StreamSearching browser hijacker removal instructions

Written by Wilbur Woodham
The StreamSearching search hijacker is an illustration of a standard unwanted program; such applications are spread massively these days. In this article you will see the complete information of “StreamSearching” hijacker elimination in different tactics: using anti-malware programs and manual removal procedure.
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StreamSearching – What is it?

“StreamSearching” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)1, that is promoted as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that helps to browse some certain details, as an example, about sporting activity events, make your web browser a lot more secure, allow downloading of any type of video, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “StreamSearching” plugin is pretty pointless since all such functions are already integrated to your browser and/or system. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, like pensioners or schoolchildren. But occasionally even qualified users are getting caught on such an appeal. In certain scenarios, this hijacker is spread along with free software.

StreamSearching hijacker - Streamsearching.com

StreamSearching Search Hijacker

Here is a short summary for the StreamSearching hijacker
NAMEStreamSearching
SiteStreamsearching.com
HostingAS13335 Cloudflare, Inc.
United States, San Francisco
Infection TypeBrowser Hijacker, Unwanted Application
IP Address172.67.219.82
SymptomsChanged search engine; search queries redirection
Similar behaviorFast, Social, Air
Fix Tool
To remove possible virus infections, try to scan your PC

How harmful is StreamSearching hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, StreamSearching hijacker is likewise really harmful for web browser use. It modifies your search engine to its particular – Streamsearching.com, and additionally changes your background, adding its watermark on your wallpaper (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the mentioned sign).

Aside from visual modifications done by StreamSearching hijacker, you may see that several of your search inquiries are redirecting to the suspicious sites, full of links and promotions – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting surges if you attempt to launch Google search page by force.

However all these actions are far more annoying than really destructive. The largest threat, primarily for people who have a lot of secret information in their browsers, is embedded in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as various other activities are simply gathered by StreamSearching hijacker.

How to remove StreamSearching 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 quite very easy to delete. In most cases, they have an independent application that can be spotted in the list of installed applications. Because of the certain marketing tactic of StreamSearching hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted by hand. Nevertheless, if you got StreamSearching in the package with a free applications, your system can be contaminated with far more dangerous malwaretrojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d advise you utilize anti-malware programs to delete the StreamSearching PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender2 – it is capable of finding and removing different malware, including named hijacker. But significant malware, that can be present on your computer in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antivirus program by modifying the Group Policies. To prevent such situations, it is better to utilize GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all unwanted applications 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 harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to perform any actions against the viruses, you need to hold on until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

GridinSoft Anti-Malware during the scan

To choose the action for each spotted 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

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 intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This option can be located 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 StreamSearching 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 StreamSearching?

Name: StreamSearching

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