Remove web-startpage.com browser hijacker

web-startpage.com is a fake search engine that may be set as your default if your computer has a browser hijacker installed. These kinds of infections are not serious but they are quite annoying. Browser hijackers essentially take over browsers by changing settings, specifically changing the homepage/new tabs and setting a different search engine. Thus, if you notice that web-startpage.com is loading as your homepage, your computer has been infected with a browser hijacker.

 

 

Browser hijackers are very common, minor infections that usually infect the computers of users who incorrectly install free programs. If you notice that web-startpage.com is suddenly loading every time you open your browser, your device is infected. It’s fortunately not a serious infection but it’s very annoying. It will set web-startpage.com as your homepage/new tabs, and redirect all your searches to Bing, as web-startpage.com is a fake search engine.

Browser hijackers often masquerade as useful browser extensions and can be found on many free download websites. While these extensions usually claim to improve your browsing experience, they will lead to problems instead. They can also be installed through a method called software bundling. Regardless of how they infiltrate your system, they offer no genuine features. To return your browser to its original settings, you need to remove web-startpage.com hijacker from your device.

Browser hijackers typically use misleading tactics to infiltrate systems without users being aware. However, once they are installed, their presence becomes obvious due to the changes they impose on the browser settings. In this case, the hijacker is pushing web-startpage.com so it will try to force you to use it. If you try to do a search using the search box on web-startpage.com or your browser’s address bar, you will be shown results generated by Bing. Although Bing is a reliable and completely legitimate search engine, the hijacker’s operators benefit financially from the initial redirect to web-startpage.com before you land on Bing. There’s no need to access Bing via a third-party site or dubious extension when you can go to it directly.

It’s important to mention that browser hijackers usually make it nearly impossible to revert the settings while they remain installed. If you’re unable to make changes, it might be due to the hijacker reversing all your changes. To regain control, you must first remove web-startpage.com hijacker. We recommend using WiperSoft, as it effectively addresses such infections.

Finally, you should know that browser hijackers have quite intrusive data collection practices. They can track your browsing habits, search queries, and IP addresses, which is concerning, especially since these programs offer no real benefits. You shouldn’t tolerate such invasive data collection.

How did a browser hijacker install on my computer?

Browser hijackers generally use deceptive tactics to infiltrate users’ devices. A very common method is to conceal infections like hijackers as helpful browser extensions and promote them on various free software download sites. This highlights the importance of researching any program before downloading it. A quick Google search can provide insight into the legitimacy of a program; if you encounter multiple sites warning against it, do not download/install it.

Infections such as browser hijackers and adware use a method called software bundling to install themselves without the user’s explicit consent. Essentially, these unwanted infections are bundled with popular free programs as optional offers, which are set to automatically install alongside the main program. This method can be especially misleading, and many anti-virus tools flag these bundled items as potential threats.

While these additional offers are technically optional, users must manually uncheck them to avoid installation. This can be challenging since they are often hidden in settings that users don’t usually use. To correctly install free programs, you should opt for Advanced or Custom installation settings. Using Default or Basic settings usually leads to all bundled offers being installed automatically. By selecting Advanced settings, you can view all additional offers and deselect anything you don’t want. It’s recommended to uncheck all extra offers, as legitimate programs typically do not use software bundling. Allowing these extra offers to be installed will result in a computer filled with junk programs.

Remove web-startpage.com redirect

Browser hijackers may not be severe infections, but it’s still a good idea to use anti-virus software like WiperSoft to remove web-startpage.com browser hijacker. These infections can be stubborn and challenging to remove manually, so employing an antivirus tool simplifies the process significantly. Once you’ve successfully removed the hijacker, you can restore your browser settings to normal.