CoolStreamSearch browser hijacker removal instructions

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The CoolStreamSearch search hijacker is an example of a typical unwanted program; such applications are distributed enormously nowadays. In this article you will see the comprehensive directions of “CoolStreamSearch” hijacker removal in various tactics: making use of anti-malware tools and manual removal process.
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CoolStreamSearch – What is it?

“CoolStreamSearch” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to search some specific info, for example, about sport events, make your browser a lot more secure, allow downloading of any kind of video clip, and so on.

However, the “CoolStreamSearch” plugin is rather useless since all such functions are currently embedded to your browser and/or system. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But frequently even qualified users are getting caught on such an attraction. In particular situations, this hijacker is dispersed together with free tools.

CoolStreamSearch hijacker - Coolstreamsearch.com

CoolStreamSearch Search Hijacker

Here is a short details for the CoolStreamSearch hijacker
SiteCoolstreamsearch.com
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address104.21.14.138
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
San Francisco, United States
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorMeddlemonkey/, Superpdfsearch/, Forcepoint
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is CoolStreamSearch hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, CoolStreamSearch hijacker is additionally fairly unsafe for web browser usage. It alters your search engine to its particular – Coolstreamsearch.com, and additionally transforms your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the specified sign).

Apart from viewable changes done by CoolStreamSearch hijacker, you may discover that several of your search questions are redirecting to the suspicious sites, filled with web links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting surges if you try to open Google search page by force.

But all these actions are far more irritating than really hazardous. The largest risk, primarily for individuals who have a huge amount of confidential information in their browsers, is embedded in data collecting functions. Cookie files, chats, often-visited web pages, as well as other activities are easily gathered by CoolStreamSearch hijacker.

How to remove CoolStreamSearch search hijacker?

  • Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
  • Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
  • “Move to quarantine” all items.
  • Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
  • Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
  • Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are typically pretty simple to remove. Usually, they have an independent application that can be seen in the list of installed applications. As a result of the specific distribution tactic of CoolStreamSearch hijacker, it can be simply tracked and erased manually. Nevertheless, if you got CoolStreamSearch in the bundle with a free program, your personal computer might be infected with a lot more severe malwaretrojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you use anti-malware programs to delete the CoolStreamSearch PUA and all other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of discovering and eliminating a wide range of malware, including named hijacker. Nevertheless, severe malware, that can exist on your PC in the mentioned case, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To stay clear of such scenarios, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all unwanted programs on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malware, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and folders.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can observe the detected malware sorted by their possible hazard during the scan process. But to choose any actions against malware, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To set the action for every detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious program. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be found in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing CoolStreamSearch hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

To reset Edge, do the following steps :
  1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
  2. Reseting the Edge browser

  3. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :
For Mozilla Firefox, do the next actions :
  1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
  2. The first step to revert Mozilla Firefox

  3. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
  4. The second step of Firefox restoration
    After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
    The last step for Firefox

If you use Google Chrome
  1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
  2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
  3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
Opera can be reset in the next way
  1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
  2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

I need your help to share this guide.

Browser hijackers are among the largest and also disruptive kinds of malware. I published this article to help you, so I wish you will help me to make the computer world completely clean of malware. Please, share this article in the social networks you use – Twitter, Reddit, Facebook – wherever.
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Wilbur Woodham
How to Remove CoolStreamSearch?

Name: CoolStreamSearch

Description: CoolStreamSearch - a lot of users became a victim of browser hijacker. I have a lot of friends who literally bombed me with the questions like “how to remove CoolStreamSearch?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with CoolStreamSearch (Coolstreamsearch.com), which may corrupt your browser’s correct performance, and create a lot of troubles while you are working.

Operating System: Windows

Application Category: Browser Hijacker

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References

  1. More information about PUAs
  2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender

About the author

Wilbur Woodham

I was a technical writer from early in my career, and consider IT Security one of my foundational skills. I’m sharing my experience here, and I hope you find it useful.

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