An infection with the dangerous Spicy Start Redirect leads to serious security issues. Victims can restore and protect their computers by following our complete removal guide.
Remove Spicy Start Redirect and Restore PC
Manual Removal Guide
Skip all steps and download anti-malware tool that will safely scan and clean your PC.
SpyHunter anti-malware tool will diagnose all current threats on the computer. By purchasing the full version, you will be able to remove all malware threats instantly. Additional information about SpyHunter / Help to uninstall SpyHunter
Distribution of Spicy Start Redirect
Spicy Start is a new malware which has been reported in various attacks worldwide. At the moment the security experts have not been able to identify a single tactic that is being used to infect the targets. We presume that the hackers are using several of the most important methods to carry out the malicious campaigns.
A common way of setting browser hijacker attacks is the use of email spam messages. They may directly distribute malicious file attachments containing scripts that lead to an infection. Other cases can utilize complex social engineering tricks and hyperlinks that are specifically made to confuse the intended targets into infecting themselves. Two more scenarios that are used in combination with email messages rely on infected files used as payloads ‒ documents and software installers.
- Infected Software Installers ‒ The criminals craft malicious packages made out of legitimate software installers. They are taken from the official vendor download sites, modified and then posted on online sites or attached (either as file attachments) or linked in the email messages.
- Infected Documents ‒ They represent dangerous files that usually come in the form of some of the most popular document types: rich text documents, spreadsheets and databases. When the users open them up a notification prompt will ask them to enable the built-in scripts (macros). If this is done then the malware is installed on the victim computer.
The malware browser plugins can be uploaded to hacker-controlled sites and P2P networks like BitTorrent as well. The hacker operators frequently utilize template design, text and images to create portals that look like legitimate download sources. They may also use domain names that are very similar to legitimate sites and advertise them via pop-ups or ad networks.
The browser hijacker code associated with the Spicy Start Redirect can be found in numerous malware toolbars. They are usually made for the most popular web browsers: Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Microsoft Edge. They can be distributed on such download sites or even on the browsers repositories (such as the Chrome Web Store for Google Chrome) using fake developer accounts.
Impact of Spicy Start Redirect
The Spicy Start redirect is a dangerous new browser hijacker which was reported by the security community. The threat bears a resemblance to other generic threats, fortunately the initial security analysis shows that it does not contain any advanced capabilities at this point.
Depending on the particular intrusion strategy the initial infection steps may be different. Typically the first signs of a Spicy Start redirect infection is the change of the default home page, new tabs page and search engine to the hacker-designated address. One of the main goals is to manipulate the victims into using the site.
When the targets first visit the domain they will be infected with tracking cookies that are installed into the web browsers. As the Spicy Start redirect is compatible with the most popular applications including: Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Opera and Google Chrome, it can cause damage to the majority of desktop users.
The site’s design looks like a typical search engine. The top bar is composed of several search types including: Web, Images, Videos and News. The main search engine boxl lies in the center of the page, below it are the service links (Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy and Contact).
One of the most dangerous facts surrounding the Spicy Start redirect is that it is very capable of causing malicious actions to the compromised hosts. A small list of the potential actions taken by browser hijackers include the following:
- Virus Infections ‒ The Spicy Start redirect is capable of causing a considerable malware infections. Browser hijackers like this one are notorious for distributing other threats either automatically or upon meeting certain conditions.
- User Tracking and Profiling ‒ The threat automatically starts to gather a large subset of data about the user including personally identifiable data and anonymous metrics.
- Persistent Installation ‒ The infection engine used by the Spicy Start redirect can be used to install the redirect in a manner which automatically guards the malware from manual user removal attempts.
The privacy policy and terms of use documents list all the potential effects upon the infected computer security-wise as well as the privacy implications for the users themselves. One of the most worrying aspects of the search engine is that it aggregates information about the users behavior in a detailed manner. This makes it possible to store that data into databases that are shared by many services. This helps create a complete profile of the victims. The privacy policy lists the following information: user IP address, search term(s), ads clicked, behavior tracking and user agents (web browsers).
Note that using the search engine itself can lead to sponsored results or dangerous redirects. The following cases have been observed with browser hijackers like this one:
- Sponsored Results ‒ They are usually placed in the top positions of the results following a search query. Keyword tracking is used to choose among the partners which then deliver a page of their own. The shown sponsored result does not reflect the best results and can confuse the targets into opening them.
- Redirection Loops ‒ Some of the results may trigger a redirection loop which can cause annoying pop-ups and block the web browser from working properly.
- Virus Links ‒ Clicking on malicious links in the most popular case can lead to infections with different kinds of malware.
Spicy Start Redirect is a very dangerous threat that must be eliminated completely to prevent any privacy and security risks for the victim users. This is why we we recommend that all users remove the active infections by following our in-depth removal guide.
Remove Spicy Start Redirect and Restore PC
WARNING! Manual removal of the Spicy Start Redirect requires being familiar with system files and registries. Removing important data accidentally can lead to permanent system damage. If you don’t feel comfortable with manual instructions, download a powerful anti-malware tool that will scan your system for malware and clean it safely for you.
SpyHunter anti-malware tool will diagnose all current threats on the computer. By purchasing the full version, you will be able to remove all malware threats instantly. Additional information about SpyHunter / Help to uninstall SpyHunter
Spicy Start Redirect – Manual Removal Steps
Start the PC in Safe Mode with Network
This will isolate all files and objects created by the ransomware so they will be removed efficiently. The steps bellow are applicable to all Windows versions.
1. Hit the WIN Key + R
2. A Run window will appear. In it, write msconfig and then press Enter
3. A Configuration box shall appear. In it Choose the tab named Boot
4. Mark Safe Boot option and then go to Network under it to tick it too
5. Apply -> OK
Remove Spicy Start from Windows
Here’s a way to remove the program. This method will work regardless if you’re on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP. Simply selecting the program and pressing delete won’t work, as it’ll leave a lot of small files. That’s bad because these leftovers can linger on and cause all sorts of problems. The best way to delete a program is to uninstall it. Here’s how you can do that:
1. Hold the “Windows” button (It’s between CTRL and Alt on most keyboards) and press “R”. You’ll see a pop-up window.
2. In the textbox, type “appwiz.cpl”, then press“ Enter ”.
3. The “Programs and features” menu should now appear. It’s a list of all the programs installed on the PC. Here you can find the program, select it, and press “Uninstall“.
Remove Spicy Start Virus From Your Browser
Before resetting your browser’s settings, you should know that this action will wipe out all your recorded usernames, passwords, and other types of data. Make sure to save them in some way.
-
1. Start Mozilla Firefox. In the upper right corner, click on the Open menu icon and select “Add-ons“.
2. Inside the Add-ons Manager select “Extensions“. Search the list of extensions for suspicious entries. If you find any, select them and click “Remove“.
3. Click again on the Open menu icon, then click “Options“.
4. In the Options window, under “General” tab, click “Restore to Default“.
5. Select “Search” in the left menu, mark the unknown search engine and press “Remove”.
-
1. Start Google Chrome. On the upper-right corner, there a “Customize and Control” menu icon. Click on it, then click on “Settings“.
2. Click “Extensions” in the left menu. Then click on the trash bin icon to remove the suspicious extension.
3. Again in the left menu, under Chrome, Click on “Settings“. Go under “On Startup” and set a new page.
4. Afterward, scroll down to “Search“, click on “Manage search engines“.
5. In the default search settings list, find the unknown search engine and click on “X“. Then select your search engine of choice and click “Make default“. When you are ready click “Done” button in the right bottom corner.
2. In the “Manage add-ons” window, bellow “Add-on Types“, select “Toolbars and Extensions“. If you see a suspicious toolbar, select it and click “Remove“.
3. Then again in the “Manage Add-ons” window, in “Add-on Types“, Select “Search Providers“. Chose a search engine and click “Set as default“. Select the unknown search engine and click “Remove and Close”.
4. Open the Tools menu, select “Internet Options”.
5. In the “General” tab, in “Home page”, enter your preferred page. Click “Apply” and “OK”.
Repair Windows Registry
1. Again type simultaneously the WIN Key + R key combination
2. In the box, write regedit and hit Enter
3. Type the CTRL+ F and then write the malicious name in the search type field to locate the malicious executable
4. In case you have discovered registry keys and values related to the name, you should delete them, but be careful not to delete legitimate keys
Click for more information about Windows Registry and further repair help
