16Start.com Redirect Virus – Guide to Remove 16Start.com Redirect Virus

Description of 16Start.com Redirect Virus 

16Start.com redirect virus, also deemed as a browser hijacker, is used by hackers to boost website traffic and it can badly interfere with users’ online activities. Pretending to be a legitimate website, this redirect virus will provide users the search service as what Google does. What we should know is that this is a malicious site used by cyber criminals under the evil purpose of gaining monetary profits from victims when PC users are clicking on some pop up ads. Generally speaking, this redirect virus often slips into computers by phishing websites, modified web contents such as pictures and ads popping ups. In this way, redirect pages will get illegal benefits from the pay-per-click technique. Once PC users activate the infected resource, this browser hijack redirect will be able to invade the targeted browser in a very quick time. 

Once the 16Start.com virus finishes its installation on the target computers, it begins to take actions to cause chaos in default system settings by replicating its codes and registries. Browsers as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome are the first target which may be attacked by this threat badly. Additionally, it has the ability to disable your executable programs in order to bypass the scanning of security software. The tab will always navigate to 16Start.com each time you launch it. Besides, when you enter some specific web URLs to visit some respected web page then you are very likely to be redirected to another strange site instead due to the effect of the virus. 

The redirect virus should not be kept as default homepage of the browser or the potential harmful activities performed by it won’t stop. More than half net users hold the attitude that the reputable antivirus software are powerful enough to find out such problem at the very beginning while antivirus software do not. This is dangerous because users’ important data, such as bank account details, phone numbers, ID numbers and other logins and passwords, may be revealed to third parties for illegal purposes. Computer users may also encounter slow computer performance caused by the browser hijacker. It can also install toolbars and add-ons on your browsers to damage your computer terribly. Then, cyber hackers would be able to utilize system vulnerabilities to remotely control compromised machine and carry out their illegal activities. 

What will 16Start.com Do on Your Computer? 

16Start.com is a annoying redirect virus that can perform a lot of spiteful activities to make your PC chaos. Most internet users tend to eliminate 16Start.com hijack virus by using their installed anti-malware programs. However, they would complain that installed antivirus programs fail to remove delete the redirect virus efficiently. To do this we can try manual method and some system care tools. By using advanced hiding techniques, the malware enables to evade the detection and auto removal by majority security tools. Since it is an extremely dangerous browser hijack redirect, it is strongly suggest that PC users should remove it by using a profession tool. 

Do note that the manual removal of 16Start.com is difficult and dangerous for inexperienced PC users for the sake of the characteristic of this threat. Removal process of system files, DLL and registry will require certain computer skills. Never ignore the problem, or things may go worse without nay warning. 

Remove 16Start.com Redirect Step by Step 

Step 1: Remove the 16Start.com redirect virus related programs.

1. Click Start menu and select Control Panel.

2. Click on Uninstall a program under the Programs category.

3. In the programs list find out any suspicious programs, and then click on the Uninstall.

4. Follow the wizard to accomplish the removal.

Step 2: Remove all unwanted extensions from the browsers.

Internet Explorer

1. Start the Internet Explorer, click on Tools, and select Manage Add-ons in the drop-down list.

2. Click on Toolbars and Extensions, find out and disable the add-ons related to 16Start.com redirect virus.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Run the Mozilla Firefox, click on Tools and choose Add-ons.

2. Click on Extensions, then select the unwanted add-ons in the list and click on Remove\Disable button.

3. Click Plugins, and remove\disable any unknown add-ons.

Google Chrome

1. Launch Google Chrome and click on the menu icon.

2. Click the Tools in the list then select Extensions.

3. Click on Extensions, then find out the 16Start.com redirect virus related add-ons and delete them.

Step 3: Remove all malicious files and registry entries.

1. In the local disk C, local the following folders:

%Temp%\

%Program Files%\

%UserProfile%\Desktop\

%UserProfile%\Start Menu\

%Document and Settings%\[UserName]\Application Data\

%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\

2. In the above folders, find out and remove any malicious files.

3. Open the registry editor by following the steps: click Start menu, type “regedit” into the search box, and click “regedit.exe” from the results list.

4. In the registry editor, find out and delete any malicious registry entries from your PC.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “[RANDOM].exe”

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “[RANDOM].exe”

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\run\Random.exe

Conclusion 

16Start.com is a rather malignant redirect virus that is able to infect most of the common used Internet browsers. The redirect virus, if not removed in time, will not only make the infected computers malfunction, but also violate users’ personal privacy. Many users prefer to remove SafeSearch.net hijack virus with the help of their installed antivirus programs, but this may not work because some antivirus software are not able to pick up any traces of the threat. In fact, it is a total scam that will steal your sensitive information for illegal benefits. Under such circumstance, users can consider manually removing this threat from their machines. 

However, manual removal of SafeSearch.net virus involves removing kernel system DLL files and registry files, and it requires advanced computer skills. If you want to fix the browser problem you can use the malware removal tool for good.