istartsurf.com is the name of a browser hijacker that attacks Firefox, Chrome and Internet Explorer. It modifies your computer’s settings without asking your permission at any point in time. istartsurf.com tries to make itself look like Google, especially by using the same menu bar and centering the search box. However, such resemblances don’t go much further: the results that istartsurf.com provides are obviously skewed because while some of them come from Google, it also adds its own results, which it positions at the top and might lead you straight to online portals and other websites that cause problems for the safety of your computer.
When you install a new application on your computer, it’s important to go through and uncheck certain boxes so that adware doesn’t infect your computer. All browser hijackers like istartsurf.com are installed in such a way that you won’t be able to get your old settings back using manual maneuvers: to achieve this, the adware automatically resets the wrong setup each time your browser is opened. istartsurf.com is usually held in place on Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer through various methods: links in your browser shortcuts, an add-on installed in the browser and sometimes a Windows process.
If you want to remove istartsurf.com and get your default search engine back, follow the list of steps below.
How to remove istartsurf.com ?
Remove istartsurf.com with MalwareBytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a light-weight anti-malware program that is excellent at removing the latest detections.
- Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to your desktop.
Premium Version Free Version (without Real-time protection) - Install MalwareBytes Anti-Malware using the installation wizard.
- Once installed, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program, and that a scan has never been run on your system. To start a system scan you can click on the Fix Now button.
- If an update is found, you will be prompted to download and install the latest version.
- Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start scanning your computer for istartsurf.com.
- When the scan is complete, make sure that everything is set to Quarantine, and click Apply Actions.
- When removing the files, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot your computer, please allow it to do so.
Remove istartsurf.com with AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner is a useful tool designed to eliminate undesired toolbars, browser hijackers, redirects and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome or Opera. AdwCleaner needs no set up and can be ran in a instantaneous to scan your system.
- Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop :
Download AdwCleaner - Double-click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool (Windows Vista/7/8 users : right-click and select Run As Administrator).
- Click on the Scan button.
- After the scan has finished, click on the Clean button..
- Press OK again to allow AdwCleaner to restart the computer and complete the removal process.
Remove completly istartsurf.com with Junkware Removal Tool
Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) purges your system of PUPs (potentially unwanted programs) like istartsurf.com almost as easily as they find their way into your system. JRT targets adware, toolbars, and other malicious, suspicious, and pernicious system parasites, removing not only the unwanted program but also any traces left behind in your registry and other places where debris accumulates.
- Download Junkware Removal Tool :
Download Junkware Removal Tool - Shut down your anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software now to avoid potential conflicts.
- Run the tool by double-clicking it. If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click it and select Run as administrator.
- The tool will open and start scanning your system.
- Please be patient as this can take a while to complete depending on your system's specifications.
- On completion, a log is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
Click here to go to our support page.