How to remove StreamingSearches browser plugin?

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The StreamingSearches search hijacker is an illustration of a typical unwanted program; such programs are spread massively these days. On this page you will see the detailed information of “StreamingSearches” hijacker elimination in different tactics: using anti-malware tools and hand-operated removal technique.
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StreamingSearches – What is it?

“StreamingSearches” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is spread as a plugin for your internet browser. It is usually shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to search some particular details, for instance, about sport events, make your web browser far more safe, allow downloading of any kind of video clip, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “StreamingSearches” plugin is fairly ineffective because all such functions are currently integrated to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even expert users are getting caught on such a lure. In particular cases, this hijacker is dispersed along with free apps.

StreamingSearches hijacker - Streamingsearches.com

StreamingSearches Search Hijacker

Here is a short summary for the StreamingSearches hijacker
NAMEStreamingSearches
SiteStreamingsearches.com
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address104.21.64.220
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorGreatsearchsport, Clicksportsearches, Simpleconverters
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is StreamingSearches hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, StreamingSearches hijacker is also rather hazardous for browser utilization. It alters your search engine to its particular – Streamingsearches.com, and also modifies your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, sometimes, changing it to default with the mentioned symbol).

Aside from seeable transformations done by StreamingSearches hijacker, you can observe that many of your search queries are redirecting to the uncertain sites, filled with web links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can have web links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting boosts if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

But all these activities are more annoying than really dangerous. The main threat, primarily for individuals who have a lot of confidential information in their internet browsers, is installed in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited sites, and various other activities are simply collected by StreamingSearches hijacker.

How to remove StreamingSearches 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 quite easy to deal with. Usually, they have an independent app that can be located in the list of installed applications. Due to the certain distribution manner of StreamingSearches hijacker, it can be simply tracked and deleted by hand. However, if you got StreamingSearches in the bundle with a free applications, your computer might be infected with much more major malwaretrojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you make use of anti-malware tools to delete the StreamingSearches PUA and all other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and clearing away different malware, including named hijacker. Nevertheless, major malware, that can be present on your computer in the discussed situation, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by editing the Group Policies. To prevent such scenarios, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all malicious applications 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 malicious apps, because it checks only the most popular registry entries and directories.

Main screen in GridinSoft Anti-Malware

You can spectate the detected viruses sorted by their possible hazard simultaneously with the scan process. But to choose any actions against malicious programs, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To set the action for each spotted 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.

List of the detected malware after the scan

Reverting browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to 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 choosing 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 StreamingSearches 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 StreamingSearches?

Name: StreamingSearches

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