Do you suddenly get a pop up of EcoStartPage.com website? What is this webpage and why is it doing weird thing to your computer? Mozilla Firefox is being redirected while Google Chrome works just fine? And previous homepage site is not there anymore? According to the phenomena from Firefox, it seems pretty much that your computer is infected by a browser hijacker. Is EcoStartPage.com a browser hijacker? It is!

EcoStartPage.com Virus and Browser Hijacker

EcoStartPage (AKA EcoStartPage.com) must be a specially designed and hacked website. Why Is that? Reasons include a) it automatically changes your homepage to its own site; b) you cannot easily change homepages now; and c) it constantly redirects you online to unwanted websites and brings many pop ups. Generally, these three phenomena are caused by a browser hijacker or browser redirect virus. And EcoStartPage is doing all this stuff when it gets on your browser! Obviously, it’s defined as a browser hijacker. And it is kind of a known-to-all fact that these browser hijackers are created by cyber hackers in order to hack our computers and then collect valuable information to make illegal benefits.

Most PC users who have got infected by this EcoStartPage redirect virus always wonder how did I get infected by this nasty virus because I didn’t go anywhere that’s forbidden. The time that this browser hijacker pops up may not be the same time you get infected. It may be couple days ago when the infection happened. But in order to get infected by EcoStartPage virus, the infected computer certainly was used to visit some hacked sites or download malware by incident. Once the infection is done, you will experience the above phenomena sooner or later. The browser hijacker may not show up in Control Panel as a program for you to uninstall; it may not easily go away by resetting homepage address in Tools of Firefox. It is believed that once EcoStartPage virus is inside, it will start by changing some default settings in order to make itself stay longer.

Then why didn’t your antivirus software catch this browser hijacker? With specific purpose of collecting PC users’ information and money-related data, EcoStartPage virus is specially created by hackers who are really good at computers and software. Hackers can somehow hack into your computer with the help of this virus. Since your antivirus has failed to remove this virus, manual removal is suggested as the most efficient way. Contact YooSecurity Online PC Expert now for removal assistance. Following are some basic steps on how to remove EcoStartPage redirect virus as well for you to do it on your own (For PC Advanced Users).

A Screen Shot of This EcoStartPage Redirect Virus

A Step-by-step Manual Removal Guide

Notice: Due to the fact that EcoStartPage browser redirect virus can be changeable as time goes on, you may not be able to locate certain files listed below. But the associating files of this EcoStartPage.com virus should be different from system files. It is suggested to do a backup of important files beforehand here.

Open Windows Task Manager to end processes associated with EcoStartPage browser redirect virus. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del keys together at the same time to pull up Window Task Manager window and go to Processes tab on the top; scroll down the list of processes and End suspicious ones.

Show hidden files. Infected files related to EcoStartPage redirect virus can be hidden. Open Control Panel from Start menu and search for Folder Options. Go to Folder Options window, under View tab, tick Show hidden files and folders and non-tick Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) and then click OK.

Go to Registry Editor. Press Windows+R keys and then type regedit in Run box to search. Find out and delete all the associating files and registry entries with EcoStartPage virus as below:

%AppData%\Protector\””-[rnd].exe
%CommonStartMenu%\Programs\Users\-[random]-\
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\System “DisableRegedit” = “”
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\{rnd.exe}
HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun=”\-rnd”

Reset homepage. On Firefox, go to Tools on top and select Options; change EcoStartPage to wanted homepage address in Home Page bar and When Firefox starts: Show my home page. Then click OK.

Restart browser or PC to have a check.

Video on How to Modify or Change Windows Registry

EcoStartPage Redirect Virus Conclusion

It should be told that antivirus programs are not responsible for all the viruses coming from the network including EcoStartPage browser redirect virus. Hackers can still find a way to hack into your computer system if it’s vulnerable. And by vulnerable, it means the computer has been used to visit some hacked websites or links where Trojans can be hidden beneath; one may also install a malicious program without purpose on the computer. Once your computer is becoming weak in protection, hackers will seize the chances and put browser hijacker, EcoStartPage redirect virus inside. Once the infection is done, you will encounter all the above inappropriate activities. If you can’t get rid of this EcoStartPage virus in time, you will have the risks of getting other viruses and malware. The websites you are redirected to contain Trojans and other malware which pretend to be real programs especially PC protection tools. Therefore, one should be really careful when there is an EcoStartPage virus on their browser.

Failed to remove this nasty EcoStartPage.com browser redirect virus? Contact YooSecurity Online PC Expert now for further removal assistance.

Published by Tony Shepherd & last updated on June 5, 2013 3:20 am

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