Surf Start
Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecard
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are assessment reports for different malware threats which have been collected and analyzed by our research team. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards evaluate and rank threats using several metrics including real-world and potential risk factors, trends, frequency, prevalence, and persistence. EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards are updated regularly based on our research data and metrics and are useful for a wide range of computer users, from end users seeking solutions to remove malware from their systems to security experts analyzing threats.
EnigmaSoft Threat Scorecards display a variety of useful information, including:
Ranking: The ranking of a particular threat in EnigmaSoft’s Threat Database.
Severity Level: The determined severity level of an object, represented numerically, based on our risk modeling process and research, as explained in our Threat Assessment Criteria.
Infected Computers: The number of confirmed and suspected cases of a particular threat detected on infected computers as reported by SpyHunter.
See also Threat Assessment Criteria.
| Ranking: | 2,957 |
| Threat Level: | 50 % (Medium) |
| Infected Computers: | 1,578 |
| First Seen: | September 13, 2022 |
| Last Seen: | September 24, 2023 |
| OS(es) Affected: | Windows |
The Surf Start is a browser extension aimed at fans of surfing. It promises to provide them with relevant information, as well as convenient links to other online destinations related to surfing. Such functionality would definitely be useful for at least some surfing enthusiasts, but infosec experts warn against installing the extension. According to their analysis, the Surf Start carries browser hijacker capabilities.
Indeed, once the application has been installed, it will take over several essential browser settings. Users will notice that their usual homepage, new tab page, and default search engine have all been modified. All of the impacted settings will now open search.nstart.online, a fake search engine being promoted by Surf Start.
Fake engines are incapable of delivering search results on their own. The results for users' search queries will instead be taken from other sources. The fake engine promoted by the Surf Start has been observed behaving in two different ways. Some users could simply be shown search results obtained from the legitimate Bing search engine. However, others may be presented with results generated by the dubious nearbyme.io search engine. In this case, users risk seeing low-quality results that may include various, sponsored advertisements and links to questionable pages.
Adware, browser hijackers, and PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) may possess additional intrusive functions. These applications are often capable of data tracking. They may monitor the users' browsing activities, collect device details, or even try to extract sensitive information - banking details, account credentials, and payment data, from browsers' autofill data.
URLs
Surf Start may call the following URLs:
| vo.aspeiyt.icu |
