None of the above. Start.me is just a bookmark manager. There's nothing malicious or viral about that. Only you decide if you want to work with us and save your links or use our extensions. At any time, you can delete your account with all its data. You're in complete control.
Unfortunately, there have appeared some articles and videos online, claiming that Start.me is a virus, malware or even a malicious site. If you read these articles or look at the videos more closely, you'll quickly notice that their goal isn't to inform the public but to sell their Anti-Virus/Malware software. Also, the removal instructions they propose don't apply to Start.me at all.
Related articles
The correct uninstall instructions can be found here: How do I remove start.me?
Users of the Torch browser can click here: How do I remove start.me from Torch?
Facts about Start.me
Start.me provides an online service that is enjoyed by millions of users around the world. It is based on a subscription model, with a free tier, supported by ads.
We do not install any software on your computer. Only our users can do that.
We do not hijack your browser or search bar. After you install our New tab page browser extension or add-on, your new tab page will be redirected to https://start.me. If you don't want this, you can remove the extension at any time. Our users rate the New Tab extension 4.3 stars on average, based on 1,4K ratings in the Chrome Web Store. The Bookmarks extension is rated at 4.9 stars.
We are completely transparent about our terms and privacy policy. You can find them here:
Need assistance?
If you have any questions or issues, please email us at support@start.me.
We're here to help!