TROJ_STARTPAG.W

To delete the registry key this malware/grayware/spyware created:

1. Restart your computer in Safe Mode. For instructions on how to do this, you may refer to this page. If the preceding step requires you to restart in safe mode, you may proceed to #2.
2. Open Registry Editor. To do this, click Start>Run, type REGEDIT in the text box provided, then press Enter.
3. In the left panel of the Registry Editor window, double-click the following:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Internet Explorer
4. Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
   Search
5. Again Still in the left panel, locate and delete the key:
   Styles
6. Close Registry Editor.

To delete the registry value this malware/grayware created:

1. Open Registry Editor. Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT, then press Enter.
2. In the left panel, double-click the following:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Internet Explorer
3. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
   Search = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/--/?khsnt"
4. Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
   SearchURL = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/--/?khsnt"
5. In the left panel, double-click the following:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Internet Explorer>Main
6. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
   Default_Search_URL = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/--/?khsnt"
7. Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
   Default_Page_URL = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/-/?khsn"
8. Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
   Use Search Assistant = "yes"
9. Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
   Search Bar = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/---/?khsnt"
10. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Internet Explorer
11. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    Search = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/--/?khsnt"
12. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Internet Explorer>Main
13. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    Use Search Assistant = "yes"
14. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Internet Explorer>Styles
15. In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    User Stylesheet = "%Windows%\hh.htt"
16. Again In the right panel, locate and delete the entry:
    Use My Stylesheet = "1"
17. Close Registry Editor.

To restore the registry value this malware/grayware/spyware modified:

1. Open Registry Editor. Click Start>Run, type REGEDIT, then press Enter.
2. In the left panel, double-click the following:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER>Software>Microsoft>Internet Explorer>Main
3. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
   Start Page = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/-/?khsnt about:blank"
4. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
   Start Page = {default}
5. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
   Search Page = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/--/?khsnt"
6. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
   Search Page = {default}
7. In the left panel, double-click the following:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Internet Explorer>Main
8. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
   Default_Search_URL = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/--/?khsnt"
9. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
   Default_Search_URL = {default}
10. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    Search Page = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/--/?khsnt"
11. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    Search Page = {default}
12. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    Start Page = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/-/?khsnt about:blank"
13. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    Start Page = {default}
14. In the left panel, double-click the following:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>SOFTWARE>Microsoft>Internet Explorer>Search
15. In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    SearchAssistant = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/---/?khsnt"
16. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    SearchAssistant = {default}
17. Again In the right panel, locate the registry value:
    CustomizeSearch = "http://{BLOCKED}ounter.cc/--/?khsnt"
18. Right-click on the value name and choose Modify. Change the value data of this entry to:
    CustomizeSearch = {default}
19. Close Registry Editor.

To edit the HOSTS file:

1. Open the following file using a text editor such as Notepad:
   %System%\drivers\etc\HOSTS
   (Note: %System% is the Windows system folder, which is usually C:\WINNT\System32 on Windows 2000, and C:\Windows\System32 on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.)
2. Delete the following entry/ies:
   {random numbers} auto.search.msn.com
3. Save the file and close the text editor.

To delete the malware/grayware/spyware file:

1. Right-click Start then click Search... or Find..., depending on the version of Windows you are running.
2. In the Named input box, type:
   
   • %Windows%\hh.htt
   • %Windows%\Web\tips.ini
3. In the Look In drop-down list, select My Computer, then press Enter.
4. Once located, select the file then press SHIFT+DELETE to permanently delete the file.