The SearchStreamsNet search hijacker is an example of a standard unwanted program; such applications are distributed enormously nowadays. In this article you will see the precise guidance of “SearchStreamsNet” hijacker elimination in several tactics: making use of anti-malware software and hand-operated removal procedure.
SearchStreamsNet – What is it?
“SearchStreamsNet” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is promoted as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically spread as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some certain info, as an example, about sporting activity events, make your browser a lot more safe, allow downloading of any type of video clip, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).
Nevertheless, the “SearchStreamsNet” plugin is rather useless since all such functions are currently built-in to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even experienced users are getting caught on such an appeal. In particular scenarios, this hijacker is distributed along with free software.
Here is a short summary for the SearchStreamsNet hijacker
NAME | SearchStreamsNet |
Site | Searchstreamsnet.com |
Hosting | AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc. United States, San Francisco |
Infection Type | Browser Hijacker, Unwanted Application |
IP Address | 104.21.79.78 |
Symptoms | Changed search engine; search queries redirection |
Similar behavior | Moviesearchhome/, Mysearchconverters, Togo/ |
Fix Tool | To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC |
How harmful is SearchStreamsNet hijacker?
Besides its uselessness, SearchStreamsNet hijacker is additionally really unsafe for browser usage. It modifies your search engine to its specific – Searchstreamsnet.com, and also transforms your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, in some cases, changing it to default with the mentioned symptom).
Apart from viewable alterations done by SearchStreamsNet hijacker, you may see that a couple of your search inquiries are redirecting to the uncertain websites, filled with links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can contain links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting increases if you try to start Google search page forcibly.
However all these actions are a lot more bothersome than truly harmful. The largest threat, primarily for individuals who have a considerable amount of confidential information in their browsers, is installed in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, chats, often-visited sites, and other activities are simply gathered by SearchStreamsNet hijacker.
How to remove SearchStreamsNet 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 almost always fairly easy to deal with. Usually, they have an independent application that can be found in the list of installed apps. Because of the certain marketing manner of SearchStreamsNet hijacker, it can be easily tracked and deleted by hand. However, if you got SearchStreamsNet in the package with a free applications, your personal computer may be contaminated with a lot more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you use anti-malware programs to delete the SearchStreamsNet PUA and all various other malware.
You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and eliminating a wide range of malware, including mentioned hijacker. But severe malware, that can exist on your personal computer in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antimalware program by editing the Group Policies. To avoid such scenarios, it is better to make use of 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 viruses, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and folders.
You can observe the detected viruses sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious apps, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.
To choose the action for each detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.
Reverting browser settings to original ones
To revert your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be located in the Tools tab.
After choosing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be shown, where you can choose, which settings will be reverted to the original.
Deleteing SearchStreamsNet 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 :
- Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
- 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 :
- Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
- In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :
After choosing this option, you will see the next message :
If you use Google Chrome
- Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
- In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
- 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
- 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 :
- 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 WoodhamHow to Remove SearchStreamsNet?
Name: SearchStreamsNet
Description: SearchStreamsNet - 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 SearchStreamsNet?”. In this article we will show you how to deal with SearchStreamsNet (Searchstreamsnet.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
User Review
( votes)References
- More information about PUAs
- Detailed review of Microsoft Defender