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In this article we are going to try and help you remove Startgo123. Our instructions cover all Windows versions as well as most browsers – Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer etc.
Would you like to learn how to remove the unstoppable Startgo123 browser redirects? Then this removal guide is what you need. Below we have prepared some easy-to–follow instructions, which will help you find and manually delete all the ad-generating scripts that have been flooding you with banners, links, popping boxes and all sorts of annoying promotional messages. In case you have no idea when and how you got that annoying program on your PC, here we will explain the most probable ways it may sneak in your system as well as the eventual security risks it may expose you to. And since you will be dealing with a stubborn browser hijacker, we suggest you read the following information carefully. It will really help you handle it better.
How do you know if a browser hijacker operates on your machine?
The moment a program like Startgo123 gets installed, you may notice that a few undesired changes in your browser settings may take place. It is more likely that your home page would be changed to another sponsored page, or your searches would get redirected to such pages with ads and promotions. Dozens of ads may start to appear every time you open your browser and each new tab may come with a series of banners, popping boxes, links, blinking notifications and sponsored pages. A small text somewhere on the ads containing something like “Powered by Startgo123” or “Ads generated by Startgo123” may indicate the name of the browser hijacker, which is the actual source of the annoying messages.
How did Startgo123 pop up on your PC without any notice?
As a typical browser hijacker, Startgo123 may find its way to your machine if you download free software, open a spam email, follow an advertising link, download a torrent or directly install a program from the web. Information about it could usually be found in the advanced/custom options inside the setup as well as the EULA. If you pay attention during the installation, you may see it in the program bundle of some free applications you are installing. But in case you just proceed with the quick setup (which you probably did since you ended up with that program), you will most probably get Startgo123 installed along without your notice.
Why are the ads so aggressive?
Browser hijackers are famous for their aggressive methods of displaying ads, which result in an intolerable browsing disturbance and irritation among the users, who are exposed to them. However, there is a good reason for that – money. Such programs are generally created to collect as many clicks as possible and send web traffic to affiliate sites and partners, which are paying to the developers for that. This scheme called Pay-Per-Click is actually a legal way for the marketers to collect traffic, while the developers earn a nice income from the clicks that the paid ads get. This explains why they try to display so many messages and sometimes they really overdo it.
Why is it a good idea to uninstall Startgo123?
In some cases, just the ads invasion on your screen may be enough to drive you crazy. And if the constant flow of boxes, new tabs and page redirects prevents you from browsing the web normally, you may wish to remove the browser hijacker completely. However, there are a few more things that you need to know. Threats like Ransomware, Trojans, and different viruses usually use fake ads and misleading links to get unsuspecting users infected, and the chance of you unknowingly bumping into such threats while clicking on some ads is not excluded. And although such scenario doesn’t happen really often, it is still a risk you can’t predict. Actually, catching malware from ads is an indirect threat you may be exposed to, which may eventually come as a result of the constant flow of ads that you see. But please don’t think that because of that risk, a browser hijacker is equal to a virus or malicious ransomware threat.
In fact, a program like Startgo123 is incapable of doing anything harmful to your system, apart from bringing you annoyance with its ads. Therefore, you should not panic when you detect it since this is not a virus (as many users may wrongly assume), but rather an undesired application. If you want to keep your system clean from such programs, however, it is a good idea to install some trusted antimalware software. If you keep its definitions regularly updated, that would be enough to notify you when such harmless but annoying applications get inside your PC. And in case that you have decided to completely remove Startgo123 and all its related scripts, just follow the instructions below. We did our best to give you a detailed description on how to manually reach these files, but in case you meet any difficulty, do not hesitate to leave us a comment. We will be happy to help.
Startgo123 Removal from Firefox/Chrome
Many types of malware will restrict your access to their core files. It is highly recommended that you reboot your PC in safe mode before attempting to use this guide.
- To enable Safe Mode reboot you PC, then hit F8 repeatedly. When the corresponding menu opens please select Safe Mode with Networking.
WARNING! If you are using Windows 8,0 or later and/or your operating system is installed on a fast SSD drive this may fail to work. In this case click here to see how to start your PC in Safe Mode.
#1: Uninstall the malicious program from your control panel
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Enter control panel to look for any suspicious programs, which may have installed on your PC. To do that:
- Navigate to your Desktop
- Press simultaneously the Win button together with the R button (Win+R)
- In the Run window that just opened type appwiz.cpl
- Go through the list of programs and find Startgo123 or anything else that may seem suspicious. Right-click on it and choose the uninstallation option
WARNING! Carefully read any confirmation messages that may be created in the process. Sometimes you may get offers to download more Adware applications and this can be linked to either the Yes or the No answer depending on the wording!
- Optional:
Go through the list of programs again and check online for any potentially unwanted programs. We have an article that covers this awesome free software that makes sure that your computer is free from bloatware and programs that you don’t need.
#2: Remove Startgo123 From Chrome
Now we’ll remove the extensions that the malware has attached to your browser.
- Open your Google Chrome browser.
- Type chrome://extensions/ in the URL address bar and press Enter.
- Click on “Developer Mode” on the top right and look for the extension installed by Startgo123 and anything that might be related to it. Copy their IDs (the string of letters), then remove them by clicking on the trash bin icon.
- Type Regedit in the Windows Start Menu and press Enter. Go in : HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions and delete the entries corresponding to the suspicious IDs you recorded.
#3: Remove Startgo123 From Firefox
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser.
- Type “about:support” in the URL address bar and press Enter.
- Click on the “Refresh Firefox” button on the right and confirm.
#4 Remove Startgo123 From Internet Explorer
- Open your Internet Explorer internet browser.
- Click on the Gear icon on the up right, then on manage add-ons.
- Go through the list disable any suspicious extensions.
#5 Remove any leftover parasitic processes
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From the task manager:
- Use Ctrl + Shift + Esc and open the Task manager, then click on the Processes
- Go through the list of processes and look for unknown or otherwise suspicious entries.
- If you see anything suspicious right click on the process and shoes Open File Location, then terminate the process and delete any files you find in the directory.
WARNING! If the directory you open from this menu has no files inside of it it’s probably because the malware has hidden them. You need to reveal hidden files and folders in order to be able to see them. Click here if you don’t know how to do that.
From the start menu:
- Press simultaneously the Win button together with the R button (Win+R)
- In the Run window that just opened type msconfig
- Click on the Startup tab.
This menu controls which programs are loaded when windows starts after a reboot. Disable anything that seems suspicious. Optionally you can also disable any program that you don’t need and also has a high impact on your startup time.
Feel free to write to us in the comment section with any questions that you may have. Also if we have been helpful to you please share this article to help us reach more people like you.