Berta Bilbao

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.

More Posts

SearchTechStart.com is the web domain for a browser hijacker redirect. When you make a search query, you get redirected to the search server of FindWide, which is another browser hijacker. Your searches will get filtered from it. SearchTechStart.com can switch the homepage, new tab and search engine of all browsers you have. To remove the hijacker and all of its files, you should read the article to the end.

Threat Summary

Name	SearchTechStart.com
Type	Browser Hijacker, PUP
Short Description	Every browser on your computer can be affected. The hijacker redirects you and filters your searches.
Symptoms	Browser settings which are changed are the homepage, search engine and new tab. You might see sponsored content and advertisements when you are browsing.
Distribution Method	Freeware Installations, Bundle Packages
Detection Tool	See If Your System Has Been Affected by SearchTechStart.com Download Malware Removal Tool
User Experience	Join Our Forum to Discuss SearchTechStart.com.

SearchTechStart.com – Methods of Delivery

SearchTechStart.com has more than one delivery method. Its software can penetrate your PC’s security with third-party installations. Software that comes in a bundle with others or such that is freeware can deliver the hijacker to your computer system. Setups like those mainly have additional components set for installing, by default. This hijacker can modify browser settings before you notice. To avoid installations of that sort can be done with you finding a Custom or an Advanced options menu inside the setup.

SearchTechStart.com might use more methods to deliver its search engine to your browser programs. Redirecting links and advertisements are both ways for delivering the unwanted software, especially if opened from dubious websites of low reputation. Banners, pop-ups and more types of adverts could be used, too. This hijacker can deliver itself with the help from websites that are affiliated or partnered up with SearchTechStart.com. The following browsers can get affected: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla Firefox.

SearchTechStart.com – Information

SearchTechStart.com is the primary domain for a browser hijacker redirect that has the same name – SearchTechStart. You can view the homepage of the hijacker in the picture shown down here:

The SearchTechStart.com main web page is very simple, consisting of a plain white background, a search bar, logo with a magnifying glass above it and a few links to the “Privacy Policy” and “Terms and Conditions” sections of the website. That exact page will be in that place of your new tab page, home page and search engine for nearly all browsers you have on the affected computer. The hijacker can tamper with the preferences of your browsers, as well.

An extension which is tied to the hijacker might exist, plus more components residing on your computer machine that can spread redirects and advertisements. They could have the same browser hijacking capabilities or land you on suspicious websites or ones filled with sponsored third party content. The owners of such websites might be partnered up or affiliated with SearchTechStart.com.

In the image provided below this paragraph, you can see the search results of SearchTechStart.com. You will be redirected to the search results of Yahoo. Before ending up on that page, however, you will go through the servers of FindWide, which is another browser hijacker. This strategy of landing on a legitimate search engine’s result page is used by many hijackers, trying to get people’s trust.

SearchTechStart.com can gather all types of information from you and your browsing habits, including the searches that you do. Servers of this hijacker and those of FindWide collect information mainly through those servers. You can read in depth about the Find Wide hijacker from the article on our blog.

You can see the redirect from the below snapshot:

The search engine will get each bit of information that you input in your search queries. You should be wary in what you put as personal data in searches if you use the hijacker’s search engine. Do not provide any credentials, banking details, personally identifying data or anything of the sort. Continue to read and see what the privacy policy of FindWide and SearchTechStart.com state.

SearchTechStart.com – Privacy Policy

The Privacy Policy of the SearchTechStart.com site is not written but an image. You cannot search for text, copy anything or find things you search for easy. As search queries go via the Find Wide hijacker as well, that policy is also active. The SearchTechStart.com site obtains personally and non-personally identifying information. That information can be shared with third-party partners.

You can view the Privacy Policy from here:

The SearchTechstart.com website gathers the following information:

• IP address
• Unique identifier number
• Hardware and Software configuration
• Operating System
• Browser type
• Your connected devices
• Applications you use
• Browsing activity and internet use
• Capability and performance
• Usage patterns
• Demographics
• Physical location
• Interaction with displayed content such as ads, what you added to shopping carts
• Search quires entered
• Websites visited and pages viewed

If you use any services connected to SearchTechStart.com or FindWide.com, including applications associated with them, then by the Policy’s statement you are bound to give your consent for personal data collection. The policy states that the site uses cookies, Web and DOM storage data, Adobe Flash cookies, pixel tags, beacons, JavaScript and other tracking and data collection technologies.

Here is an important quote from the policy:

“This data is used, supplemented, sold, and shared with other parties for business purposes”

The FindWide.com website gathers the following information:

• Your e-mail address
• Your name
• Technical information (not specified)

All of that data can be used interchangeably between the two websites, so beware of what your interactions are with both of them and refrain from providing any personal or banking information.

Remove SearchTechStart.com Fully

To remove SearchTechStart.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 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 secure in the future.

Note! Your computer system may be affected by SearchTechStart.com 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 SearchTechStart.com.
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 SearchTechStart.com 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 SearchTechStart.com

Remove SearchTechStart.com 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 SearchTechStart.com 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.

IMPORTANT!
Before starting the Automatic Removal below, 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.

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 SearchTechStart.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool and back up your data

1. Install SpyHunter to scan for SearchTechStart.com and remove them.2. Scan with SpyHunter, Detect and Remove SearchTechStart.com. 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.

Download

Malware Removal Tool

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 .

SOS Online Backup

Berta Bilbao

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.

More Posts

Berta Bilbao

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.

More Posts

Berta Bilbao

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.

More Posts

Berta Bilbao

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.

More Posts