mystartsearch virus? How do I remove it from Windows 7.

Forums › Desktop computing › mystartsearch virus? How do I remove it from Windows 7.

bvalleygirl

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#160386 5-Jan-2015 11:03

How do I remove it from Windows 7. I updated iTunes and this came with it! Please help me. Thanks.

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BDFL - Memuneh
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Geekzone

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#1208405 5-Jan-2015 11:09

Where did you download iTunes from?

Please use correct forum when creating new topics. Moved.

Brumfondl

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#1208406 5-Jan-2015 11:10

Google says: http://www.techsupportall.com/how-to-remove-mystartsearch-com-homepage-removal-help/

Oblivian

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#1208421 5-Jan-2015 11:36

My bets on Cnet Download.com or a googled softonics link. (or another malware redirector was already present and using false searcher and redirected to 3rd party download source with this one in it)

Good at bundling installs into wrapper executables with adware/addons/'tools' and most users use unfriendly google terms to get to the links, find it as a 'guaranteed' source first hit and just click next next next without disabling.

But as posted, generic BHO and hijacking going on. Most anti malware apps should locate if not in the add/remove programs

Gilco2

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#1208422 5-Jan-2015 11:39

I picked that when downloading a program. Wasnt paying much attention and it wasnt official site. Windows 8.1 and I couldnt remove it with programs and features but malwarebytes did remove it

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johnr

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#1208447 5-Jan-2015 12:01

Might be a good idea to scan your pc with malwarebytes

huckster

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#1208454 5-Jan-2015 12:08

Gilco2: I picked that when downloading a program. Wasnt paying much attention and it wasnt official site. Windows 8.1 and I couldnt remove it with programs and features but malwarebytes did remove it

Did this over Christmas myself. Wasn't paying attention and clicked a fake download window.....

I didn't write down exactly what I did, sorry, but it involved things like checking for rogue services, using the command msconfig to check what's started automatically, clearing the home page of the browsers and - most time consuming - cleaning out items from the registry.

You will most likely have something in your system tray too.

Post tidy-up scan showed no issues.

The URL above was the basis for what I did, but it used names not listed on that page. If I remember what they were or anything else, I will come back here.
Finding what was run on start up, a DLL I think, helped when it came to searching for dlls and items in the registry.

trig42

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#1208457 5-Jan-2015 12:15

Malware Bytes MBAM should get rid of it.
Check Add/Remove programs too - it is probably in there as well.

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Jase2985

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#1208469 5-Jan-2015 12:33

been there done that it was a pain in the ass

1. Use Malware bytes and spybot and scan and remove anything it finds
2. Open Programs and Features in control panel and remove any programs you don't recognize, there could be 3 or 4 in there
3. Find your shortcuts to your web browsers (you will need to do each one you have), right click, properties, then in the target make sure its just something like this "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" with nothing after it, there will be a redirect link after it so every time its opened it will take you there.
4. change your home page back to your default

That should take care of it all

freitasm

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#1208508 5-Jan-2015 13:16

Sorry folks, but why would anyone download iTunes if not from the Apple site? PCs are a vital parts of today's life. It should be treated with care - and installing things from CNET and other sites is not treating it with care.

bvalleygirl

28 posts

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#1208679 5-Jan-2015 18:09

thanks everyone for your input. I hadnt updated itunes for ages, so when I went to play something I got a suggestion to update to a newer version. Thats how it happened. Anyway, after spending all day trying to sort it, I did a restore to one just before New Year and so far so good. I am now doing a full scan, then will re-run Malaware and spybot.

Thanks again.

Jase2985

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#1208723 5-Jan-2015 19:31

should be no need to restore, it takes 5 mins + the time it takes to run the scans to fix

Wade

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#1208889 6-Jan-2015 01:56

Dealt with same issue on weekend, uninstalled through windows and then reset browsers and everything seems back to normal

Ramjet007

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#1208896 6-Jan-2015 05:28

combofix will get rid of most virus's. It can make you Pc unbootable.
I have used it lots of times and only lost 1 PC.

Lias

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#1208902 6-Jan-2015 06:42

Kill it with fire.. Any PC that gets a virus or malware on it should be formatted and the OS and apps reloaded.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

nzkiwiman

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#1210007 7-Jan-2015 16:37

I visited friends over the Xmas break and before I was inside I was being asked to remove something from the system.
5 minutes of searching on my phone gave me all I needed - a few software downloads and 25 minutes later, they had a clean system

Point #3 in Jase2985 post is critical

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