How to Remove istartsurf.com Redirect Virus? (Removal Instructions)

istartsurf.com redirect virus is designed with advanced hacked techniques, which can interrupt Internet users’ online activities. It is easy for this browser threat to cheat majority users for its interface only consists of search box and search icon like many legitimate search sites do. However, istartsurf.com site is not a useful website but an extremely dangerous virus infection to boost web traffic. As dangerous as search.qone8.com browser hijacker, istartsurf.com virus can attack a computer when users visit suspicious websites associated with the redirect threat. It can also come bundled with some freeware or shareware downloaded from unsafe sources. Once this istartsurf.com virus has invaded a system, it can change web browser settings, change the previous home page, and always control web browser activities without user’s consent.

Some users may not consider this redirect virus as a threat and just ignore it. Yet whenever Internet users create new pages or open new tabs, the istartsurf.com website keep popping up automatically without warning. The virus can change search results to random ones which are commercial advertisements or pornographic contents. In many cases, istartsurf.com browser threat comes along with Trojans, keyloggers, bogus antivirus programs, Ransomware or other types of browser threats. Obviously, istartsurf.com should be removed from the infected computer promptly to avoid further damage. If not removed timely, the redirect virus may download and install unknown toolbars onto users’ browsers in order to track users’ browser cookies. Sensitive information will be stolen by this istartsurf.com browser virus completely. Besides, it may replace your default homepage and change your system and web browser settings but it is difficult to change them back. To avoid more unwanted trouble, users should take immediate action to get rid of istartsurf.com redirect virus from their computers. Mostly of the victims fails to eliminate istartsurf.com for this malware is able to escape from legit antimalware scanner effectively. In such cases, we highly recommend that to remove istartsurf.com redirect virus by using powerful removal tool.

Reasons to Remove istartsurf.com

1. It can alter system DNS settings as well as web browser settings and redirect search result to unknown but malicious web content pages.

2. It can drop and install numerous add-ons, extensions, plugins, and Toolbars voluntarily. It also drops other types of malware to users’ computers.

3.It often causes redirection and serious PC problems, such as blue screen of death unexpectedly, poor PC performance, programs malfunction, etc. The CPU usage usually reaches to 100%.

4.istartsurf.com may damage the protect ability of Firewall and antivirus programs. This is a common tactic used by redirect viruses to keep themselves safe.

5. The malware may even open a backdoor for remote hackers to access and control the affected computer freely.

Effectively Method to Remove istartsurf.com

No matter what effective security tool is protecting your computer, istartsurf.com browser infection can still fine its way in without your knowledge. You may try to fix this browser hijack problem with your own but can not succeed. You may want to know why this happens. In the age of cyber, most viruses are crafted with rootkit techniques, and this increases the difficulty of the removal. Updating definition or signature of antivirus process is a fussy process which takes a long time. Faced with the inflexible hijacker virus, the antivirus have no effect on it. In this case, you can consider manually removing the redirect virus from your computer.

Step 1: Set the default homepage back

For Internet Explorer:
Click on Browser Tools
Select Manage Add-ons on the tools window
Click Search Provider
Here you can see many kinds of search engine option as Bing and Google, select your favorite one to be a default homepage.
Choose Search Results and click on Remove icon to eliminate it
Click Tools, select Internet Options and then the General tab. Here you can option a website you like and save it.
c. Select ‘Search Results’ and click ‘Remove’ to remove it;

For Google Chrome:
Open Customize and control
Click on Settings
Select on Basic Options icon
Here you can reset your homepage (e.g.Google.com）
Once you choose a default homepage, click on Manage Search Engines and then click Google to be your default search engine.
Remove it from the browser by clicking Search Result and then the X’ mark

For Mozilla Firefox:
Click Manage Search Engine
Select Search Results and then click Remove option, click OK
Open Tools, under the General tab, set Google.com as default homepage

Step 2: Locate related files of istartsurf.com and remove them from the computer
%AllUsersProfile%
%AllUsersProfile%\Programs\{random letters}\
%AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\~r
%AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\~dll

Step 3: Remove cookies on all browsers
Internet Explorer:
Click options on the browser and then choose Internet Options
Open General tab, click Delete Browsing History to remove all related cookies
Select cookies and click Delete

Firefox:
Click option
Select Privacy and then click on Remove Individual Cookies icon
Delete relevant cookies list on the box

Google Chrome:
Click option
Open Under the Bonnet tab
Select Privacy and then click Clear browsing data
Delete all cookies

Step 4: Remove malicious registry entries
Open Registry Editor on the start menu
Type in Regedit and click OK
Remove all the following registry entries
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings “CertificateRevocation” = ‘1’
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments “SaveZoneInformation” = ‘0’


Note: The manual removal involves several complicated steps. A wrong operating may lead to system crashing. Hence, if you are not clever at computer, it is recommended that you remove the istartsurf.com virus by means of a professional virus removal tool.

In Summary:

istartsurf.com is a browser extension, plug-in or add-on that is related to browser hijacker. It is mainly used to generate advertising revenue and boost website traffic. Typically, this redirect virus can set its domain URL as users’ default homepage and start page without any permission. If the threat cannot be deleted timely, it may download and install some additional browser extensions, add-ons or toolbars to record users’ online activities and trace cookies. Therefore, it is to remove it effectively for the purpose of avoiding worse damage and loss. In case that the antivirus program cannot remove it, the manual removal method is provided above to help.


Manual removal of istartsurf.com redirect virus is effective but is only for advanced PC users, who can handle the complicate process. It can be very dangerous if you do not have any related experience of dealing with files removal or registry removal. Reputable computer experts usually suggest user be careful. If you are unable to remove istartsurf.com virus on your own, please download a powerful malware removal tool to help you completely and securely remove all potential infections from your computer.