The article will help you remove StartPage.pro totally. Follow the browser hijacker removal instructions given at the bottom of this article.
StartPage.pro is a browser hijacker redirect. Associated with the WebStart.me platform, this website can redirect you to it as well as well-known search engines such as DuckDuckGo. When using its services, you can land on pages with a lot of advertisements and sponsored content that go through this hijacker. StartPage.pro will modify your browsers’ start page, new tab, and search settings.
Threat Summary
| Name | StartPage.pro |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | Every browser application on your computer might get affected. The hijacker will redirect you and show a lot of advertisements and sponsored content. |
| Symptoms | Browser settings which will get changed are the homepage, search engine and new tab. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss StartPage.pro. |
StartPage.pro – Methods of Distribution
StartPage.pro can be distributed through various methods. One of these methods is via third-party installations. These installer setups come from bundled apps and freeware that might be set to install additive content on your computer machine. Usually, that could happen without any prior notification. You might have tried installing a video player or free software and got your browser settings altered by this hijacker. Avoiding unwanted programs from affecting your computer is possible if you find Custom or Advanced settings to change things from and deselect what you do not want.
StartPage.pro might be distributed with 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, as well. Those websites could also be partnered or affiliated with the StartPage.pro website and services. Browsers which are affected the most: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari.
StartPage.pro – Technical Information
StartPage.pro is the main Web address of a browser hijacker redirect. You will get redirected when you are using its services – from links, ads or pages that may load from its search results. The main page can be seen in the screenshot given down here:
The StartPage.pro browser hijacker will redirect you everytime you use its services or interact with hyperlinks, ads and similar content found on its search pages. In case you are using its search to browse the Web, you will be redirected to its search results page or a popular search engine.
Take note that every search query that you make on its pages will be sending information to servers associated with the StartPage.pro hijacker in question. The pages displayed in the above and bottom screenshots can replace the homepage, new tab and default search settings of each browser that you have installed on your computer.
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 StartPage.pro. The DuckDuckGo search engine is used, but it could just as easily have been “WebStart.me”. Every query in the search will be filtered and sent to servers connected to the hijacker. Thus, everything that you provide as information will be obtained by the browser hijacker developers and their affiliates.
StartPage.pro can push advertisements and heaps of redirects that can put browser cookies on your computer device, and they can track your online habits. More advanced tracking technologies could be in play, as well. Be careful of the information you give out on such search pages, especially on those, associated with StartPage.pro. Refrain from clicking on dubious advertisements and links that can get displayed.
StartPage.pro – Privacy Policy
The Privacy Policy page of the StartPage.pro site is accessible from a hyperlink, located at the footer of its main and search pages. The Policy provides thorough information about the data collection done by this browser hijacker. Below, you can see exactly what information can be gathered from you when you are using any of the StartPage.pro services.
You can see the Policy page from the snapshot right here:
The following information can be collected by the hijacker:
- Your name
- Email address
- Cookies and related Data
- Demographic Data
- Site Usage Data (Clicks, interaction with ads etc)
- Other Information (obtained via surveys etc.)
All cookies related to the browser hijacking site and services of StartPage.pro are dropped to acquire more information related to your internet habits and activity. The WebStart.me service could also collect similar data with which you could be personally identified.
In conclusion, you should be wary of any information you provide to such search engines and websites. If you do not like the idea of information to be obtained about you and your Internet activity by this browser hijacker and similar services, you should consider removing them.
Remove StartPage.pro Redirect
To remove StartPage.pro 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.
- Windows
- Mac OS X
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove StartPage.pro from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for StartPage.pro with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: Uninstall StartPage.pro 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 4: Clean Any registries, Created by StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro (Windows).
Get rid of StartPage.pro from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro. 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 StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as StartPage.pro, 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 StartPage.pro (Mac)
Remove StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro will be removed.
Eliminate StartPage.pro 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".
StartPage.pro-FAQ
What Is StartPage.pro?
The StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro?
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 StartPage.pro?
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 StartPage.pro Work?
Once installed, StartPage.pro 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.
StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this StartPage.pro 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 StartPage.pro?
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 StartPage.pro threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.