Resolving Browser Redirects on Startup: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever encountered a troubling issue where your browser automatically opens to a suspicious site upon starting your computer, you’re not alone. I recently faced this exact problem, where a Command Prompt window would flicker briefly, followed by my browser redirecting to “ururgisha[.]net.” Fortunately, I was able to resolve it, and I’d like to share the steps I took to tackle this challenge.

Step 1: Investigate the Windows Registry for Startup Entries

The first step in rectifying the issue was to check the Windows Registry. Here’s how I did it:

Accessed the Registry Editor
I opened the Run dialog by pressing Win + R, typed regedit, and pressed Enter.
Navigated to the Relevant Registry Key
I proceeded to the path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
Identified Suspicious Entries
There, I discovered an entry with a name corresponding to my user profile, which pointed to a command line that executed a strange URL:
cmd.exe /c start www[.]dongdonger[.]org.
Removed the Entry
I right-clicked on the entry and selected Delete to eliminate it.

Step 2: Check Task Scheduler for Unwanted Tasks

Next, I turned my attention to the Task Scheduler, as potential tasks could also trigger the unwanted behavior. Here’s how I went about it:

Opened Task Scheduler
I launched the Run dialog again with Win + R, typed taskschd.msc, and pressed Enter.
Explored Task Scheduler Library
Within the Task Scheduler, I navigated to the “Task Scheduler Library.”
Searched for Anomalies
I reviewed the tasks and identified one associated with my user name.
Reviewed Task Properties
After right-clicking the suspicious task and selecting Properties, I discovered it was set to run the same command (cmd.exe /c start www[.]dongdonger[.]org).
Deleted the Task
I removed this unwanted task by right-clicking and selecting Delete.