Startseite24.net

Startseite24.net is a search site that malware researchers have seen under promotion by browser hijackers. These threats may redirect your browser to Startseite24.net, or lock Startseite24.net as a default page for new tabs or windows. While safe downloading practices can curtail the means of access to a browser hijacker having availability for installing itself, malware analysts always recommend using reputable security programs for the process of removing Startseite24.net hijackers.

Why Your Browser's Only Starting Point may be Startseite24.net

Startseite24.net is a search engine site that may use Bing, instead of delivering independent results. Although this service is neither illegal nor threatening to your PC, malware experts recently saw Startseite24 under promotion by a possible security risk: the Web Search browser add-on. Web Search is a browser hijacker, and all known versions of this software may lock your browser's homepage or search page to an unwanted Web address, such as Startseite24.net.

Malware experts traced the software distribution path for Startseite24.net hijackers back to an unofficial Web page for the OpenOffice software, targeted towards German-speaking PC users. The Openoffice.de website makes no mention of being an unofficial page unaffiliated with the Apache Software, and, likewise, doesn't warn the Web surfer of its bundling OpenOffice with Web Search. The domain's registration attributes itself to Arne Koenig, a software developer with an extensive history of distributing adware and other, unwanted browser add-ons.

Current versions of Web Search limit themselves to redirecting the Chrome browser to Startseite24.net, with all other brands of browsers being seemingly unmodified. However, no obvious extension is visible from the Chrome's extension manager, and reinstalling Chrome does not remove the setting changes responsible for forcing Startseite24.net's loading at the browser's startup.

Getting the Startseite out of Your Eyes

Although OpenOffice is a legitimate alternative to premium Word processors, savvy PC users always should try to get their software from genuine, safe sources. In the case of OpenOffice, this means using the official site at Openoffice.org, which also hosts German language packs for users requiring them. Although Openoffice.de does not host drive-by-downloads or other content that may attack your PC directly, so far, malware experts have seen no evidence of its requiring consent before installing its Startseite24.net hijacker.

Although Web Search is a Potentially Unwanted Program with a well-known history, recent versions of this PUP may avoid being detected during system scans. Use updated databases for all anti-adware and anti-malware products to prevent this issue. When removing Web Search or other Startseite24 hijackers, always close all browsers beforehand, and, if necessary, use features such as Safe Mode to block any interfering processes.

If worst comes to worst, scanning your downloads also can let your security products identify bundlers that are the most common vehicles for adware, browser hijackers, and other PUPs to install themselves.