Browser Hijacker

Remove Star-Search.xyz Hijacker

Star-Search.xyz is a harmful computer infection that can assign fake search engines and homepages to your browser causing unwanted redirection to malicious sites. It is a rogue site that can cause major damage to your system. It can compromise your system’s security and privacy if it does not get removed quickly. In this guide, you can learn how to remove Star-Search.xyz virus safely from your PC.

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Threats like Star-Search.xyz keep getting back on the PC if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

Compatible with: Windows 11/10/8/7 (32 Bit and 64 Bit)

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What Is Star-Search.xyz

Star-Search.xyz is a deceptive browser hijacking malware that replaces the default homepage and search engine of your browser. This nasty malware is able to infect all versions of Windows computers. It is a browser-based infection that installs malicious extensions on your browser to carry out its devious tasks on your machine. Star-Search.xyz is a cunning PC threat that is designed by hackers to cheat innocent PC users and make illegal profits.

It will silently invade your computer and contaminate your browsers like Chrome, Safari, MS Edge, Firefox, IE, Opera, and others. After getting full access to your browser, it will make several unwanted modifications to the browser settings. Star-Search.xyz will start showing lots of ads, pop-ups, and sponsored search results. It only wants to redirect your browser to third-party websites and earn an illegal commission. Hackers use this type of infection to redirect web traffic to low-level malicious websites that users try to avoid normally. There is a great chance that visiting such phishing websites will result in you being a victim of online fraud.

Star-Search.xyz: Threat Analysis

Name Star-Search.xyz
Type Browser Hijacker
Threat Level High (source to distribute other harmful threats).
Symptoms Users can experience lots of pop-up ads, push notifications, and forced browser redirection.
Distribution It could be distributed through spam emails, bundled freeware, porn, or torrent sites.
Damage It can modify browsers, show unwanted Ads, steal personal info, and bring other threats.
Removal Download SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware

Working of Star-Search.xyz virus?

Star-Search.xyz is a dangerous computer virus that is specially created by hackers to infect the main web browser on the targeted system and wreak havoc. It will cause lots of annoying ads, sponsored search results, and forced browser redirection. Threats like this are hard to eliminate because they make unwanted changes to system and browser settings and do not allow you to reverse those changes. They control all your online activities and can also prohibit you from visiting legitimate websites.

Star-Search.xyz is a serious computer malware that should not be taken lightly. Most users think of it as an alternate search engine and ignore them. It can lead to slow system performance and Internet speed along with tons of misleading ads, banners, offers, and commercials all over the Internet, and forced browser redirection. Not to mention, it will totally ruin your web browsing experience. Apart from this, Star-Search.xyz virus can also install other harmful extensions, add-ons, etc. on your computer that will cause additional damage.

How it infects your computer?

Star-Search.xyz virus mostly intrudes on your computer bundled with free third-party programs, shareware, cracked software, and other stuff that are illegally obtained from malicious websites. Hackers can also send this nasty malware to your system hidden in spam email attachments and it is one of the most effective methods because users mostly open all types of emails. Your system could also get infected by this nasty malware when you visit porn or torrent websites or share files on an unsafe network.

Once inside, the Star-Search.xyz virus can also disable your security-related programs, making it harder to detect and remove this infection. It not only shows ads or redirects your browser but also gathers your personal information by tracking your browser history and shareware with hackers. It can risk your system and privacy and leads to major problems like identity theft and bank fraud. It is very important to remove Star-Search.xyz virus from the infected computer without making any delay.

How To Remove Star-Search.xyz

Follow this guide carefully to remove this virus completely from your system. Below you can find step-by-step instructions on how to effectively get rid of this nasty threat easily. Removal of threats like Star-Search.xyz Virus is never easy, so we have simplified the process for you in several small steps.

Quick Summary of Removal Instructions:

  1. Automatic Star-Search.xyz Removal Guide
  2. Manual Star-Search.xyz Removal Guide
  3. Start PC in Safe Mode With Networking
  4. Kill Malicious Process From Task Manager
  5. Uninstall Virus From Windows Control Panel
  6. Remove Virus From Windows Registry Editor
  7. Remove Star-Search.xyz From Browser
  8. Prevent Star-Search.xyz Virus in Future

Please Bookmark This Page by pressing the {ctrl+D} button or print it out on paper before you start the removal process because you may need to restart your PC or browser.

Automatic Star-Search.xyz Removal Guide

It can be hectic to remove threats from an infected PC but the use of powerful Anti-Malware can make it quite easy. SpyHunter anti-malware can help you to remove Trojan, Ransomware, Spyware, Adware, PUPs, etc. easily. You can scan your system for Star-Search.xyz virus, and all other hidden threats at once. All you need to do is to download this software and run a new scan on your PC.

It will find all the threats and viruses in no time and save you lots of time and effort. This amazing software also provides 24X7 customer support and one-on-one Spyware HelpDesk support for Custom Malware removal. Advanced System Guard feature detects and removes threats in real time. It has a very User-Friendly Interface and regular Malware definition updates make it most effective against the latest attacks.

How SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware Works

  • You will begin by downloading the software on your system for which you have to click on the below download button.

Geek’s Recommendation

Threats like Star-Search.xyz keep getting back on the machine if all associated files are not removed. So you are advised to use a powerful Malware Removal Tool to run a thorough scan of your PC and delete all threats at once.

SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

  • Once the software has been downloaded, double-click on SpyHunter-Installer.exe to install the Anti-Malware program on your PC and proceed with the setup.

double clickAllow access

  • After installation, you will need to launch the Anti-Malware application. From the welcome screen click on the Start Scan Now button to initiate a new scan of your PC.

Scan for Star-Search.xyz

  • Once the scanning process begins, it will take some time to run a thorough diagnostic of your PC and find all hidden threats and malware.

Scan for Star-Search.xyz

  • Soon you will find a complete list of all the threats on your system screen. Then you will need to click on the Next button to delete all the viruses.

Remove Star-Search.xyz

Manual Star-Search.xyz Removal Guide

Before you start Manual Removal

Attention! For the safety of your system, please confirm a few things before you begin manual removal:

  1. You have done this before, which means you have experience in removing the virus manually;
  2. That you know your way around PC and  all necessary processes and applications;
  3. You know about Registry entry and the Serious repercussions of any mistake;
  4. Make sure you can reverse any mistake made during virus removal.

If you don’t attain any of the above standards, then manual removal could be a very risky idea. It is most likely best for you to use the SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware which is totally secure and efficient method.

SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

Start PC in safe mode with networking

  • Click on the Windows and R keys together on your keyboard to open the Windows Run Box.
  • Now you will need to type in MSConfig and then click the OK button.
  • The System configuration settings box will appear on your computer screen.
  • Click on the Boot tab, check the Safe Boot option, and select the network box,
  • Finally, you will have to click on Apply and then press the OK button.

Safe boot

Kill Malicious Process From Task Manager

  • Open the Windows Rub box again on your PC by pressing the Windows and R keys together on your keyboard.
  • This time you will have to type in taskmgr and then click the OK button to open Windows Task Manager. Look for any unknown or malicious running on your system.
  • Select the process which is taking lots of systems resources and then click on the End Task button.

Stop Star-Search.xyz related task

Uninstall Star-Search.xyz from Control Panel

  • Again you will need to open the Windows Run Box, so press the Windows and R keys together.
  • This time you need to open the Windows Control Panel, so type in appwiz.cpl and then click the OK button.
  • Programs and Features windows will appear on your computer screen with a list of all the installed applications.
  • Now you need to look for any unknown or Star-Search.xyz virus related program and then Uninstall it from your PC.

Remove Star-Search.xyz

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Registry Editor

  • Again open the Windows Run Box on your PC by using the Windows and R keys.
  • To open the Windows Registry Editor, type in Regedit and click the OK button.
  • Now you will have to find the virus related registry files and remove them.
  • Press CTRL and F keys together on the keyboard to start a Find query.
  • Type Star-Search.xyz and click on Find Next button to find malicious entries and delete them.

Remove Star-Search.xyz related registry

Warning: Meddling with Windows Registry files might not be a good idea if you don’t have advanced knowledge about registry files. Deleting the wrong file can break down your entire system. Proceed at your own risk, or just skip this step. You can choose the Automatic Removal method and avoid all the problems.

SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware offers a 7-day fully-functional Free Trial. Credit card required, NO charge upfront. No charge if you cancel up to two business days before the trial period ends. Read SpyHunter 5 Review, and Free SpyHunter Remover details.

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Browser

Most of the time, threats like this make several changes to the browser which helps it to track victims’ online activities. They use browser hijacking capabilities to show ads, offers, alerts, and notifications or steal the personal information of the victim. It is important to completely remove the virus from the browser or it may come back. Follow the below steps to remove this infection from your browser.

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Google Chrome

Note: Type or copy-paste – chrome://extensions in the URL bar of Google Chrome then press the ENTER button to open the extensions page directly or follow the below steps.

  • First, launch the Google Chrome browser then go to the upper right corner and click on the Menu (⋮) option.
  • You will see a drop-down menu, select the More tools option and then choose the Extensions option.
  • Find the malicious extensions from the Chrome extensions page and then click the trash can icon to remove them completely.

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Google Chrome

Eliminate Star-Search.xyz From Mozilla Firefox

Note: Type or copy-paste – about:addons in the URL bar, Firefox then hit ENTER button to open the extensions page directly or follow the below steps.

  • This time launch the Mozilla Firefox browser and take your mouse to the upper right corner and click on Menu (☰) option.
  • Firefox drop-down menu will appear on your screen then click on the Add-ons option.
  • Choose the Extensions option from the left side menu to see the list of installed extensions on your browser.
  • Look for any suspicious or unknown extensions then uninstall them by clicking on the Remove button.

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Mozilla Firefox

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Microsoft Edge

  • Edge users will launch their MS Edge browser, go to the upper right corner and click on More Tools (⋮) option.
  • Again to see the list of all installed extensions, click on the Extensions option from the Edge drop-down menu.
  • Find any potentially harmful extension and then click on the Uninstall button to remove it.

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Microsoft Edge

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Apple Safari

  • If you use the Safari browser then launch it and click on the Safari menu then tap on the Preferences option.
  • Now just click on the Extensions tab to see the list of all installed extensions on your browser.
  • Find any virus related or malicious extensions then click on Uninstall button.
  • Finally, again click the Uninstall button to remove the extension completely.

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Apple Safari

Delete Star-Search.xyz From Internet Explorer

  • Internet Explorer users also need to click on the Menu option from the upper right corner.
  • When the browser’s drop-down list appears, select the manage Add-ons option to see all installed extensions.
  • If you find any unknown and malicious extensions then remove them by clicking on Disable button.

Remove Star-Search.xyz From Internet Explorer

Reset Browser Setting to Default

Once you remove Star-Search.xyz from your browser, you might want to reset the browser to default settings to reset any changes made by the virus. Follow the below steps for that :

Google Chrome Web Browser Reset

  • First, you need to open Chrome’s settings option by clicking on the Menu (⋮) from the upper right corner.
  • You will find a Reset and Clean up option from the left side menu, click on it.
  • Now you need to click on the Restore settings to their original defaults option from your screen.
  • Finally, give your confirmation by clicking on the Reset Settings button to reset your chrome browser.

Reset chrome

Mozilla Firefox Browser Reset

  • Launch your Mozilla Firefox browser then go to the upper right corner and click on Menu (☰) option.
  • A drop-down menu will appear then click on the Help option to open the Firefox help menu.
  • Now click on the More troubleshooting information option.
  • Press the Refresh Firefox button and when the system prompts then again give confirmation by clicking on the Refresh Firefox.

Refresh Firefox

MS Edge Browser Reset

  • Launch your Microsoft Edge browser then take your mouse to the upper right corner and click on More Tools (…) option.
  • When the Edge drop-down menu appears, scroll down until you see the Settings option and click on it.
  • Click on the Reset Settings option from the left side menu and then click on the Restore settings to their default values option.
  • Finally, when the system prompts you to verify click on the Reset button.

Reset Edge

Reset Safari To Default

  • Safari users need to open their browser and tap on the Safari menu then select the Reset Safari option.
  • Select what you want to clear or you can simply check all the boxes and then finally click on the Reset button.

Reset Safari To Default

Reset Internet Explorer Browser

  • To reset the Internet Explorer browser first click on the Menu icon and hit Internet options.
  • Now you will need to click on the Advanced tab and then click the Reset button.
  • Check the Delete personal settings option, and again hit the Reset button.

Reset Internet Explorer Browser

Prevent Star-Search.xyz in Future

  • Get a powerful Anti-Malware or Anti-virus to fight cyber threats. Free versions do not offer the best protection and cracked security programs can do more damage than good.
  • Always keep your Windows firewall active, and your OS updated along with other important programs. Only download updates from official sites or reliable sources.
  • Check HTTPS before entering your email, password, credit card details, etc. to any site. Do not visit sites that do not have SSL security. Also, don’t forget to Enable Phishing and Malware protection in Browser.
  • Do not download or install any type of pirated software, games, or illegal patches. Avoid using shady sites to acquire freeware programs because they often use software bundling. Never install a program that asks you to inactivate your anti-virus software.
  • Avoid opening spam emails from unknown senders.  Always scan all the email attachments before opening them. Never click on any suspicious links with some too good to be true offers.
  • Connecting your PC or mobile devices to unsafe public Wi-Fi is not a good idea. You can also avoid unwanted threats coming from malicious sites by using a VPN to spoof your connection.
  • Keep regular backups of all your important data on external hard drives or cloud drives to avoid data loss in case of a ransomware attack. Also, create a system restore point on your system for security purposes.

About the author

Robert Calvert

Robert is the Chief Security Expert and Founder of PCSafetyGeek.com website. He is a cybersecurity enthusiast who loves to research about Malware outbreaks and write about their remedies. He also like to spend time trying new software, reviewing them and sharing IT news. However he is a real coffee lover and likes to play chess in spare time (which is quite rare 😜).

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