Navigation

    • Login
    • Search
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Users
    • Groups
    • Rules
    • Help

    Do more on the web, with a fast and secure browser!

    Download Opera browser with:

    • built-in ad blocker
    • battery saver
    • free VPN
    Download Opera

    Get rid of brower hijacker - Istartsurf

    Opera for Windows
    15
    26
    3729
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • lioness11
      lioness11 last edited by

      Through a moment's inattention when downloading some audio converter software I have ended up with this awful browser hijacker on my computer. Have managed to uninstall and get rid of all instances everywhere (that I can see!) including Chrome and IE, but I can't find where it's commanding Opera to reidrect to it's own search engine. I've reset all the preferences and blocked the address at the moment, but the page still tries to load when I open Opera.

      Can anyone please give me an idea where this command might be hiding?

      Thanks very much - it's driving me nuts and I've wasted a good few hours now trying to get rid of it.

      Reply Quote 0
        1 Reply Last reply
      • Deleted User
        Deleted User last edited by

        Moderator: please consider closing this useless thread. Thanks.

        Reply Quote 0
          1 Reply Last reply
        • lioness11
          lioness11 last edited by

          Please explain why this is useless? I need help.

          Reply Quote 0
            1 Reply Last reply
          • rainspa
            rainspa last edited by

            Try this: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

            Reply Quote 0
              1 Reply Last reply
            • davehawley
              davehawley last edited by

              Check that the malware hasn't just added the address to Opera's shortcut as a switch.
              🙂

              Still in mourning for Opera 12.........

              Reply Quote 0
                1 Reply Last reply
              • lioness11
                lioness11 last edited by

                Thanks people!!

                Reply Quote 0
                  1 Reply Last reply
                • leocg
                  leocg Moderator Volunteer last edited by

                  Try also checking your system with Malwarebytes.

                  Reply Quote 0
                    1 Reply Last reply
                  • lioness11
                    lioness11 last edited by

                    It was in the shortcut switch. The only place I hadn't checked. Malawarebytes and CCleaner had got rid of everything else, plus manual deletes in other browser settings. Really appreciate your help everyone. Problem sorted.

                    Reply Quote 0
                      1 Reply Last reply
                    • browzer1
                      browzer1 last edited by

                      leushino ... why is this a "useless" thread?

                      Reply Quote 0
                        1 Reply Last reply
                      • joshl
                        joshl last edited by

                        He hadn't got his ☕ , perhaps;)

                        Reply Quote 0
                          1 Reply Last reply
                        • bogdanlazar
                          bogdanlazar last edited by

                          so, did somebody found out how can it be removed from opera browser. because there are guides to remove istartsurf from the other browsers.

                          Reply Quote 0
                            1 Reply Last reply
                          • linuxmint7
                            linuxmint7 last edited by

                            See the link in the third comment down.

                            Reply Quote 0
                              1 Reply Last reply
                            • bogdanlazar
                              bogdanlazar last edited by

                              I have used adwcleaner, and some other programs but did not help. I successfully removed it manually from ie and firefox according to the instructions found on many websites, but nothing about opera. I'm using Opera 24.0. i tried to delete the files from appdata/local/, I've deleted the cookies .. didn't help.

                              Reply Quote 0
                                1 Reply Last reply
                              • davehawley
                                davehawley last edited by

                                Did you check the command line in Opera's startup shortcut?
                                🙂

                                Still in mourning for Opera 12.........

                                Reply Quote 0
                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                • bogdanbuha
                                  bogdanbuha last edited by

                                  yes, I did: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera". it's ok there.

                                  Reply Quote 0
                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                  • sgunhouse
                                    sgunhouse Moderator Volunteer last edited by

                                    Is that the shortcut you use to start Opera - and that isn't the command line of the shortcut. The command line should be "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\launcher.exe" (with nothing after the second quote).

                                    Reply Quote 0
                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                    • frajer
                                      frajer last edited by

                                      i don't understand any of this, anyone pls write in step by step 🙂

                                      Dave said:
                                      Did you check the command line in Opera's startup shortcut?
                                      🙂

                                      Did you check the command line in Opera's startup shortcut?

                                      and sgun:
                                      Is that the shortcut you use to start Opera - and that isn't the command line of the shortcut. The command line should be "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\launcher.exe" (with nothing after the second quote).

                                      what does that mean, please I can't get rid of this..

                                      Reply Quote 0
                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                      • frajer
                                        frajer last edited by

                                        i'm using Opera beta, I managed to remove it from Chrome and apparently form Opera and looks alike from system..I hope..only for Opera beta I can't find it. I don't understand what are switches or how it can be in command line.
                                        thanks

                                        Reply Quote 0
                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                        • blackbird71
                                          blackbird71 last edited by

                                          Istartsurf is adware that hijacks your browser to force it to use Istartsurf's websites and show their ads. To get rid of it, you have to remove all of its program files from your computer and undo the changes it makes to your system's registry, which removal is what the Malwarebytes and AdwCleaner tools will try to help you do.

                                          You may also have to manually remove any changes the adware may have made to any of the shortcuts used for starting up your browser... shortcuts are the little icon-buttons on your desktop or your taskbar/toolbars, and they contain commands to the computer to start up the associated program. Adware hijackers can attach special command terminology to what is written within those shortcuts and which may force a browser to go directly to the adware's website upon browser startup... in which case, you have to clear out that added terminology if it exists.

                                          When you right click a startup icon for Opera, you should see a Properties entry (if the icon is in your Windows taskbar instead of the desktop, you will then need to right click on the software name as well to see the Properties entry); left click on that Properites word to bring up the Properties panel for the shortcut. Under the shortcut tab, you should see a Target: line with a computer command in it. That command should ordinarily read "C:\Program Files (x86)\Opera\launcher.exe" with no other terms or letters behind those words. If something else appears there, copy it and report back here. If it reads as written, then the shortcut is OK.

                                          Note that if you have other browsers, or browser shortcuts in other user accounts, you should manually check each and every one to assure that all of the adware linkages have been completely cleared out.

                                          Reply Quote 0
                                            1 Reply Last reply
                                          • sutoposasuke
                                            sutoposasuke last edited by

                                            thanks I like your sharing..

                                            Reply Quote 0
                                              1 Reply Last reply
                                            • First post
                                              Last post

                                            Computer browsers

                                            • Opera for Windows
                                            • Opera for Mac
                                            • Opera for Linux
                                            • Opera beta version
                                            • Opera USB

                                            Mobile browsers

                                            • Opera for Android
                                            • Opera Mini
                                            • Opera Touch
                                            • Opera for basic phones

                                            • Add-ons
                                            • Opera account
                                            • Wallpapers
                                            • Opera Ads

                                            • Help & support
                                            • Opera blogs
                                            • Opera forums
                                            • Dev.Opera

                                            • Security
                                            • Privacy
                                            • Cookies Policy
                                            • EULA
                                            • Terms of Service

                                            • About Opera
                                            • Press info
                                            • Jobs
                                            • Investors
                                            • Become a partner
                                            • Contact us

                                            Follow Opera

                                            • Opera - Facebook
                                            • Opera - Twitter
                                            • Opera - YouTube
                                            • Opera - LinkedIn
                                            • Opera - Instagram

                                            © Opera Software 1995-