This article will help you to remove 12startpage.com in full. Follow the browser hijacker removal instructions given at the end of the article.
12startpage.com is a browser hijacker redirect. The website will redirect you and push advertisements on pages. While using its services, you can find yourself on both popular search engines and unfamiliar pages with lots of pop-ups and sponsored content that go through this hijacker. The hijacker will change the start page, new tab, and search settings for the browser applications you have on your computer system.
Threat Summary
| Name | 12startpage.com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | Each browser application on your computer could get affected. The hijacker can redirect you and will display lots of advertisements. |
| Symptoms | Browser settings which are altered are the homepage, search engine and the new tab. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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Malware Removal Tool
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss 12startpage.com. |
12startpage.com – Distribution Techniques
12startpage.com might be distributed through various techniques. One of those techniques is via third-party installations. Those installer setups come from bundled applications and freeware that could be set to install additional content by default on your computer system. Usually, that could happen without any notification. You might have tried installing a media player or free software and got your browser settings modified by the hijacker. To avoid unwanted programs from affecting your PC is doable if you find Custom or Advanced settings. There you should be able to deselect what you don’t want.
12startpage.com could be distributed via other methods, like add-ons or browser extensions which install on your browser. Other distribution ways use advertisements, such as banners, pop-ups, pop-unders, and redirect links. Sponsored advertisements, including targeted content on suspicious websites could distribute the hijacker, too. These websites might also be partners or affiliates of the 12startpage.com website and services. These browsers could be affected: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari.
12startpage.com – Technical Insight
12startpage.com is the search URL address of a browser hijacker redirect. At first glance it seems okay, but many users have reported it being installed on their machines without their permission. You will get redirected when you are using its services, from links, ads and pages that may load from the search results. The main domain page can be viewed from the screenshot given below:
The page displaced above can replace the homepage, new tab and default search of every browser that you have installed. 12startpage.com browser hijacker will redirect you if you use its services and interact with links, ads and other content from its search pages.
Take note that each search that you do on its pages will be sending information to servers connected to the Trovi.com hijacker. Below you can see how you are redirected to Trovi, every time you make a search query:
The photo that you see under this paragraph shows a clear example of what the results of a search query look like when they go through the 12startpage.com and Trovi.com. Here the search results that you end up on are from Bing, but other popular search engines could be used. Every query in the search will get filtered and sent to servers connected to that of the hijacker and Trovi. Thus, everything that you give out as information will be gathered by the browser hijacker and its partners in question.
The 12startpage.com website can push advertisements and heaps of redirects that can put browser cookies on your computer system, and they can track your online activity. Other, more advanced tracking technologies could have been used, especially from Trovi. Be wary of the information you provide on such search pages, especially on ones, associated with 12startpage.com and Trovi.com. Refrain from clicking on suspicious advertisements and links that can show up.
12startpage.com – Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy page of the 12startpage.com site is accessible from a hyperlink, located at a sub-menu on the bottom left of its main page. The Policy provides some information about the data collection done by this browser hijacker. Below, you can see that information which is to be gathered from you when you are using the 12startpage.com service.
You can see the Policy page from the screenshot right here:
The following information can be collected by the hijacker:
- the IP address of the requesting terminal device
- the date and time of access
- the name and URL of the file called up
- the website from which the file is accessed
- the operating system of your terminal device
- the browser you are using
- the name of your internet access provider
- the date and time of the installation of your OCS-Product
- the version no. of your OCS-Product
- the name and URL of the file called up
- gen. geo-marketing data (city, country-id)
- your search keyword
- the date and time of your search query
- any unique identifiers from any cookies used by Microsoft or Yahoo or others
- the the search- and browser settings of your browser
- your browser’s language-settings and type of browser
There is also data collected by Trovi, according to the policy of Trovi.com which can be divided into a few information types:
Technical Information
- Your browser type
- Type, name and version of Operating System
- Type, name and version of other software
- Your ISP (Internet Service Provider)
- Your physical location
- Your Internet protocol (IP) address
- Anonymous user identifiers
- Device configuration and identifiers
- The version, configuration and settings of their Software
Usage Information
- Your use and interaction with your device
- When and how you use their software
- How you use your internet browser and internet search related applications
- The web pages you visit and the content you see
- Your interactions with offerings and advertisements that you view
- Your search queries
- The time and date of your searches
Social Networks Information
- Your interactions on social networks via their software
- Friends or contact lists
- Notes
- Updates
- Photos
Registration Related Information
- Information you provide when you register for their software
- Your name
- Home or work addresses
- Your E-mail address
- Telephone and fax numbers
- Your birth date
- Your gender
Support Related Information
- Your email address
- Your name
- Any information voluntarily submitted by you
Information that may be collected by the site “unintentionally”
- Social security numbers
- Credit card numbers
- Login information
Cookies connected to the browser hijacking site and services of 12startpage.com are also dropped by them to acquire more information related to your internet activity and habits. The 12startpage.com service could collect even more data with which you could be identified.
In conclusion, you should be wary of what information you give out to search engines and websites. In case you do not like the idea of any information to be acquired about you by this browser hijacker or its services, you should consider removing it.
Remove 12startpage.com Redirect
To remove 12startpage.com manually from your computer, follow the step-by-step removal instructions provided below. In case the manual removal does not get rid of the hijacker redirect and its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such a program can keep your computer safe in the future.
- Guide 1: How to Remove 12startpage.com from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of 12startpage.com from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove 12startpage.com from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase 12startpage.com from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall 12startpage.com from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove 12startpage.com from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate 12startpage.com from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove 12startpage.com from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove 12startpage.com
Step 2: Uninstall 12startpage.com and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by 12startpage.com on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by 12startpage.com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of 12startpage.com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall 12startpage.com and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove 12startpage.com via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove 12startpage.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as 12startpage.com, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove 12startpage.com from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase 12startpage.com from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall 12startpage.com from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove 12startpage.com from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the 12startpage.com will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate 12startpage.com from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
