What is Loadstart.net

Loadstart.net is a new infection that affects browsers and changes their settings. Hijacker alters homepage and default search engine in Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. User searches get redirected to plusnetwork.com website. It also hijacks browser shortcuts on the desktop adding www.loadstart.net URL to the file path in shortcuts properties. As a result, browsers open Loadstart.net in the new tab every time users start browsers. Loadstart.net is not dangerous as trojan or virus and cannot harm your PC, however, it is very annoying and violates your privacy online. It collects typed search queries, browser history and transfers this data to advertising companies. Use instructions below to remove Loadstart.net from browser in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista or XP.

loadstart.net hijacker

How Loadstart.net infected your PC

Loadstart.net uses typical method for distribution – freeware downloads. Currently, these infections are widely spread, due to the fact that most people are trying to find free programs, download and install them on your computer without proper attention to the fact what can penetrate into the computer along with them. During install process utility offers to install hijacker and promotes it as “useful toolbar” or “enhanced search tool”. If users skips the step or clicks “Agree” button, malware starts browser modification. Antivirus software rarely has such threats in the database, that is why we recommend to use specialized tool – SpyHunter 5 Anti-Malware.

Download Removal Tool

Download Removal Tool

compatible with microsoft

To remove Loadstart.net completely we recommend you to use SpyHunter 5 from EnigmaSoft Limited. It detects and removes all files, folders and registry keys of Loadstart.net and several millions of other adware, hijackers, toolbars.

Remove Loadstart.net manually for free

Here is manual step-by-step tutorial for full Loadstart.net removal from your computer. This works 99% and was checked with the latest versions of Loadstart.net installer on operating systems with latest updates and browser versions.

Remove Loadstart.net from Control Panel

To start removing Loadstart.net you should uninstall it using Control Panel. It can be present by different names – “Loadstart Uninstall” or just “Loadstart.net”. It should uninstall correctly, however, we recommend you to use IObit Uninstaller to clean leftover items after uninstalling. Here are instructions for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Remove Loadstart.net from Windows XP:

  1. Click on Start button.
  2. Choose Control Panel.
  3. Click Add or Remove Programs.
  4. Find Loadstart Uninstall.
  5. Click Uninstall.

Remove Loadstart.net from Windows 7:

  1. Click Start button.
  2. Then go to Control Panel.
  3. Click Uninstall a Program.
  4. Find Loadstart Uninstall and click Uninstall.

Remove Loadstart.net from Windows 8:

  1. Hover mouse pointer to the bottom-right corner to see Menu.
  2. Click Search.
  3. After that click Apps.
  4. Then Control Panel.
  5. Click Uninstall a Program under Programs.
  6. Find Loadstart Uninstall, click Uninstall.

Remove Loadstart.net from Windows 10:

There are 2 ways to uninstall Loadstart.net from Windows 10

Way one
  1. Click on the Start button.
  2. In opened menu choose Settings.
  3. Click on the System tile.
  4. Click Apps & features and locate Loadstart Uninstall in the list.
  5. Click on it and then click Uninstall button near it.
Way two (classic)
  1. Right-click on the Start button.
  2. In opened menu choose Programs and Features.
  3. Locate Loadstart Uninstall in the list.
  4. Click on it and then click Uninstall button above.

Cannot uninstall Loadstart.net

In some cases Loadstart.net won’t uninstall and gives you message that “You do not have sufficient access to uninstall Loadstart.net. Please, contact your system administrator” when you try to remove it from Control Panel or “Access denied” error when removing Loadstart.net folder and files. This happens, because process or service does not allow you to do it. In this case I will recommend you to use SpyHunter 5 or Malwarebytes or uninstall Loadstart.net in Safe Mode. To boot in Safe Mode do the following:

  1. Reboot your computer.
  2. While it starts booting press F8 button.
  3. This will open Advanced Boot Options menu.
  4. Choose Safe Mode and wait until Windows loads.
  5. Go to Control Panel > Uninstall a program and remove “Loadstart Uninstall”

>> See detailed instructions and video tutorial on how to boot in Safe Mode

Remove malicious add-ons from your browsers

Uninstalling Loadstart.net from Control Panel often does not bring desired effect. It sometimes have browser extension and it may still be active in Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are instructions on how to remove Loadstart.net related extension from your browsers manually.

Google Chrome:

  1. Start Google Chrome browser
  2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://extensions/.
  3. Find suspicious extensions.
  4. Click the trash can icon to remove them.
  5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
  2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:addons.
  3. Choose suspicious extension.
  4. Click Disable or Remove button.
  5. Remove all suspicious extensions from the list.

Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):

Note: There is no feature to remove browser extensions from browser in latest version of Internet Explorer. To remove Loadstart.net from Internet Explorer, please, perform instructions for uninstalling program from Control Panel. To disable Loadstart.net, please, do the following:

  1. Open Internet Explorer.
  2. Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
  3. In opened menu Manage Add-ons.
  4. Select Toolbars and Extensions.
  5. Click Disable Loadstart.net.
  6. Also disable other suspicious extensions from the list.

Opera Browser:

Generally, Loadstart.net does not install in Opera browser however you can always double check. Do the following:

  1. Start Opera browser.
  2. Go to Tools > Extensions > Manage Extensions.
  3. Find Loadstart.net extension.
  4. Click Uninstall button.
  5. Also remove other suspicious extensions from the list.

Reset browsers settings (homepage, default search)

Loadstart.net installs search engine that hijacks your browsers. Here is instruction to reset your browsers homepage, newtab and search engine to default values.

Google Chrome:

  1. Start Google Chrome browser
  2. In address box type (or copy-paste) chrome://settings/.
  3. Scroll down and find Show advanced settings link.
  4. Click on it and scroll down to the bottom again.
  5. Click Reset browser settings button and click Reset to confirm.

Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Start Mozilla Firefox browser.
  2. In address box type (or copy-paste) about:support.
  3. Click Reset Firefox… button.
  4. Click Reset Firefox to confirm.

Internet Explorer (9, 10, 11):

  1. Start Internet Explorer.
  2. Click on gear/asterisk icon in the top-right corner.
  3. In opened menu choose Internet options.
  4. Click Advanced tab.
  5. Click Reset button.
  6. Choose Delete personal settings and click Reset.

Opera Browser:

  1. Close Opera and open command prompt from the start menu.
  2. Type following command del %AppData%\Opera\Opera\operaprefs.ini
  3. Start Opera.

Alternative way to remove adware browser extensions and reset browser settings

avast browser cleanup For safe and effective browser extension removal use avast! Browser Cleanup utility. Run it with administrator privileges and remove all extensions with bad rating including related to Loadstart.net. You can also reset your browser settings for each of your browsers: Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox.

Download Avast Browser Cleanup

Cleaning browsers shortcuts

shortcut cleaner You can clean your browser shortcuts manually right-clicking on your browser icon, choosing “Properties” and removing hijacker address from “Target” field (leave just the path to your browser). However it is easier to use free Shortcut Cleaner from BleepingComputer. Download it here – its FREE:

Download Shortcut Cleaner

Final tips

Be careful surfing the internet and downloading software, as programs like Loadstart.net may become a real headache as they are hard to remove and break your privacy. To keep safe from such threats we recommend you always use antivirus and one of antimalware programs available on the market. One of the best anti-spyware and antimalware programs is SpyHunter 5. It can protect your PC from threats like Loadstart.net.

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