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Your Homepage Just Changed to istsearch.com and you cannot remove it!
Manual step by step instructions to remove istsearch browser hijacker and istsearch.com homepage are presented in this article. This search engine has been classified as a browser hijacker. Some computer users are tricked into believing that the program is a useful one because it allows them to personalize their start page. However, you should remember that istsearch.com is an unreliable tool and that you should not trust it. The hijacker is known to affect all the most popular web browsers – Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome, and as soon as it gets installed on the system, it replaces the default search engine without permission.
How did I get infected with istsearch.com?
Istsearch.com is mainly distributed through bundled freeware, which a common way to spread browser hijackers and other undesirable applications. It is advisable to avoid suspicious third-party file hosting websites because they are known to promote applications bundled with all kinds of additional programs. Moreover, you should always choose Custom/Advanced installation option so that you can disable the installation of any unwanted programs. You should also complete all installation steps carefully and read all the information you will be given by the setup wizard.
Why is istsearch.com dangerous?
You should never trust programs that are considered to be potentially dangerous. This also applies for istsearch.com. You should not depend on the search results this tool will provide you with because many of them may contain redirect links to websites belonging to istsearch.com’s sponsors. The advertising services of istsearch.com are available to anyone who pays for them, which means that the links may lead to some schemers’ websites. Hence, you may end up with a number of malicious infections on your system. To prevent that from happening, it would be best to delete istsearch.com right away.
How Can I Remove istsearch?
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If you perform exactly the steps below you should be able to remove the istsearch infection. Please, follow the procedures in the exact order. Please, consider to print this guide or have another computer at your disposal. You will NOT need any USB sticks or CDs.
STEP 1: Uninstall istsearch from Add\Remove Programs
STEP 2: Delete istsearch from Chrome, Firefox or IE
STEP 3: Permanently Remove istsearch Registry Leftovers
STEP 1 : Uninstall istsearch from Your Computer
Simultaneously press the Windows Logo Button and then “R” to open the Run Command
Type “Appwiz.cpl”
Locate istsearch related software and click on uninstall/change. To facilitate the search you can sort the programs by date. Review the most recent installed programs first. In general you should remove all unknown programs.
STEP 2 : Remove istsearch.com from Chrome, Firefox or IE
- Open Google Chrome
- In the Main Menu, select Tools, then Extensions
- Carefully review the chrome Extensions and delete the unwanted ones by clicking on the little recycle bin
- Click on Settings Tab
- Reset Google Chrome by Deleting the current user to make sure nothing is left behind
- Open Mozilla Firefox
- Press simultaneously Ctrl+Shift+A
- Carefully review the installed add-ons and disable the unwanted
- Go to Help
- Then Troubleshoot information
- Click on Reset Firefox
- Open Internet Explorer
- On the Upper Right Corner Click on the Gear Icon
- Click on Internet options
- Change istsearch.com Homepage to whatever page you want
- Select the Advanced tab and click on Reset.
- Restart IE
Permanently Remove istsearch Virus Leftovers
Nevertheless, manual removal is successful, I recommend to scan with any professional antimalware program to identify and remove the malware registry leftovers and temporary files.