How to remove ProStreamsSearch

Browser hijacked by ProStreamsSearch Virus: Is there any solution?

Threat Summary

Threat Name: ProStreamsSearch, ProStreamsSearch adware, ProStreamsSearch browser hijacker

Threat Type: Browser Hijacker, Redirect Virus, Adware, PUA

Affected browsers: Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Edge

Description: This nasty malware injects harmful codes in your main browser’s settings and/or in Operating System’s settings without your knowledge.

Distribution methods: Bundles of free software package, malicious ads or popups, suspicious hyperlinks, fake software updaters, installers and downloaders

Motives of cybercriminals: Aims to collect your browsing-related data or sensitive information and shares it to illegal ones.

Malware removal method: To remove ProStreamsSearch or similar malware, you can scan your computer with powerful antivirus software.

How did PUAs, adware or malware install on computer?

Potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) or adware are distributed though download/installation setups of other software package as additional offers. This false marketing method of packing regular or legitimate software with PUAs or malware is known as “Software Bundling Method”. This is mostly used mechanism by cybercriminals to spread malware or viruses in machine. In case if you choose “Recommended/Quick/Express” settings instead of choosing “Custom/Advance/Manual” settings in setups of software installation, then you download/install all the additional programs including malicious additions in your computer. Sometimes, PUAs or adware can also be downloaded/installed from malicious advertisements that are designed to run certain scripts.

What is ProStreamsSearch? What it does?

ProStreamsSearch is rough application belongs to browser hijacker family. This nasty browser hijacker is designed to hijack your main browser including Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera and other browsers. It changes the default setting of homepage, new tab URLs and search engine of your browser with address of “ProStreamsSearch.com”- bogus search engine. This fake search engine claims that it is safe & fast search engine as compare to some popular search engine like Google, Yahoo and Bing. But it is bogus at all. You should never trust on them at any cases.

“ProStreamsSearch.com” – bogus search engine promoted by ProStreamsSearch dubious application doesn’t generate any unique results. It shows bogus results and/or loads misleading contents. It attempts to engage you on shady/questionable/untrustworthy websites and tricks you into downloading/installing potentially unwanted applications (PUAs) in your computer. These rough applications open other untrustworthy websites that shows “Show Notifications” or “Push Notifications” popups on its platform and tricks you into registering their site for browser notifications. Once allowed, they will start modifying your browser’s settings and/or Operating System’s settings without your knowledge.

ProStreamsSearch blocks/prevents you from revert these changes means you can’t undo the changes made. The main motive of attackers behind this malware is collect to your browsing-related data. It installs some fake browser helper objects (BHOs) like unwanted extensions, plug-ins or add-ons that are designed to monitor your online activities and collect your sensitive information. They can keep record your some information such as IP address, URLs search, login ID & password of your various accounts, banking information and more details. So, it is important to delete ProStreamsSearch from machine as soon as possible.

Prevention tips: How to protect your System against PUAs, adware or malware?

It is strongly recommended to double-research the software before download/installation and/or purchase. You should be alert while surfing online and avoid downloading/installing any applications from unofficial sources, peer-to-peer file sharing network, fake software updaters, installers and downloaders, and other third parties’ sources. Always try to download any applications from official sources or via direct links. During software installation, you should always choose “Custom/Advance/Manual” settings instead of choosing “Recommended/Quick/Express” settings in setups of download software package, and remove all the unnecessary programs by unticking their checkboxes in these settings. To protect your System against malware or viruses, you should keep up-to-date your security software like antivirus software and scan your computer for malware or viruses regularly.

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 ProStreamsSearch:

Remove the related items of ProStreamsSearch 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 ProStreamsSearch 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 (ProStreamsSearch) 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 ProStreamsSearch 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 ProStreamsSearch 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 ProStreamsSearch 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 ProStreamsSearch 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 ProStreamsSearch (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.