by Berta Bilbao | September 16, 2016 | 0 Comments browser hijacker, redirect

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 malware 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.

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.

Guide 1: How to Remove SearchTechStart.com from Windows.
Guide 2: Get rid of SearchTechStart.com on Mac OS X.
Guide 3: Remove SearchTechStart.com in Google Chrome.

Guide 4: Erase SearchTechStart.com from Mozilla Firefox.
Guide 5: Uninstall SearchTechStart.com from Microsoft Edge.
Guide 6: Remove SearchTechStart.com from Safari.
Guide 7: Eliminate SearchTechStart.com from Internet Explorer.
Guide 8: Disable SearchTechStart.com Push Notifications in Your Browsers.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

How to Remove SearchTechStart.com from Windows.

Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove SearchTechStart.com

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

1. Hold Windows key() + R

2. The "Run" Window will appear. In it, type "msconfig" and click OK.

3. Go to the "Boot" tab. There select "Safe Boot" and then click "Apply" and "OK".

Tip: Make sure to reverse those changes by unticking Safe Boot after that, because your system will always boot in Safe Boot from now on.

4. When prompted, click on "Restart" to go into Safe Mode.

5. You can recognise Safe Mode by the words written on the corners of your screen.

Step 2: Uninstall SearchTechStart.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:

1. Hold the Windows Logo Button and "R" on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear.

2. In the field type in "appwiz.cpl" and press ENTER.

3. This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press "Uninstall"

Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.

Step 3: Clean any registries, created by SearchTechStart.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 SearchTechStart.com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:

1. Open the Run Window again, type "regedit" and click OK.

2. When you open it, you can freely navigate to the Run and RunOnce keys, whose locations are shown above.

3. You can remove the value of the virus by right-clicking on it and removing it.

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.

IMPORTANT!
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.

Step 4: Scan for SearchTechStart.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool

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.

2. After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to update automatically.

3. After the update process has finished, click on the 'Malware/PC Scan' tab. A new window will appear. Click on 'Start Scan'.

4. 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.

If any threats have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart your PC.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Get rid of SearchTechStart.com from Mac OS X.

Step 1: Uninstall SearchTechStart.com and remove related files and objects

OFFER

Manual Removal Usually Takes Time and You Risk Damaging Your Files If Not Careful!

We Recommend To Scan Your Mac with SpyHunter for Mac

Keep in mind, that SpyHunter for Mac needs to purchased to remove the malware threats. Click on the corresponding links to check SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy

1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:

2. Find Activity Monitor and double-click it:

3. In the Activity Monitor look for any suspicious processes, belonging or related to SearchTechStart.com:

Tip: To quit a process completely, choose the “Force Quit” option.

4. Click on the "Go" button again, but this time select Applications. Another way is with the ⇧+⌘+A buttons.

5. In the Applications menu, look for any suspicious app or an app with a name, similar or identical to SearchTechStart.com. If you find it, right-click on the app and select “Move to Trash”.

6: Select Accounts, after which click on the Login Items preference. 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 SearchTechStart.com. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.

7: Remove any left-over files that might be related to this threat manually by following the sub-steps below:

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 SearchTechStart.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:

Disclaimer! If you are about to tamper with Library files on Mac, be sure to know the name of the virus file, because if you delete the wrong file, it may cause irreversible damage to your MacOS. Continue on your own responsibility!

1: Click on "Go" and Then "Go to Folder" as shown underneath:

2: Type in "/Library/LauchAgents/" and click Ok:

3: Delete all of the virus files that have similar or the same name as SearchTechStart.com. If you believe there is no such file, do not delete anything.

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 SearchTechStart.com files from your Mac

When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as SearchTechStart.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.

Click the button below below to download SpyHunter for Mac and scan for SearchTechStart.com:

Download

SpyHunter for Mac

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove SearchTechStart.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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Erase SearchTechStart.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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Uninstall SearchTechStart.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 Stop Push Pop-ups

Remove SearchTechStart.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 SearchTechStart.com will be removed.

How to Reset Safari
IMPORTANT: Before resetting Safari make sure you back up all your saved passwords within the browser in case you forget them.

Start Safari and then click on the gear leaver icon.

Click the Reset Safari button and you will reset the browser.

Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer Stop Push Pop-ups

Eliminate SearchTechStart.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.