My computer has been hijacked by Mystart.com and can not remove it using published guides.
Mystart.com has hijacked my browser bar. I run Mozilla Firefox as default, and also have an internet explorer. Both have been corrupted. I have removed items from Control Panel, I have run anti malware software, i have reset browsers... all to no effect. I have checked add-ons and they appear OK. Help!!
Chosen solution
I'm not sure exactly where the problem is, but maybe:
- Wrong home page? You can check your home page setting in the Options dialog here:
- Wrong page at startup, but not when clicking the Home button or opening a new window (Ctrl+n)? Check for a hijacked Firefox shortcut. Right-click the icon you use to start Firefox > Properties > Shortcut tab. Make sure the "Target" is no more and no less than the following:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
- Address bar using the wrong search engine? If your cleanup was successful, you should be able to restore Google to your address bar search by simply choosing its icon on the search bar. See: Search bar - add, change and manage search engines on Firefox.
- Alien toolbar controls? Try removing these in Customize mode, or check out the cleanup steps below. Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars
You may want to take another spin through the Control Panel and Add-ons page:
(1) Start with the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program. After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Take out as much trash as possible here.
(2) Then, in Firefox, open the Add-ons page using either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
In the left column, click Plugins. Set nonessential and unrecognized plugins to "Never Activate".
In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions.
Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.
(3) If needed, search for remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.
Success?
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Chosen Solution
I'm not sure exactly where the problem is, but maybe:
- Wrong home page? You can check your home page setting in the Options dialog here:
- Wrong page at startup, but not when clicking the Home button or opening a new window (Ctrl+n)? Check for a hijacked Firefox shortcut. Right-click the icon you use to start Firefox > Properties > Shortcut tab. Make sure the "Target" is no more and no less than the following:
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
- Address bar using the wrong search engine? If your cleanup was successful, you should be able to restore Google to your address bar search by simply choosing its icon on the search bar. See: Search bar - add, change and manage search engines on Firefox.
- Alien toolbar controls? Try removing these in Customize mode, or check out the cleanup steps below. Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars
You may want to take another spin through the Control Panel and Add-ons page:
(1) Start with the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program. After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Take out as much trash as possible here.
(2) Then, in Firefox, open the Add-ons page using either:
- Ctrl+Shift+a
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
In the left column, click Plugins. Set nonessential and unrecognized plugins to "Never Activate".
In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions.
Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.
(3) If needed, search for remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware.
Success?