blekko search engines.

The reason for these redirects is monetization - the creators of search.strtpoint.com earn revenue from user-clicks on sponsored results within the search engines. Free software or plug-in developers commonly employ these methods to monetize their free products.

Threat Summary:

Name	Search.StrtPoint.com
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Application Name	StarPoint
Supposed Functionality	Improved browsing experience
Promoted URL	search.strtpoint.com
Detection Names (search.strtpoint.com)	CRDF (Malicious), Dr.Web (Malicious), Fortinet (Malware), Webroot (Malware), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address (Search.StrtPoint.com)	34.235.48.48
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.
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How unwanted apps get installed on computers?

Express caution when installing free software downloaded from the Internet and check each installation window, unchecking any options suggesting you change your homepage or default search engine settings.

Start Point is not technically a virus or malware, it is a browser add-on that assigns the browser homepage to search.strtpoint.com. This browser hijacker is similar to other browser settings-changing adware including trovi.com, default-search.net, and search.genieo.com.

If you have willingly installed this browser add-on, and are satisfied with the free services received, you need take no further action.

How to avoid unwanted installations?

To avoid installation of browser settings-changing adware such as this in future, express caution when downloading free software since, today, most freeware download websites employ deceptive 'download clients', which attempt 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 intrusive ads. When downloading free programs, closely inspect each download step and decline installation of any promoted browser plug-ins.

When installing downloaded freeware, select the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal any bundled adware listed for installation and allow you to opt-out. Computer users who experience browser redirects to the search.strtpoint.com website should use this removal guide to eliminate the Start Point browser hijacker from their Internet browsers.

Deceptive free software installers used in search.strtpoint.com browser hijacker distribution:

The Keep My Search application 'protecting' search.strtpoint.com settings and blocking users-attempts to change the homepage or default Internet search engine settings:

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Quick menu:

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

Search.strtpoint.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 "StartPoint", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (that causes browser redirects to the search.strtpoint.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Search.strtpoint.com browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser hijackers:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Remove search.strtpoint.com related Internet Explorer add-ons:

Click the "gears" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser 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.strtpoint.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open every time you launch 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, then remove "Search the web".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the start point 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:

Remove search.strtpoint.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 add-ons, 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://search.strtpoint.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 "Search" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "StrtPoint" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the start point 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove search.strtpoint.com related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove any recently-installed suspicious 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.strtpoint.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: "strtpoint"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with start point 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 start point 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the purpose of forcing users visit search.strtpoint.com website?

The creators of this page earn more money when the number of visitors is higher.

Is visiting search.strtpoint.com a threat to my privacy?

If search.strtpoint.com can gather information, it can cause issues related to online privacy, browsing safety, and similar problems.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

Most browser-hijacking apps are distributed browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, etc. Another popular way to distribute apps of this type is to bundle them with other software (to include them in downloaders/installers).

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove Start Point browser hijacker?

Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove browser hijackers from a browser and computer. If multiple browser hijackers are present, they may be capable of re-installing one another. In such cases, all of them have to be removed at once. Since it is difficult to achieve that manually, we recommend using Combo Cleaner for removal.

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