Startsear.ch

Startsear.ch is a search engine website and a browser hijacker that redirects you to the Startsear.ch site. Using Startsear.ch may endanger your PC by exposing you to malicious download scripts and other harmful conditions and you should avoid using Startsear.ch in preference for a more trustworthy search engine. The Startsear.ch hijacker will change your homepage to Startsear.ch, prevent you from altering the homepage settings and is capable of doing this in multiple types of browsers. The presence of a Startsear.ch hijacker is a minor security risk, and you should remove Startsear.ch by using an anti-virus application of your choice.

How to Tell When Startsear.ch Has Infiltrated Your Web Browser

Startsear.ch hijackers are known to infect PCs by pretending to be useful plugins for VShare and other media-related utilities. Always download plugins and other software accessories from official sources, and avoid illegal warez or download warehouse style websites, to minimize the chance of being infected with Startsear.ch.

Startsear.ch hijackers may show their presence with the following symptoms:

• You may find your homepage changed to the Startsear.ch website. Attempts to undo this change will fail.
• You may find that your anti-virus software is malfunctioning, particularly in Safe Mode (a standard mode used to remove malicious programs like the Startsear.ch browser hijacker).
• Startsear.ch hijackers may redirect you to Startsear.ch after you try to navigate to a completely different website.
• You may see unusual website links that lead you to Startsear.ch.
• Pop-ups may appear with advertisements that redirect you to Startsear.ch or another malicious website.
• Error messages may block non-Startsear.ch websites, particularly anti-virus websites that could help you get rid of a Startsear.ch infection.

Cleaning Startsear.ch Out of Your Web Browser

Although Startsear.ch doesn't cause serious damage to your PC by itself, Startsear.ch may expose you to Trojans embedded in malicious scripts and other threats to your PC. This possibility is only further inflamed by Startsear.ch's habit of disabling certain types of security software, an act that leaves your computer vulnerable to a variety of attackers. Because of these issues and the potentially complex nature of a Startsear.ch infection, you should remove Startsear.ch with an anti-malware application whenever this is possible.

It's strongly encouraged that you refrain from opening your web browser while scanning your PC for Startsear.ch infections, since this may cause Startsear.ch to launch. Other recommendations include using Safe Mode to minimize Registry-based program startups and to update your threat definitions before a scan. Since Startsear.ch attacks have been reported in July of 2011, keeping updated your security program may be essential for detecting and removing Startsear.ch hijackers. Startsear.ch attacks have been confirmed for Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox but may also extend to other web browsers.

Technical Details