Can’t Remove Istart123.com Browser Hijacker, Manual Steps to Remove Homepage Malware

Why Homepage Changes to Istart123.com?

Istart123.com has been categorized by computer security company as browser hijacker that usually changes default browser settings without consent and suddenly shows up at homepage.

Browser hijacker was originally created to drive traffic arbitrarily as the online business started to rage. Large amount of traffic could help gain high RIO and promote business. As the Internet develops, more functions of browser hijacker, especially the illicit ones, are discovered:

• gathers plenty of traffic and exchanges it for money.
• connects third-party server secretly and loads down malicious items including but not limit to CryptoTorLocker2015.
• collects confidential information stored in cache without triggering alarm and resells such information to virus makers or advertisers.
• carries aggressive ads that may later pop up a lot to ruin surfing experience and may redirect people to vicious download sites.

So far it is not that certain about which purpose Istart123.com holds though, Istart123.com needs to be removed as quickly as possible.
 

Why Anti-virus Program Won’t Remove Istart123.com Hijacker?

There’s reason why browser hijackers crop up here and there. As a matter of fact, Istart123.com is just one negligible member of the big family. By using BHO, JS and WinsockLSP techniques, which can be easily performed by any experienced web programmer, a browser hijacker is made.

Aside from the easiness to be made, VilmaTech Online Support would like to kindly inform you that the three aforementioned techniques are usually applied on regular website programming. This is the exact reason why Istart123.com won’t trigger the alarm by the installed anti-virus programs. Any addition of vicious code after the connection Istart123.com made between the targeted machine and third-party server would command the three computing techniques to conduct the following ill-purpose behaviors:

• BHO reach cache where personal information including log-in credentials are stored and transfer it to unknown third-party,
• JavaScript technique takes charge of what to display; it would usually allow spam ads and earn extra income for its maker.
• WinsockLSP is the very technique that changes the internet connection protocol and makes www.istart123.com stubborn.

Once the Istart123.com browser hijacker occupies a machine, its service would be planted in system configuration. Any attack would impose direct harm to the target machine. Therefore the browser hijacker needs quick removal and manual one is highly recommended. Below are the steps to follow. Should there be any problems occur during the Istart123.com removal process, just start the live chat with VilmaTech senior computer technicians for quick solution.

 

Remove Istart123.com Hijacker, Manual Steps to Follow

A. End/disable/remove any plug-in/extension related to Istart123.com

Tip: be noted that the steps may slightly change according to the version of a browser.

Internet Explorer

• Locate the top menu bar of IE.
• Click Tools to choose “Manage add-ons”.
• Locate ‘Toolbars and Extensions’ and ‘Search Providers’ respectively.
• Remove the ones with the same name as Istart123 or the ones created on the day when Istart123.con hijacked.
  

 
Mozilla Firefox

• Press on the Mozilla Firefox’s button to choose Tools for Options.
• Navigate to ‘Add-ons’ and ‘plugins’ panel respectively.
• Remove the ones with the same name as Istart123 or the ones created on the day when Istart123.con hijacked.
  

 
Google Chrome

• At the upper right corner of Chrome, please click on the spanner icon to select “Tools”.
• Access ‘Extensions’ to remove the ones with the same name as Istart123 or the ones created on the day when Istart123.con hijacked.
  

 
Opera

• Unfold Opera’s menu and browse to “Extensions”.
• Choose “Manage Extensions”.
• Use “Uninstall” button to remove the ones with the same name as Istart123 or the ones created on the day when Istart123.con hijacked.
  

 
 
B. Modify Host files to further stop www.istart123.com from hijacking

• Press down Win key and R key together will bring you a dialog box.
  
• Please enter “cmd” (without quotation) and hit Enter key.
• See the flashing line/slash in the pop-up little black box? Type “ping www.istart123.com”.
  
• Hit enter key will you get the its accurate IP address.
• Please then open up any folder and paste the following directory to the folder address bar.
  

  C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc

• Open up Hosts file and add the IP address to the last line.
• Save file to stop www.istart123.com from hijacking.

 
 
C. End istart123.com’s service in system configuration.

Windows7/vista/XP

• Use Win + R key combination again for the same dialog box.
• This time please enter “services.msc” command to access System Service window.
• Check the enabled services one by one by right clicking on them and check “Path to Executives”.
  
• Remove/end/disable the ones with “Path to Executives” pointing to istart123.com.

 
Windows 8

• Stay on the Start screen and open up Windows Explorer.
• Look into Administrative tools and press on Services icon.
  
• Check the enabled services one by one by right clicking on them and check “Path to Executives”.
• Remove/end/disable the ones with “Path to Executives” pointing to istart123.com.

 
 
D. Show hidden files and folders to remove the ones created www.istart123.com.

Windows 7/XP/Vista

• Access ‘Control Panel’ from Start Menu.
• Open up “user accounts and family safety” and the browse to ‘Folder Options’.
  
• Locate View tab to tick ‘Show hidden files and folders’.
• Then non-tick ‘Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)’.

 
Windows 8

• Access Windows Explorer again to browse to View tab.
• Tick ‘File name extensions’ and ‘Hidden items’ to show hidden items.
  
• Before removing items in the following listed folders, please right click on the space to select “arrange by date” and arrange the files chronologically (remove the ones related to istart123.com according to the creation date):

C:\WINDOWS\Temp
C:\Program Files\ HBClient
%systemroont%Downloaded Program Files
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Local\Temp\
C:\Documents and Settings\[user name]\Local Settings\Temp
C:\Documents and Settings\[user name]\Local Settings\Temporary Internet File

 
 

Istart123.com After-Removal Tips

As what has been made clear that the Istart123.com hijacking could result in additional virus. Since the offered steps above are exclusively applicable to Istart123.com, problems may remain should there be extra virus. In such case, it is advisable that either of you get professional help from VilmaTech Online Support or follow the corresponding solutions found in VilmaTech’s Virus Removal Section.

Note: the evidence of Istart123.com in browsing history doesn’t indicate that the browser hijacker remains. It is just a record of where you’ve been before. Should you have concerns, just clean up your browsing history will work.
 

Defrag

Each program has bunches of data file for proper operation and has a backdoor system to collect information on errors for future improvement. This is why the longer you use a computer, the more sluggish it becomes. Even though the manual steps help kill critical parts that enable Istart123.com to hijack, some other data files are scattered around to unreasonably take up the inner space. The below video shows a clicks-away method to clean up data file and helps you regain excellent performance.

 
 

Dangers of Being Hijacked by Istart123.com

• Additional computer threats can be loaded onto the targeted machine without consent.
• More pop-up ads or browser plug-ins can be installed without knowledge to ruin surfing experience.
• Both computer and browser performance become poorer day by day.
• Confidential information or precious online game equipment can be stolen without being alarmed.

 

Published & last updated on February 12, 2015 by Erik V. Miller