How to remove istartpageing.com from browsers

What is istartpageing.com?

Istartpageing.com is presented as a legitimate Internet search website, however, the developers promote it using deceptive software 'installers' that modify web browser settings. Furthermore, Internet browsing activity on the infected computer is continually tracked.

More about istartpageing.com

Installers assign the most popular web browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL options to the istarpageing.com website. They also modify the shortcut target of these browsers by adding an istartpageing.com extension.

Therefore, when users open a browser/new tab or simply attempt to search the Internet, they are redirected to istartpageing.com. Furthermore, a number of third party applications/browser extensions (so-called 'helper objects') are installed to prevent users from rolling back these changes.

These modifications significantly diminish the Internet browsing experience. In addition, users' Internet browsing is continually monitored, since istartpageing.com gathers various information that might be personally identifiable including cookies, website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries entered into search engines, IP addresses - these are just some examples from a large list of data types gathered by this app.

The recorded data is later shared with third parties who misuse personal data to generate revenue. Thus, having an information-tracking app installed on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For these reasons, you are strongly advised to uninstall this browser hijacker immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	istartpageing.com browser hijacker
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab
Supposed Functionality	Improved browsing experience
Affected Browser Settings	Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine
Detection Names	N/A (VirusTotal)
Serving IP Address	69.16.231.150
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), dubious websites, and similar channels.
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.

Examples of similar search engines

Istartpageing.com is virtually identical to mystartsearch.com, isearch.omiga-plus.com, and istartsurf.com. There are hundreds of browser hijackers with similar characteristics. All are designed to trick users to install by offering a number of valuable features. Yet, after infiltrating the system, these applications provide no real value.

They cause unwanted browser redirects, track Internet browsing activity, and some even deliver intrusive online advertisements. They are designed solely to generate revenue for the developers.

How did istartpageing.com install on my computer?

The developers of istartpageing.com distribute this site as a 'bundle' with other software. They know that many users do not express enough caution when downloading and installing software and intentionally conceal potentially unwanted programs (or in this case, information about modification of browser settings) within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings.

Unaware of this, users often rush these processes and skip most/all steps, thereby inadvertently installing rogue applications.

How to avoid installation of unwanted applications?

To prevent installation of potentially unwanted programs, be attentive during the download and installation processes. These processes should be performed with the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical'. Potentially unwanted programs are often concealed and, therefore, by skipping this section, you will be unable to cancel them.

Deceptive free software installers promoting the istartpageing.com browser hijacker:

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Quick menu:

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

Istartpageing.com redirect 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 potentially unwanted applications (for example, "istartpageing"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

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

Video showing how to remove browser hijackers:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Remove istartpageing.com related Internet Explorer add-ons:

Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select such entries and click "Remove".

Fix Internet Explorer shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Internet Explorer shortcut. To fix this, locate the 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 text (hxxp://www.istartpageing.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe".

Change your homepage:

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

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the istartpageing.com 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 istartpageing.com related Google Chrome extensions:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Fix Google Chrome shortcut target:

This browser hijacker modifies the "Target" field of the Google Chrome shortcut. To fix this, locate the 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://www.istartpageing.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

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://www.istartpageing.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 "istartpageing" and add or select your preferred Internet search engine.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the istartpageing.com 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Remove istartpageing.com related Mozilla Firefox add-ons:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove "deskCut" and other recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.

Fix Mozilla Firefox shortcut target:

This browser hijacker changes the "Target" field of the Mozilla Firefox shortcut. To fix this, locate the 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://www.istartpageing.com/...), which is entered after "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

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://www.istartpageing.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: "istartpageing"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with istartpageing.com 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 istartpageing.com 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 istartpageing.com website?

The purpose of forcing users to visit istartpageing.com is to generate revenue. By increasing the number of visitors (boosting traffic), the creators of istartpageing.com can capitalize on various monetization strategies.

Is visiting istartpageing.com a threat to my privacy?

Fake search engines like istartpageing.com often collect user data, including browsing habits, search queries, IP addresses, and even personal information, which can then be used for malicious purposes.

How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?

In most cases, browser hijackers infiltrate browsers via free or unreliable software (installers containing unwanted apps), notifications from shady sites, P2P networks, deceptive ads, unofficial app stores, and similar channels.

Will Combo Cleaner help me remove a browser hijacker?

Combo Cleaner has the capability to scan computers and effectively remove browser hijackers. Utilizing tools like Combo Cleaner for this purpose is advisable, as manual removal may not always be successful, particularly when dealing with multiple hijackers.

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