How to remove SearchStreamZ browser plugin?

SearchStreamZ – What is it?

“SearchStreamZ” 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 assists to search some particular details, for example, about sport events, make your browser a lot more safe, enable downloading of any kind of video clip, and so on. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

Nevertheless, the “SearchStreamZ” plugin is pretty useless since all such functions are already embedded to your browser and/or system. Such advertising slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, for example, pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even skilled users are getting caught on such an attraction. In specific instances, this hijacker is dispersed along with free programs.

SearchStreamZ Search Hijacker

How harmful is SearchStreamZ hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, SearchStreamZ hijacker is additionally considerably hazardous for web browser utilization. It transforms your search engine to its specific – Searchstreamz.com, and additionally transforms your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the specified symbol).

Apart from visual transformations done by SearchStreamZ hijacker, you can notice that some of your search questions are redirecting to the dubious websites, filled with links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can have links for malware downloads. The chance of redirecting boosts if you try to open Google search page by force.

But all these actions are a lot more bothersome than truly destructive. The most important danger, particularly for people who have a lot of secret information in their web browsers, is installed in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited sites, and various other activities are simply collected by SearchStreamZ hijacker.

How to remove SearchStreamZ 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 delete. In most cases, they have an independent application that can be located in the list of installed software. Due to the certain distribution manner of SearchStreamZ hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and deleted manually. Nonetheless, if you got SearchStreamZ in the bundle with a free applications, your personal computer can be contaminated with much more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware and even ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you use anti-malware tools to remove the SearchStreamZ PUA and all other malware.

You can utilize Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of discovering and clearing away different malware, including named hijacker. However, significant malware, that can be present on your computer in the discussed instance, can disable the Windows antimalware tool by editing the Group Policies. To minimize the chanse of such scenarios, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove all unwanted applications on your desktop 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 directories.

You can spectate the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible harm 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.

To choose the action for every spotted malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all malware will be removed to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

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

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

Deleteing SearchStreamZ 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.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

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 :
   

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.

References

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