Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Note! Your computer might be affected by Start4u and other threats.
Threats such as Start4u may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Monsear(.)xyz is the domain and the search engine of Start4u, which is a browser hijacker program. A couple of ways exist for the unwanted program to spread, but bundled software is the most common one. If you have it on your PC, you will notice changes in browser settings, like the homepage, search engine, and new tab. In some cases, redirects and ads might display while browsing. To remove the browser hijacker with its files, you should read the article carefully.
Threat Summary
Name
Start4u
Type
Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description
The browsers on your computer get their settings changed. Settings such as the homepage, search engine and new tab can be modified.
Symptoms
A browser add-on or an extension can be installed on your browsers. The hijacker can redirect you and get information about your searches. You could see third party content or advertisements when browsing.
Start4u can be spread by using a few ways. The most general one is with the help third-party installation setups. Bundle packages and setups for free programs could get the hijacker onto your computer system. Freeware installers have additional contents chosen for installation, by default. The unwanted app can enter your PC and tamper with settings before you even notice. To prevent such programs from installing, you should search for a Custom or an Advanced settings menu, from where to deselect components.
Another way the Start4u hijacker can spread is via advertisements, be it pop-ups or banners. Suspicious websites with redirects can also distribute the hijacker. Websites like that might be affiliates of Start4u. Browsers that can be affected are: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox.
Start4u – More About It
Monsear(.)xyz is the main web address and the search engine for the browser hijacker called Start4u.
In the above picture you see the Start4u hijacker which consists of just one page. Nevertheless, this page replaces your default search engine, your new tab, and homepage. The page is plain and has a single picture background and a search bar. Nothing else is on the page – no buttons, no text, no links, but from time to time you might see advertisements.
If programs tied to this hijacker are found on your computer, then you will start to see various modifications in your browser applications. Some sidebar or a toolbar could be added as an additional tool in your browsers.
Other applications could be installed on your computer machine, aiding the hijacker program. Extensions redirect you or show you advertisements and thus you can land on various sites. The sites might be partners or affiliates of Start4u.
In the picture shown above, you can see an example of the search results page of Start4u. You can view that it is actually a Google Custom search page.
Start4u and the Monsear(.)xyz web address probably collect data from you as they could be used as filters for each search query you try to make. This search engine may send all collected information to a server, where it may be stored. The data about any browsing habits you have, and personal or technical information, may be gathered. Be very careful about what you search on that page.
The Privacy Policy of Start4u cannot be found on the Monsear(.)xyz domain nor on the search results page. That can mean two things – either there is another hidden page with the privacy policy somewhere, like in a bundled setup or the policy is non-existent. That is a thing to worry about even more than if there was a clear-cut policy – now you do not know what kind of information can be collected about you.
Remove Start4u Efficiently from Your PC
To remove Start4u 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 and all of its files completely, you should search for and remove any leftovers with an advanced anti-malware tool. Such software can keep your computer safe in the future.
Note! Your computer system may be affected by Start4u or other threats. Scan Your PC with SpyHunter SpyHunter is a powerful malware removal tool designed to help users with in-depth system security analysis, detection and removal of threats such as Start4u. Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
To remove Start4u follow these steps:
1. Uninstall malicious programs from Windows
OFFER
Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!
We Recommend To Scan Your PC with SpyHunter
Keep in mind, that SpyHunter’s scanner is only for malware detection. If SpyHunter detects malware on your PC, you will need to purchase SpyHunter’s malware removal tool to remove the malware threats. Read our SpyHunter 5 review. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria
How to Uninstall malicious programs 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:
Hold the Windows Logo Button and “R” on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear (fig.1).
In the field type in “appwiz.cpl” and press ENTER (fig.2).
This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
2. Clean your Browser and Registry from Start4u
Remove Start4u by cleaning your Browser and Registry.
Remove an extension from Mozilla FirefoxRemove an extension from Google Chrome Remove an extension from Internet Explorer Remove an extension from Microsoft Edge Fix registry entries created by Start4u on your PC.
Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu.
Select the unwanted extension and click “Remove“
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.
Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Move the cursor over “Tools” and then from the extended menu choose “Extensions“
From the opened “Extensions” menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its “Remove” button.
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.
Start Internet Explorer:
Click on the gear icon labeled ‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and select ‘Manage Add-ons’
In the ‘Manage Add-ons’ window.
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’.
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.
Start Edge
Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
From the drop menu select “Extensions”.
Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Some malicious scripts may modify the registry entries on your computer to change different settings. This is why cleaning your Windows Registry Database is recommended. Since the tutorial on how to do this is a bit long and tampering with registries could damage your computer if not done properly you should refer and follow our instructive article about fixing registry entries, especially if you are unexperienced in that area.
Use SpyHunter to scan for malware and unwanted programs
3. Scan for malware and unwanted programs with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Scan your PC and Remove Start4u with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Start4u and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove Start4u. Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
Step 1: Click on the “Download” button to proceed to SpyHunter’s download page.
It is recommended to run a scan before purchasing the full version of the software to make sure that the current version of the malware can be detected by SpyHunter. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA, Privacy Policy and Threat Assessment Criteria.
Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser.
Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.
Step 1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Malware/PC Scan’ tab. A new window will appear. Click on ‘Start Scan’.
Step 2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any files of the associated threat and found them, you can try to get them removed automatically and permanently by clicking on the ‘Next’ button.
Step 3: If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.
Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data with a cloud backup solution and insure your files against any type of loss, even from the most severe threats. We recommend you to read more about it and to download SOS Online Backup.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Berta is a dedicated malware researcher, dreaming for a more secure cyber space. Her fascination with IT security began a few years ago when a malware locked her out of her own computer.
Remove an extension from Mozilla Firefox
Remove an extension from Google Chrome
Remove an extension from Internet Explorer
Remove an extension from Microsoft Edge
Fix registry entries created by Start4u on your PC.
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for Start4u and remove them.
Back up your data to secure it from malware in the future.
