How to remove start.att.net?

KenG said:

This has been ticking me off ever since I had to nuke my Android Galaxy J36 since Google's reset unlocker didnt work.

Every time I use Samsung's Internet, it always starts with start.att.net. I have tried to reset the home page to my own website, and NOTHING works to get rid of that damned start.att.net

From searching on the web, I find some few people are having the same trouble, and so far, nothing that has been suggested works for any of us.

I understand that every web browser available for the Android experiences the same thing, usually after a reset to factory specs. This includes Chrome (which I have never liked anyway).

Has ANYONE who has had this problem found a solution???? I am going nuts.

Click to expand...

I think it's Startpage. It isn't just your phone, it's on computers, too. Try not using Samsung's internet. Some browsers allow you to get rid of it. Check all the settings. Even the ones that don't seem like they apply.
https://start.me/start/us/startpage

I got it in Pale Moon, Waterfox, and SWR Iron. I have deleted it in all since. Waterfox and Pale Moon use About:config, so I deleted it there. There's this for computers. It's his about every browser. It might not have hit Lightning. That's open source and small. Try it.
https://malwaretips.com/blogs/remove-start-me/

See if you can find Start.me anywhere and delete it or deny it permissions. Find a browser YOU can control.

For future reference you can go into Settings in the right upper right corner and change search engine and homepage in that location.

KenG said:

Yes. That's fine: as long as I or apparently anyone else, has NOT installed the latest upgrade to Samsung Internet. AFTER I installed that "upgrade" any changes I make using the method you mention here does NOT actually make the changes. It STAYS at home.att.net.

I.e., when I change the home page and search engine to my choice of those, then close Samsung Internet, then reopen it, my changes have NOT taken place.

From my +30 years experience as an IT Professional, it seems to me that this "upgrade" is either bogus, or it has been hacked.

If I knew how to do it, I'd contact Samsung's IT folks directly and ask them about this...

The ONLY way I can "fix" this problem is go to apps and uninstall all updates to Samsung Internet, reverting it back to the original factory version.

Click to expand...

So I take it we are speaking of Samsung internet browser right because if so I downloaded the update and this is what I got from my device so maybe your problems maybe isolated to your particular device. please observe the illustrations below.

As you can see there is no att.net anywhere as the default setting.

As for the 30+ years experience, I know a mechanic that had that can of experience until I pointed out in a real mechanic's spec book, that he's been doing it wrong for over 30+ years.

KBU2 said:

For future reference you can go into Settings in the right upper right corner and change search engine and homepage in that location.

Click to expand...

Not sure how much success start.me is having on computers, but it looks like Android is the next to get hit.

That Start.me crap has attached itself to almost every browser on the internet. I asked about it in a group for Mozilla browsers. No one had any definite answers. I also did a search and saw almost every browser with Start.me added in the search. You want Brave browser - here, including start.me
Someone finally called it malware. It was included with every NEW upgrade to any browser. I got it on a Pale Moon update. I haven't updated any browsers lately on the computer, nor on the phone.

I just searched again: Start.me is partnering with browsers:
https://press.start.me/largest-personal-startpage-service-world/ and bragging about it. I agree it's malware. There are instructions on how to remove it from any browser, including Chrome.

http://www.myantispyware.com/2017/07/16/how-to-remove-start-me-chrome-firefox-ie-edge/
https://www.remove-search-hijackers.com/how-to-remove-start-me

A lot of the browsers do ask for donations. Someone in the forum said this just might be a way to get some trickle down money by tracking those who do keep the Start.Me. Watch out for any future updates.

The other weird thing - Startpage search engine is not supposed to snoop. Finding a speed dial type page on opening your browser is a bit of a shock.

BTW - Start.me must be letting up. I also have an iPad and since Safari is junk I got the no-save-anything Firefox. That didn't come with start.me. I'll have check one of the Linux repositories and see what the webkit browsers listed do.

zuben el genub said:

Not sure how much success start.me is having on computers, but it looks like Android is the next to get hit.

That Start.me crap has attached itself to almost every browser on the internet. I asked about it in a group for Mozilla browsers. No one had any definite answers. I also did a search and saw almost every browser with Start.me added in the search. You want Brave browser - here, including start.me
Someone finally called it malware. It was included with every NEW upgrade to any browser. I got it on a Pale Moon update. I haven't updated any browsers lately on the computer, nor on the phone.

I just searched again: Start.me is partnering with browsers:
https://press.start.me/largest-personal-startpage-service-world/ and bragging about it. I agree it's malware. There are instructions on how to remove it from any browser, including Chrome.

http://www.myantispyware.com/2017/07/16/how-to-remove-start-me-chrome-firefox-ie-edge/
https://www.remove-search-hijackers.com/how-to-remove-start-me

A lot of the browsers do ask for donations. Someone in the forum said this just might be a way to get some trickle down money by tracking those who do keep the Start.Me. Watch out for any future updates.

The other weird thing - Startpage search engine is not supposed to snoop. Finding a speed dial type page on opening your browser is a bit of a shock.

BTW - Start.me must be letting up. I also have an iPad and since Safari is junk I got the no-save-anything Firefox. That didn't come with start.me. I'll have check one of the Linux repositories and see what the webkit browsers listed do.

Click to expand...

I understand but if you think this is some type of Cyber attack, you may want to post an alert on AF so others can keep a close eye for that start.att.net hijack browser. Oh and I forgot to ask do you have AT&T internet on your home service because if so each internet provider has its browser start implemented with their services such as Xfinity and some of the others.

No. We are Centurylink. Were ATT long ago, ATT sold to Qwest, Qwest sold to Centurylink. We are also what's called naked DSL. We don't use any other services like email from Centurylink. Just DSL for internet. No TV bundles. Cell only

I know where it's hitting on computers. I just bought a new dual boot laptop. Mint/7Pro.
ATT does have some problems. We left their service during dial-up days. They kept lying about why no internet service. We did use the ATT supported
portal - might have been Yahoo at the time. I've seen posts from some who did use ATT branded apps, and now can't find or remember passwords or information they posted.

There has been a bit of an outcry about carriers selling information. Denial and/changes reported from all 4 carriers about selling your info. (They said they will "stop". http://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/06...ring-amid-rising-concerns-over-online-privacy

I never did get an answer about the actual browser vendors. I finally posted in the security forum and will see if anyone answers.

I am a bit surprised at Samsung. Samsung seems to like total control over their products as Apple does.

Just from tidbits I read from all over, marketing is having a cow lately. The EU rulings have really upset the applecart. A lot of US companies with a large EU presence will follow the EU form rather than take on the expense of 2 separate internets. Some in marketing as well as fanboys of certain phones are convinced that a person is truly evil if they don't want to share info. I worked for a radio commercial distributing outfit at one time. It was rather interesting. It's going to make for more interesting times for any person who goes online. Spammers and spoofers are getting much better at tricks.

I'm not a tech, so sometimes I do hesitate at posting. I did post a warning in another forum today, but the author is a recognized anti-spammer.

I've been chasing spam since I got the first one years ago.

I remember it was one of the things I hated when I had my AT&T branded S5 Active. Took a while to figure out how to get rid of the AT&T home page. Never used Samsung Stock Browser, always Chrome.
Will never buy a new carrier branded device again, especially AT&T. I do have a Verizon branded S5, bought used for a backup and it didn't have the same problem. Definitely AT&T related junk.

KenG said:

And also, very obviously, you do not use AT&T as your service. From other replies below (above?), it looks as though AT&T among others, has "partnered" with Start.me. I will repeat: once I have used Samsung's latest upgrade to Samsung Internet, the default home pages and search engines CANNOT be changed to anything else. Mine is always home.att.net, and start.att.net. Yours is not. So your advice on this issue does not apply to my case....nor, apparently, to anyone else who is using AT&T's "services".

Click to expand...

You are right. I bought a reconditioned Rugby ATT phone for the Vulcan. We are on TMobile and the Alcatel Go is the lousiest flip phone I've ever seen.
The Rugby came unlocked as promised, it works with the Lexus, and it is a much better put together phone.
On unlocking, all ATT services did not disappear, and I can't delete them Att.Net is only one of them on the phone but unusable as we don't use ATT. Granted, this phone is a flip, but if the phone is carrier branded you got it unless you root it. Maybe permissions will let you disable, maybe not.

On Start.me I received sort of an answer. Start.me is a lowlevel data miner. Can't find out who it is benefiting. It's purportedly from Startpage - the chrome browser without Google's snooping. Start also has Startmail, hosted in Germany, I think. Ixquick search, too.

KenG said:

This has been ticking me off ever since I had to nuke my Android Galaxy J36 since Google's reset unlocker didnt work.

Every time I use Samsung's Internet, it always starts with start.att.net. I have tried to reset the home page to my own website, and NOTHING works to get rid of that damned start.att.net

From searching on the web, I find some few people are having the same trouble, and so far, nothing that has been suggested works for any of us.

I understand that every web browser available for the Android experiences the same thing, usually after a reset to factory specs. This includes Chrome (which I have never liked anyway).

Has ANYONE who has had this problem found a solution???? I am going nuts.

Click to expand...

Settings>Apps>Samsung Internet>Notifications(BLOCK)>Set as default(TURN OFF)>Browser(TURN OFF DEFAULT)>Advanced>Apps that appear on top(OFF)>Apps that can change system settings(OFF)
Now you can use the homepage you want.

Settings>Apps>Samsung Internet>Notifications(BLOCK)>Set as default(TURN OFF)>Browser(TURN OFF DEFAULT)>Advanced>Apps that appear on top(OFF)>Apps that can change system settings(OFF)
Now you can use the homepage you want.