If your web browser home page has changed to the Cloud Start, then it means that your web browser is affected with the obnoxious unwanted software from the browser hijacker family. It means that an undesired program has taken over and modified settings of all your typical internet browsers, without your desire or permission. So, if the Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome default search provider, home page and new tab page has been replaced or your browser being redirected to the website you never intended to visit, then it’s a sign that you need to clean up your PC system sooner in order to get rid of annoying Cloud Start homepage.
Except that the Cloud Start alters browser’s startpage and new tab page, it also modifies your search engine, which leads to the fact that use of the web-browser’s search becomes uncomfortable. The reason for this is that the search results will consist of a large count of advertisements, links to undesired and ad web sites and only the remaining part is search results for your query from well-known search engines like Google or Bing.
As well as undesired internet browser redirects to Cloud Start, the browser hijacker infection can gather your Net surfing activity by saving URLs visited, IP addresses, web-browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and web-pages visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or personal information theft. This is another reason why the hijacker that redirects the browser to Cloud Start, is categorized as potentially unwanted application (PUA).
Most often, the Cloud Start browser hijacker affects most common web-browsers like Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge. But such browser hijacker infections as well may infect other web browsers by changing its shortcuts (adding ‘http://site.address’ into Target field of web browser’s shortcut). So every time you run the web-browser, it’ll show Cloud Start web site. Even if you setup your home page again, the intrusive Cloud Start web page will be the first thing that you see when you start the internet browser.
Therefore, the hijacker infection is a potentially undesired program and should not be used. If you noticed any of the symptoms mentioned above, we suggest you to complete step-by-step tutorial below to remove the hijacker infection and get rid of Cloud Start from your web-browser settings.
Remove Cloud Start
The following few simple steps will help you to get rid of Cloud Start from the Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome and Edge. Moreover, the few simple steps below will allow you to remove malicious software like PUPs, adware and toolbars that your computer may be infected. Please do the guidance step by step. If you need help or have any questions, then ask for our assistance or type a comment below. Read this manual carefully, bookmark or print it, because you may need to exit your internet browser or restart your PC.
To remove Cloud Start, complete the steps below:
- How to get rid of Cloud Start without any software
- Cloud Start startpage automatic removal
- Block Cloud Start and other annoying web-pages
- Do not know how your web-browser has been hijacked by Cloud Start hijacker?
- Finish words
How to get rid of Cloud Start without any software
Steps to get rid of Cloud Start hijacker without any software are presented below. Be sure to carry out the step-by-step instructions completely to fully delete this unwanted Cloud Start search.
Deleting the Cloud Start, check the list of installed apps first
Some programs are free only because their setup file contains a hijacker like the Cloud Start. This unwanted software generates revenue for the authors when it is installed. Many hijacker infections can be uninstalled by simply uninstalling them from the ‘Uninstall a Program’ that is located in Microsoft Windows control panel.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, click Windows button
, then click Search 
. Type ‘Control panel’and press Enter as displayed in the figure below.
After the ‘Control Panel’ opens, click the ‘Uninstall a program’ link under Programs category as displayed below.
You will see the ‘Uninstall a program’ panel like below.
Very carefully look around the entire list of software installed on your machine. Most likely, one of them is the hijacker infection that responsible for web-browser redirect to the annoying Cloud Start web-page. If you’ve many applications installed, you can help simplify the search of malicious programs by sort the list by date of installation. Once you have found a dubious, unwanted or unused program, right click to it, after that click ‘Uninstall’.
Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, press ‘Start’ button and select ‘Control Panel’ at right panel as shown in the figure below.
When the Windows ‘Control Panel’ opens, you need to click ‘Uninstall a program’ under ‘Programs’ as displayed in the following example.
You will see a list of apps installed on your system. We recommend to sort the list by date of installation to quickly find the software that were installed last. Most likely, it is the hijacker infection responsible for modifying your web browser settings to Cloud Start. If you are in doubt, you can always check the program by doing a search for her name in Google, Yahoo or Bing. When the program which you need to delete is found, simply click on its name, and then click ‘Uninstall’ as shown on the image below.
Remove Cloud Start redirect from Internet Explorer
In order to restore all web browser new tab page, startpage and default search provider you need to reset the Microsoft Internet Explorer to the state, that was when the Microsoft Windows was installed on your PC system.
First, launch the Microsoft Internet Explorer, press 
) button. Next, click “Internet Options” as shown below.
In the “Internet Options” screen select the Advanced tab. Next, click Reset button. The Microsoft Internet Explorer will display the Reset Internet Explorer settings prompt. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box and click Reset button.
You will now need to reboot your personal computer for the changes to take effect. It will remove hijacker responsible for redirecting user searches to Cloud Start, disable malicious and ad-supported web-browser’s extensions and restore the IE’s settings such as new tab page, default search engine and startpage to default state.
Remove Cloud Start from Chrome
In this step we are going to show you how to reset Google Chrome settings. potentially unwanted programs like the Cloud Start can make changes to your web browser settings including default search provider, newtab page and startpage, add toolbars and unwanted add-ons. By resetting Chrome settings you will remove Cloud Start and reset unwanted changes caused by browser hijacker infection. When using the reset feature, your personal information like passwords, bookmarks, browsing history and web form auto-fill data will be saved.
First launch the Chrome. Next, click the button in the form of three horizontal dots (
).
It will show the Chrome menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions. Carefully browse through the list of installed addons. If the list has the extension signed with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guidance: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
Open the Google Chrome menu once again. Further, click the option named “Settings”.
The internet browser will show the settings screen. Another way to show the Chrome’s settings – type chrome://settings in the web-browser adress bar and press Enter
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and press the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the “Reset” section is visible, as on the image below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
The Google Chrome will open the confirmation prompt as on the image below.
You need to confirm your action, press the “Reset” button. The browser will launch the procedure of cleaning. Once it’s finished, the web browser’s settings including homepage, newtab page and default search engine back to the values which have been when the Chrome was first installed on your PC.
Remove Cloud Start from Firefox
If the Firefox web-browser new tab page, startpage and search engine by default are changed to Cloud Start and you want to recover the settings back to their default values, then you should follow the steps below. However, your saved passwords and bookmarks will not be changed, deleted or cleared.
Press the Menu button (looks like three horizontal lines), and press the blue Help icon located at the bottom of the drop down menu as displayed in the figure below.
A small menu will appear, press the “Troubleshooting Information”. On this page, click “Refresh Firefox” button as displayed on the image below.
Follow the onscreen procedure to return your Firefox web-browser settings to their original settings.
Cloud Start startpage automatic removal
If you’re not expert at computer technology, then we recommend to use free removal utilities listed below to delete Cloud Start startpage for good. The automatic way is highly recommended. It has less steps and easier to implement than the manual solution. Moreover, it lower risk of system damage. So, the automatic Cloud Start removal is a better option.
Use Zemana to remove browser hijacker
We recommend you to run the Zemana that are completely clean your computer. Moreover, the tool will help you to get rid of potentially unwanted applications, malware, toolbars and adware that your PC system can be infected too.
Download Zemana AntiMalware on your PC by clicking on the link below.
164035 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
After downloading is finished, start it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the Zemana Free will try to update itself and when this procedure is finished, click the “Scan” button to search for hijacker infection which modifies browser settings to replace your new tab, search provider by default and startpage with Cloud Start site.
Depending on your machine, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the Zemana Anti Malware tool is checking, you may see how many objects it has identified as being infected by malware. In order to remove all items, simply click “Next” button.
The Zemana Anti-Malware will remove hijacker infection which cause a reroute to Cloud Start site and move threats to the program’s quarantine.
Run Hitman Pro to delete Cloud Start from the PC
Hitman Pro is a portable program which requires no hard installation to scan for and remove browser hijacker that redirects your web browser to annoying Cloud Start website. The program itself is small in size (only a few Mb). Hitman Pro does not need any drivers and special dlls. It’s probably easier to use than any alternative malware removal utilities you have ever tried. HitmanPro works on 64 and 32-bit versions of Windows 10, 8, 7 and XP. It proves that removal utility can be just as useful as the widely known antivirus programs.
- Download Hitman Pro on your Windows Desktop from the link below.
- Once downloading is done, start the HitmanPro, double-click the HitmanPro.exe file.
- If the “User Account Control” prompts, click Yes to continue.
- In the Hitman Pro window, click the “Next” to perform a system scan for the hijacker infection which cause a reroute to Cloud Start web-site. Depending on your system, the scan can take anywhere from a few minutes to close to an hour. While the HitmanPro is checking, you may see number of objects it has identified either as being malware.
- When that process is done, you can check all items detected on your PC. You may get rid of items (move to Quarantine) by simply click “Next”. Now, click the “Activate free license” button to begin the free 30 days trial to remove all malicious software found.
Use Malwarebytes to get rid of browser hijacker
We recommend using the Malwarebytes Free. You can download and install Malwarebytes to scan for and remove Cloud Start home page from your PC. When installed and updated, the free malicious software remover will automatically scan and detect all threats present on the computer.
Download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) on your machine by clicking on the following link.
326388 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
When the download is finished, close all software and windows on your PC. Open a directory in which you saved it. Double-click on the icon that’s named mb3-setup as shown on the image below.
When the installation starts, you will see the “Setup wizard” that will help you install Malwarebytes on your PC system.
Once setup is finished, you will see window as shown in the following example.
Now click the “Scan Now” button to begin checking your PC for the hijacker infection which designed to reroute your internet browser to the Cloud Start site. A scan can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the count of files on your system and the speed of your PC system. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly.
After finished, MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) will show a list of all threats detected by the scan. You may remove threats (move to Quarantine) by simply click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The Malwarebytes will now delete hijacker which cause Cloud Start webpage to appear and move items to the program’s quarantine. Once the cleaning process is done, you may be prompted to reboot your computer.
The following video explains guide on how to remove browser hijacker, ad-supported software and other malware with MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM).
Block Cloud Start and other annoying web-pages
Use an ad blocker tool such as AdGuard will protect you from harmful advertisements and content. Moreover, you can find that the AdGuard have an option to protect your privacy and block phishing and spam sites. Additionally, ad-blocker software will help you to avoid intrusive pop-up ads and unverified links that also a good way to stay safe online.
Please go to the link below to download the latest version of AdGuard for Windows. Save it on your MS Windows desktop or in any other place.
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
After downloading it, double-click the downloaded file to run it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as displayed below.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick instructions as on the image below.
Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” to see an quick instructions which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will launch automatically and stop ads, web pages like Cloud Start, as well as other harmful or misleading web-sites. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your desktop.
Do not know how your web-browser has been hijacked by Cloud Start hijacker?
The Cloud Start browser hijacker spreads with a simple but quite effective way. It’s integrated into the installer of various free programs. Thus on the process of setup, it will infect your browser and change it’s settings on the Cloud Start. To avoid browser hijacker, you just need to follow a few simple rules: carefully read the Terms of Use and the license, select only a Manual, Custom or Advanced installation type, which enables you to make sure that the program you want to install, thereby protect your computer from the hijacker infection like the Cloud Start.
Finish words
After completing the few simple steps shown above, your PC system should be clean from this hijacker and other malware. The Firefox, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Edge and Google Chrome will no longer show annoying Cloud Start page on startup. Unfortunately, if the few simple steps does not help you, then you have caught a new hijacker infection, and then the best way – ask for help.
Please create a new question by using the “Ask Question” button in the Questions and Answers. Try to give us some details about your problems, so we can try to help you more accurately. Wait for one of our trained “Security Team” or Site Administrator to provide you with knowledgeable assistance tailored to your problem with the undesired Cloud Start home page.
