Resolving Startup Browser Issues: How I Eliminated a Redirect to Unsafe Sites

Experiencing unexpected browser behavior at startup can be both frustrating and alarming. Recently, I encountered an odd issue where a Command Prompt window would briefly flash upon booting up my computer, followed by my browser launching to a suspicious site, specifically “ururgisha[.]net.” Here’s a step-by-step guide on how I successfully resolved this issue, which could help anyone facing a similar problem.

Step 1: Investigating the Windows Registry

The first step in troubleshooting this issue involved examining the Windows Registry for any suspicious startup entries. Here’s how I did it:

1. Pressed Win + R to open the Run dialogue, then entered regedit and hit Enter to launch the Registry Editor.
2. Navigated to the following path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run.
3. There, I discovered an entry associated with my username that was launching a command: cmd.exe /c start www\[.\]dongdonger\[.\]org.
4. To eliminate this entry, I right-clicked on it and selected Delete.

Step 2: Checking Task Scheduler for Unwanted Tasks

Next, I turned my attention to the Task Scheduler, which can often harbor hidden tasks that initiate unwanted actions.

1. Again, opened the Run dialogue (Win + R), typed taskschd.msc, and pressed Enter to access Task Scheduler.
2. Once in Task Scheduler, I clicked on “Task Scheduler Library” to view all tasks.
3. I noticed a task named after my username that seemed suspicious.
4. After right-clicking the task and selecting Properties, I found that it was configured to execute the same command as before: cmd.exe /c start www\[.\]dongdonger\[.\]org.
5. I decided to permanently remove the task by right-clicking it and choosing Delete.

Step 3: Restarting My Computer

After completing these steps, I restarted my computer to ensure that the changes were effective. I was relieved to find that my browser no longer redirected to that unsafe site upon startup!

Conclusion

This straightforward method not only resolved the issue I was facing but also reinforced the importance of regularly checking system settings for any unwanted entries or tasks. If you find yourself dealing with similar startup problems, I hope this guide proves to be