A browser hijacking software associated with the search engine, called Startgo123 has been reported to be set as a default home page and a new tab web page on the web browsers of users. The hijacking software may also collect different information as well as display different type of advertisements and it may even be capable of causing browser redirects on your computer. The browser hijacking program has also been reported to be associated with multiple third-party companies and use cookies to follow certain statistics. Since it’s behavior may be indirectly dangerous for users, the Stargo123 browser hijacker may also exhibit an indirectly dangerous behavior and this is why experts strongly advise users to eliminate this program from the computer. We recommend reading this article to learn more about Startgo123.com and how to remove it effectively.
Threat Summary
| Name |
Startgo123.com Hijacker |
| Type | Browser Hijacker |
| Short Description | Changes the default home page and new tab page to the google look-alike Startgo123.com search engine. |
| Symptoms | The user may witness pop-up messages and heavy advertising displayed by this hijacker. |
| Distribution Method | Via bundling. |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join our forum to Discuss Startgo123.com Browser Hijacker. |
Startgo123.com Browser Hijacker – How Does It Replicate
The Startgo123 browser hijacker may infiltrate your computer via third-party installers which are also referred by online marketers as bundles. Users may encounter this browser hijacking software to be added as a free extra in one of the installation steps of the programs they install. Such programs may be you favorite mp3 playing program, video player, torrent program or other useful application. To best detect this program, researchers recommend that users take into consideration going carefully through the installation steps and always choose a customized installation if available. It is also recommended not to download the program from websites that are not well known and have used bundling previously.
Startgo123.com Browser Hijacker – In-Depth Analysis
Once it has slithered onto your system, the Startgo123.com web page may be set as a default web page of your web browser. In addition to this, the hijacker may also be installed as a browser extension or add-in on widely used web browsers, like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer and other web browsers supporting extensions.
The browser hijacker associated with Startgo.com may also heavily modify the Windows Registry Editor of the affected computer. It may change settings that may prevent it from being uninstalled and for it to appear again and still display adverts even if the user believes that he or she has remove it.
Furthermore, when we take into consideration the primary web page of the browser hijacking software we will see that it uses cookies coming from several different sources:
In addition to those cookies, the Startgo123.com web page is not HTTPs encrypted and does not have its own privacy policy. This is particularly bad especially if you take into consideration that most notorious search engines are encrypted. A non-encrypted connection is susceptible to multiple attacks via exploit kits and malicious javascript injections, automatically making them search engines like Startgo123.com potentially dangerous.
Furthermore when something is searched, the user recieves a browser transfer to google results, meaning that Startgo123 does not have it’s own database:
In addition to this, the web page also displays advertisements pointing out that it may have been created for the one and only purpose to serve targeted ads and generate profits via pay-per-click networks and schemes. Such services may also boost the traffic and even cause browser redirects to malicious web sites, driving researchers into believing that there is a likelihood of the computer being infected with malware indirectly as a results of having Startgo123.com on it.
Removing Startgo123.com Browser Hijacker
In order for you to delete Startgo123.com hijacker fully, we recommend following carefully the removal instructions which we have outlined below. They are methodologically arranged to help you cope with the Startgo123.com browser hijacker by eliminating it permanently. For even greater effectiveness and future protection we also advise using an advanced anti-malware program to scan for and delete every file and registry entry associated with this potentially unwanted program.
Ventsislav Krastev
Ventsislav is a cybersecurity expert at SensorsTechForum since 2015. He has been researching, covering, helping victims with the latest malware infections plus testing and reviewing software and the newest tech developments. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for learning new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management, Network Administration and Computer Administration of System Applications, he found his true calling within the cybersecrurity industry and is a strong believer in the education of every user towards online safety and security.
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- Mac OS X
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- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Startgo123.com Hijacker from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Startgo123.com Hijacker with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall Startgo123.com Hijacker and related software from Windows
Uninstall Steps for Windows 11
Uninstall Steps for Windows 10 and Older Versions
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 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Startgo123.com Hijacker on Your PC.
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 Startgo123.com Hijacker 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.
Video Removal Guide for Startgo123.com Hijacker (Windows).
Get rid of Startgo123.com Hijacker from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Startgo123.com Hijacker and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Startgo123.com Hijacker. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- 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 Startgo123.com Hijacker 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 Startgo123.com Hijacker files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Startgo123.com Hijacker, 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.
Video Removal Guide for Startgo123.com Hijacker (Mac)
Remove Startgo123.com Hijacker 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.
Erase Startgo123.com Hijacker 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.
Uninstall Startgo123.com Hijacker 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.
Remove Startgo123.com Hijacker 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 Startgo123.com Hijacker will be removed.
Eliminate Startgo123.com Hijacker 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.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Startgo123.com Hijacker-FAQ
What Is Startgo123.com Hijacker?
The Startgo123.com Hijacker threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of Startgo123.com Hijacker?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your device can be rogue antivirus software, adware, browser hijackers, clickers, fake optimizers and any forms of PUPs.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like Startgo123.com Hijacker?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does Startgo123.com Hijacker Work?
Once installed, Startgo123.com Hijacker can collect data using trackers. This data is about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. It is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
Startgo123.com Hijacker can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is Startgo123.com Hijacker Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the Startgo123.com Hijacker Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Startgo123.com Hijacker how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Startgo123.com Hijacker?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Startgo123.com Hijacker threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.