This article is made to help you remove Startgo123. The Startgo123 removal guide works for Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer, as well as every Windows version.

Startgo123 is a search engine. The platform is said to mediate results from the Google generator. An extra feature is a links bar with quick access buttons to the following websites: Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, YouTube, Amazon, eBay and CNN. You will notice an embedded ad between the two rows of links. This is a sign that Startgo123 is involved in advertising. Research has found that a hijacker uses the website to carry out unsolicited advertising campaigns. The furtive program can lead you to corrupted websites which spread malware.

What risks does the hijacker behind Startgo123 pose?

To begin with, there is a risk of your computer being compromised by viruses. This can happen if you follow unsolicited advertisements. Startgo123 generates pop-up ads to support third party websites. The intrusive program promotes exclusive offers for various goods, like technological devices, household items, apparel, decorative elements, gardening equipment, games and others. The ads may look reliable, but there is no guarantee about their origin. Clicking on a pop-up ad could take you to a malicious website, resulting in an infection.

Dismissing the pop-up ads is possible, but there is another way to be redirected to shady websites. The hijacker has the ability to render the browser’s settings. It will reset your homepage and default search engine to Startgo123. The clandestine program will keep on changing your settings, if you make attempts to revert back. By setting Startgo123.com as your search provider, the hijacker attains control over your search results. It will insert sponsored websites amid the regular results to your queries. You will not be able to tell between the real and the fake search results.

The hijacker behind Startgo123 performs another activity on the background which you will not take notice of. The rogue program records information from the web browser. It can track your history, collect data on you and your machine. This includes your IP address, email, geographic location, zip code, user names, passwords, date of birth, home address, telephone number and financial credentials. The owners of the Startgo123 hijacker can sell your data on dark markets. Cyber criminals could buy your details and use them to break into your personal and financial accounts.

How did the Startgo123 hijacker enter my computer?

Determining the exact source for the Startgo123 is oftentimes implausible. To be able to identify the entry point, you need to have a remnant of the source file or email. There are a couple of techniques involved. We will explain how their patterns work and elaborate how to avoid them. To set the record straight, we need to state that the Startgo123.com website does not distribute the hijacker.

The most common source for the Startgo123 hijacker are software bundles. Freeware, shareware and pirated utilities can serve as a download client. The covert program will be offered as a bonus. It will be listed in the terms and conditions and selected per default. If you do not change the settings, it will be allowed into your system. Take the time to read the end user license agreement (EULA) of the programs you intend to add to your PC.

The other propagation vector the hijacker behind Startgo123 uses is spam emails. The insidious program can be transferred to your machine when you open an attachment. Distributors often embed macros and Javascript files to attachments. The code prompts the download and install of a secluded program when the user opens the host. You can filter spam by checking the contacts from the email.

Startgo123 Removal Guide

Before starting the real removal process, you must reboot in Safe Mode. If you are familiar with this task, skip the instructions below and proceed to Step 2. If you do not know how to do it, here is how to reboot in Safe mode:

For Windows 98, XP, Millenium and 7:
Reboot your computer. When the first screen of information appears, start repeatedly pressing F8 key. Then choose Safe Mode With Networking from the options.

For Windows 8/8.1
Click the Start button, next click Control Panel —> System and Security —> Administrative Tools —> System Configuration.‌

Check the Safe Boot option and click OK. Click Restart when asked.
For Windows 10
Open the Start menu and click or tap on the Power button.

While keeping the Shift key pressed, click or tap on Restart.

Remove From Mozilla Firefox:

Open Firefox, click on top-right corner , click Add-ons, hit Extensions next.

Look for suspicious or unknown extensions, remove them all.

Remove From Chrome:

Open Chrome, click chrome menu icon at the top-right corner —>More Tools —> Extensions. There, identify the malware and select chrome-trash-icon(Remove).

Remove From Internet Explorer:
Open IE, then click IE gear icon on the top-right corner —> Manage Add-ons.

Find the malicious add-on. Remove it by pressing Disable.

Right click on the browser’s shortcut, then click Properties. Remove everything after the .exe” in the Target box.

Open Control Panel by holding the Win Key and R together. Write appwiz.cpl in the field, then click OK.

Here, find any program you had no intention to install and uninstall it.

Run the Task Manager by right clicking on the Taskbar and choosing Start Task Manager.

Look carefully at the file names and descriptions of the running processes. If you find any suspicious one, search on Google for its name, or contact me directly to identify it. If you find a malware process, right-click on it and choose End task.

Open MS Config by holding the Win Key and R together. Type msconfig and hit Enter.

Go in the Startup tab and Uncheck entries that have “Unknown” as Manufacturer.

Still can not remove Startgo123 from your browser? Please, leave a comment below, describing what steps you performed. I will answer promptly.