How to Remove iStart123.com Search (Removal Help)

Techexpert

10 years ago

Question.

How do I remove iStart123.com? I don’t even know from where it came. Could you please help me How to Remove iStart123.com Search from my computer?

How to Remove iStart123.com from Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox.

Explanation & Answer.

IStart123.com is classed being an Adware. An Adware is a type of advertising software which latches itself onto the browser and uses an individual info like search record, recurrent keywords, one of the most visited sites etc. to produce advertisements relevant to the user’s interest in order to redirect a lot of the user targeted traffic to some particular sites as a way to generate increased traffic.

IStart123.com is a search engine which is also know as quick start. Please see below screenshot. You also know the guide how to remove quick start search page.

Normally the method of obtaining this problem of the browser such as the Internet Explorer is the free softwares available on the web. These include lots of different free softwares including free games, photo editing tools, PDF readers, new music players etc. These kinds of free softwares come covered with the Adware package. Many of these Adwares might be legal are available with legal downloads and installations of the programs. Such softwares focus on making some money for the developer for him to stay his progression.

The IStart123.com type of Adware is categorically specified being PUP i.e. Potentially Unwanted Program. This changes the default settings of the browser so your homepage is already iStart123.com and you’ll notice various irritating pop-up ads while searching period.

This really is potentially harmful malicious software because not just it has accessibility user login and password details, additionally, it sends all of the user online task information to some remote server which behaves as a command and control base station and uses this data for their marketing needs.

The program is quite hard to clean to removal and when not removed entirely, it continues finding approaches to return. To make sure its complete removal, you should undo all the recently changes {that} iStart123.com makes to your system and the browser. Be also sure that you’ve removed all of the redirect tools that could monitor you.

Removal Instructions

Automatic Fixit

Download Adware Remover Tool v3.8 to remove IStart123.com Automatically, It’s a Freeware utility specially designed for Adware Removal. This tool can remove most of the Adwares from Internet Explorer, Firefox, Mozilla Firefox and from their registry traces as well..

Adware-Removal-Tool-v3.8.exe

Manual Steps

Step 1 : To Uninstall IStart123.com from computer

Click on Start button and then click on Control Panel.
Now click on Programs –> Uninstall a program or Program and Features (Windows-7, 8, Vista).

For Windows XP users click on Add/Remove Programs.

You will get a window which have listed all the installed programs.
Uninstall IStart123.com from there.
Also do uninstall all the programs which are listed in Suspicious Programs list below, if you find any installed into your computer. Because all these programs are unwanted. You should uninstall all them immediately if you found any.

Suspicious Programs list

IStart123.com
Subtab
Browser defender
Browser protect
Browser protected by conduit
Delta search, Babylon
LessTabs
WebCake 3.0
Yealt
LyricsContainer
VideoSaver
AddLyrics
privacy safe gaurd
unfriend checker
Price peep today
Coupon amazine
TidyNetwork.com
DownloadTerms 1.0
Yontoo
Uninstall all the unwanted programs even if not listed here.

Step 1.1 : Remove iStart123.com infection from windows shortcuts.

Right click on the shortcut of Internet Explorer and then do left click on the properties option. You’ll get a shortcut’s properties.
Click on shortcut tab and then delete the “www.iStart123.com/?utm” string from target field.
Need to delete this URL:

Repeat the above steps on all browser’s shortcuts like: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari in all location Desktop / Taskbar / Startmenu.

Remove iStart123.com infection from startmenu’s shortcuts.

Remove iStart123.com infection from taskbar’s shortcuts.

Step 2 : To Remove IStart123.com from Internet Explorer.

Step 2.1 : Remove IStart123.com from homepage

Open Internet Explorer then go to Tools menu (Press “F10” key once to active the menu bar) and then click on Internet Option a configuration page will be opened, then click on General tab. Now look into under HOME PAGE Edit Box you got www.IStart123.com, replace it to www.google.com, then click on apply and close.

Step 2.2 : Remove IStart123.com add-ons from Internet Explorer.

Open Internet Explorer then go to Tools menu (press “F10” key once to active menu bar) and then click on Internet Option a configuration page will be opened
click on Programs tab then click on Manage Addons, now you’ll get a window which have listed all the installed addons.
Now disable the IStart123.com add-on, also disable all the unknown / unwanted addons from this list. (As per below screenshot).

Step 2.3 : Reset Internet Explorer

Open Internet Explorer. Click on Tools menu (Press “F10” key once to active the menu bar), click on Internet Option. A internet option window will open.
For IE9, IE10 users may click on Gear icon . Then click on tools.

Click on Advanced tab,then click on RESET button.
Now you will get a new popup for confirmation, tick mark on Delete personal setting then click on RESET button on that. (As shown on below screenshot)
Now your Internet Explorer has been Restored to default settings.

Now you will appear a popup stated “complete all the tasks”. After completion click on close button.

Step 3 : To Remove IStart123.com from Mozilla Firefox

Step 3.1 : Remove IStart123.com from Mozilla Hompeage

Open Mozilla Firefox, Click on Tools menu (If tools menu doesn’t appear then press “F10” key once to active the menu bar) then go to Options, after that a configuration page will be opened, then click on General tab and then look on the very first section named as Startup. Under startup you will see a HOME PAGE Edit Box, under this edit box you will see www.IStart123.com, please replace it to www.google.com, then click on apply and close.
Restart Firefox Browser

Step 3.2 : Remove IStart123.com from add-ons

Open Firefox and then go the Tools menu (Press “F10” key once to active Menu bar) click on Add-ons, you’ll get a page click on extensions from the left side pane. now look on right side pane you’ll get all the installed add-ons listed on there. Disable or Remove IStart123.com add-on, also disable all the unknown / unwanted add-ons from there. (As per below screen shot)

Step 3.3 : Reset Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and then go the Helpmenu (Press “F10” key once to active Menu bar)
Go to Help menu then click on “Troubleshooting information”
Note: you can also open this page in this ways, open Firefox then type this command in the address bar “about:support” (without quote) and then hit enter or OK.
You will get a page “Troubleshooting information” page, here you will get “Reset Firefox” option in the right side of the page.
Click on Reset Firefox option. and follow their instruction to reset.
Now your Mozilla Firefox has been Restored to default settings.

Step 4 : To Remove IStart123.com from Google Chrome

Step 4.1 : Remove unwanted homepage & search engine from Google Chrome

Start Google Chrome, click on options icon (Located in very top right side of the browser), click on Settings. You will get a configuration page.
Under configuration page find a option named as “Open a specific page or set of pages” click on their Set Pages. A another window will come up. Here you will appear the bunch of URL’s under “Set pages”. Delete all them and then enter only one which you want to use as your home page.

In the same configuration page click on Manage search engines button. Delete all the search engines from there, just keep only www.goole.com as your default search Engine.

Step 4.2 : Remove unwanted extensions from Google Chrome

Start Google Chrome, click on options icon (Located in very top right side of the browser), then click on Tools then, click on Extensions. (As shown on below screenshot)

You will get a configuration page. which have listed all the installed extensions, Remove IStart123.com extension & also remove all the unknown / unwanted extensions from there. To remove them, click on remove (recycle bin) icon (as shown on screenshot)

Step 4.3 : Reset Google Chrome

Close all Google Chrome browser’s window.
Press “window key + R” (Flag sign key + R) on your keyboard , you’ll get Run box.
For windows xp: Copy and Paste this following command: “%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default" in Run box then click on OK button. You’ll get a Google chrome profile location in windows explorer.For windows 7,8,vista: Copy and Paste this following command: “%UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default“ in Run box then click on OK button. You’ll get a Google chrome profile location in windows explorer.
In the default folder location, Rename a file, named as “Preferences“ to “Preferences.old“.
(Note: to do that right-click on Preferences file and click on rename option you’ll get a edit box of Preferences file, now rename the text “Preferences” to “Preferences.old”)
In the same default folder location, Rename one more file, named as “Web Data“ to “Web Data.old“.
(Note: to do that right-click on Web Data file and click on rename option you’ll get a edit box of Web Data file, now rename the text “Web Data” to “Web Data.old”)
Now start your Google chrome, it should be restored to default settings.

Step 5 : To Remove IStart123.com from Registry

Press “window key + R” (Flag sign key + R) you will get Run box then type “REGEDIT” into the run box then click on OK. You’ll get a registry editor window.
In the registry editor, click on Edit menu and then click on find option, you’ll get edit box to search any string into registry editor
Type “IStart123.com” into the find box and then click on Find Next.
The search result will highlight the key or value which have contains the IStart123.com string.
Now delete the Registry Key/Value/Value-Data if any one contains “IStart123.com” string (must see the example screenshot below)
Note:- Do not delete the complete value data, just delete the IStart123.com path only (for example see screenshot3 below)
Use F3 key to find Next. and do the last step to all results.
We are giving you the example on “Conduit” Adware.

Screenshot 1

Screenshot 2

Screenshot 3

Step 6 : To Remove IStart123.com from Autorun Tasks

Click on Start button and then do Right-Click on the computer and then do left-click on Manage. A manage window will appear.
In the manage window click on Tasks Scheduler from right side pane, then click on “Task Scheduler Library“, Now look on left side pane and Remove all the Tasks which have contains IStart123.com string and also remove all the unknown / unwanted tasks from there (As per the screenshot below).

Step 7 : To Remove IStart123.com from Startup

Press “window key + R” (Flag sign key + R) you will get Run box then type “MSCONFIG into the run box then click on OK. You’ll get a msconfig window.
In the msconfig window click on Startup tab, here you’ll get all the startup entries, so look on the list and then do Un-check the entries which is contains IStart123.com. Also Un-check all the others entries which you found unwanted. then click on OK to apply all the changes.

Step 8 : To Remove IStart123.com from Services

Press “window key + R” (Flag sign key + R) you will get Run box then type “MSCONFIG” into the run box then click on OK. . You’ll get a msconfig window.
In the msconfig window click on Services tab, here you’ll get all the startup services list, click on “Hide Windows Services” all the windows related services will be hidden. now it’s only display the 3rd party installed services, now look on the list and then do Un-check the service which have contains IStart123.com. Also Un-check all the unknown / unwanted services. then click on OK to apply all the changes.

Step 9 : To remove IStart123.com registry entries with Adwcleaner.exe

Here is the proper step-by-step guide to remove any adware from registry, please follow the steps.

9.1 : Download AdwCleaner from the below link.

Click Here to Download: Adwcleaner.exe

9.2 : Run that downloaded file (Adwcleaner.exe).

9.3 : When you get it started, click on scan button to search the IStart123.com files and registry entries (As shown below screenshot).

9.5 : When scanning process will be finished, click on Clean button to delete all the IStart123.com files and registry entries (as shown on below screenshot)