How To Remove ProStreamSearch Hijacker From PC

ProStreamSearch: Step-by-step Delete Guide

ProStreamSearch is a notorious PC threat that falls under browser hijacker category. Once this nasty infection successfully infiltrates the Windows computers, it modifies default browser’s settings to promote prostreamsearch.com- a deceptive search engine. Being a potentially unwanted program (PUP), it usually intrudes the targeted devices by stealth through software bundling technique. It also has data-tracking abilities and can record browsing-related information to serve advertisements according to users’ interests. The real objective of this PUP is to boost traffic for its developers’ affiliated websites and make quick online profits for them.

ProStreamSearch Shows Annoying Adverts:

When ProStreamSearch enters your work-station, it starts running intrusive advertising campaigns. It floods your system screen with tons of annoying ads all over the day that keep appearing on each web page you visit. These ads are in several forms e.g., coupons, deals, offers, banners, pop-ups etc. They are designed to generate income for the malicious app’s developers via pay-per-click scheme. The more users click on these adverts, the more money falls into their pocket. These ads usually redirect to sponsored sites that could be even malware-laden.

Some ProStreamSearch ads trigger direct download and installation of malicious software. And hence, it is important to avoid interacting with these adverts no matter how eye-catching or useful they look. This nasty hijacker assigns prostreamsearch.com as the new homepage, new tab page and search engine URLs without even seeking for any approval. However, while using this fake search tool, victims are redirected to Yahoo and to searchlee.com. Typically, the results generated are inaccurate and may promote untrustworthy content. They also include ads and sponsored links which redirect users to pre-defined websites.

As stated in the first paragraph, ProStreamSearch can also track users’ online activities. And hence, it can collect various data such as IP addresses/ geolocations, webpages viewed, URLs visited, search queries typed, and even personally identifiable details like credit card number. Later on, the gathered information is sold to third-parties and even cyber criminals and can be employed for generating personalized advertisements, making fraudulent transactions, unauthorized purchases and so on. And therefore, presence of this nasty threat in your computer may result in severe privacy issues, identity theft, and huge financial losses. Constant malevolent activities executed by this PUP consume enormous amount of memory resources and increases the usage of CPU. So, ProStreamSearch removal should not be delayed.

Distribution Of ProStreamSearch:

You might have accidentally enabled a browser hijacker yourself while installing new software. The very process takes place without your direct notice when you pick the “Quick” or “Recommended” options and then hit the “Install” button. Similarly, multiple unwanted tools easily pave their way into your device. This pre-packed PUP distribution method is known as ‘bundling’ in which, these unwanted threats are bundled together with regular software as optional components.

If you are eager to prevent such hijacker intrusion in the future, follow these recommendations. While installing any software, always opt for “Custom” or “Advanced” settings. Then, unmark all unwanted attached programs and proceed to install the software that you wanted at the first. This way, you can avoid potentially unwanted applications from infiltrating your work-station. If your PC is already contaminated with this hijacker, you must remove ProStreamSearch from the device without wasting any time.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove ProStreamSearch:

Remove the related items of ProStreamSearch using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing ProStreamSearch issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (ProStreamSearch) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to ProStreamSearch removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter.  In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to ProStreamSearch still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove ProStreamSearch plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”.  Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in ProStreamSearch removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete ProStreamSearch (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications.  Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.