How to remove ProStreamSearch browser hijacker? — Fix Guide

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The ProStreamSearch search hijacker is an illustration of a basic unwanted program; such programs are distributed massively these days. On this page you will see the comprehensive guidelines of “ProStreamSearch” hijacker removal in various ways: utilizing anti-malware software and also hand-operated removal technique.
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ProStreamSearch – What is it?

“ProStreamSearch” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically marketed as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some special details, as an example, about sport events, make your web browser a lot more safe, allow downloading of any web video, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “ProStreamSearch” plugin is rather useless because all such functions are currently integrated to your web browser and/or system. Such marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However in some cases even qualified users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific cases, this hijacker is spread along with free programs.

ProStreamSearch hijacker - Prostreamsearch.com

ProStreamSearch Search Hijacker

Here is a short details for the ProStreamSearch hijacker
NAME ProStreamSearch
Site Prostreamsearch.com
Hosting AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection Type Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address 172.67.196.201
Symptoms Changed search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behavior Trovigo, Shopsearch, Kensaq
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is ProStreamSearch hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, ProStreamSearch hijacker is also fairly harmful for web browser usage. It alters your search engine to its particular – Prostreamsearch.com, and additionally modifies your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, altering it to default with the specified symbol).

Aside from aesthetic adjustments done by ProStreamSearch hijacker, you may see that a couple of your search queries are redirecting to the untrustworthy sites, filled with links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can have web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting rises if you try to open Google search page forcibly.

However all these actions are far more bothersome than really destructive. The most significant threat, particularly for people who have a great deal of confidential information in their browsers, is installed in data gathering functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, and other activities are simply gathered by ProStreamSearch hijacker.

How to remove ProStreamSearch 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 usually very easy to remove. In most cases, they have an independent app that can be found in the list of installed apps. Because of the particular distribution tactic of ProStreamSearch hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and erased manually. Nonetheless, if you got ProStreamSearch in the package with a free applications, your personal computer can be contaminated with a lot more harmful malwaretrojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you utilize anti-malware tools to deal with the ProStreamSearch PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and eliminating different malware, including mentioned hijacker. But significant malware, that can exist on your PC in the discussed instance, can disable the Windows antimalware program by editing the Group Policies. To stay clear of such scenarios, it is far better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all unwanted programs on your personal computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to use 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 harm till the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious apps, you need to wait until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To choose the action for each spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious program. By default, all malware will be removed 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 malware, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

Tools tab in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Reset Browser Settings options

Deleteing ProStreamSearch 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 ProStreamSearch?

Name: ProStreamSearch

Description: ProStreamSearch - 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 ProStreamSearch?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with ProStreamSearch (Prostreamsearch.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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