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Microsoft Security Intelligence
Published Jan 11, 2005 | Updated Sep 15, 2017

Trojan:Win32/Startpage.PV

Detected by Microsoft Defender Antivirus

Aliases: AdClicker-BV.dll (McAfee) TROJ_STARTPGE.CA (Trend Micro) Win32/StartPage.MM!Trojan (CA)

Summary

Trojan:Win32/StartPage.PV is a Trojan that targets certain versions of Microsoft Windows. The Trojan changes the behavior of Internet Explorer in various ways. When the user attempts to access a Web site, the Trojan can block access to the site and display a warning that the computer is infected with spyware and adware.
To manually recover from infection by Win32/StartPage.PV, follow these steps:
  1. Disconnect from the Internet.
  2. Terminate all running instances of Internet Explorer.
  3. Delete the Trojan file from your computer.
  4. Delete the Trojan registry entries.
  5. Take steps to prevent re-infection.

Disconnect from the Internet

To help ensure that your computer is not actively infecting other computers, disconnect it from the Internet before proceeding. Print this Web page or save a copy on your computer; then unplug your network cable and disable your wireless connection. You can reconnect to the Internet after completing these steps.

Terminate all running instances of Internet Explorer

To terminate all instances of Internet Explorer
  1. Close all Internet Explorer windows that are currently open.
  2. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL once and click Task Manager.
  3. In Task Manager, click Processes and click Image Name to sort the running processes by name.
  4. If iexplore.exe appears in the list, click it and click End Process.
  5. Repeat step 4 for each instance of iexplore.exe in the list.
  6. Close Task Manager.

Delete the Trojan file from your computer

To delete the Trojan file from your computer
  1. Click Start, and click Run.
  2. In the Open field, type %windir%
  3. Click OK.
  4. Click Name to sort files by name.
  5. Delete the file ietlbass.dll if it is in the list.
  6. On the Desktop, right-click the Recycle Bin and click Empty Recycle Bin.
  7. Click Yes.
If deleting the file fails, follow these steps to verify that the files are not running:
  1. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL once and click Task Manager.
  2. Click Processes and click Image Name to sort the running processes by name.
  3. Confirm that file ietlbass.dll is not in the list.

Delete the Trojan registry entries

Win32/StartPage.PV creates a Windows registry key that attempts to run the worm every time your computer restarts. This key, as well as another registry key, should be deleted.
To delete the worm registry entries
  1. On the Start menu, click Run.
  2. Type regedit and click OK.
  3. In the left pane, navigate to the key:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{4C1B116F-2860-46db-8E6C-B4BFC4DFD683}
  4. Right-click the key.
  5. Click Delete and click Yes to delete the key.
  6. Close the Registry Editor.

Take steps to prevent re-infection

Do not reconnect your computer to the Internet until the computer is protected from re-infection. See the "Preventing Infection" section for more information.
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