The Spicy Start search hijacker is an example of an average unwanted program; such programs are promoted enormously nowadays. On this page you will see the comprehensive directions of “Spicy Start” hijacker removal in several ways: using anti-malware software and also hand-operated removal technique.
Spicy Start – What is it?
“Spicy Start” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically promoted as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some special details, for instance, about sporting activity events, make your web browser a lot more safe, enable downloading of any type of video, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).
Nevertheless, the “Spicy Start” plugin is rather useless since all such features are currently built-in to your browser and/or system. Such marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. But occasionally even professional users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific situations, this hijacker is distributed along with free apps.
Spicy Start Search Hijacker
Here is a summary for the Spicy Start hijacker
| NAME | Spicy Start |
| Site | Spicystart.com |
| Hosting | AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc. United States, San Francisco |
| Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
| IP Address | 172.67.208.39 |
| Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
| Similar behavior | Provideosearch, Search, Gopdfconvertersearch |
| Fix Tool |
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC
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How harmful is Spicy Start hijacker?
Besides its impracticality, Spicy Start hijacker is likewise pretty harmful for web browser use. It transforms your search engine to its particular – Spicystart.com, and likewise changes your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the mentioned symbol).
Besides seeable transformations done by Spicy Start hijacker, you can observe that a number of your search questions are redirecting to the suspicious web pages, full of links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting increases if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.
But all these actions are more bothersome than really hazardous. The most significant threat, especially for individuals who have a great deal of secret information in their browsers, is embedded in data collecting functionalities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, as well as other activities are easily collected by Spicy Start hijacker.
How to remove Spicy Start search hijacker?
- Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
- Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
- “Move to quarantine” all items.
- Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
- Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
- Restart your computer.
Browser hijackers are usually fairly very easy to deal with. Most of the times, they have an independent application that can be seen in the list of installed applications. As a result of the certain distribution method of Spicy Start hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and erased manually. Nevertheless, if you got Spicy Start in the package with a free program, your computer might be infected with a lot more severe malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you make use of anti-malware programs to delete the Spicy Start PUA and all other malware.
You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and eliminating a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. But severe malware, that may be present on your computer in the discussed situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such situations, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
To detect and delete all malicious applications on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious apps, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.
You can observe the detected malicious programs sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious apps, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.
To set the action for each detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected virus. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.
Reverting browser settings to original ones
To revert your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any malicious program, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.
After pressing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing Spicy Start hijacker manually
Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.
To reset Edge, do the following steps :
- Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
- After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :
For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :
- Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
- In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
If you use Google Chrome
- Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
- In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
- Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
Opera can be reset in the next way
- Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
- After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :
As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.
I need your help to share this guide.
Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
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Wilbur WoodhamHow to Remove Spicy Start?
Name: Spicy Start
Description: Spicy Start - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove Spicy Start?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with Spicy Start (Spicystart.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.
Operating System: Windows
Application Category: Browser Hijacker
User Review
( votes)References
- More information about PUAs
- Detailed review of Microsoft Defender
