How to remove SmartStreamSearch browser hijacker

Easy step-by-step guide to delete SmartStreamSearch

SmartStreamSearch is one of many browser hijacker applications that is designed to promote an address of a fake search engine (SmartStreamSearch.com). Like other potentially unwanted applications of this kind, this app has the dangerous data tracking potential as well. The browser hijackers are called potentially unwanted applications as well because of various deceptive techniques that lead their secret installations.

More about SmartStreamSearch

SmartStreamSearch promotes SmartStreamSearch.com address by altering the browsers’ settings and assigning this address to the browsers’ homepage, new tab page and default search engine options. And hence with this software installed, each browsing tab opened and every search query entered on the URL bar redirects to the aforementioned URL address. As said earlier in the introduction, the promoted URL address by is not an illegitimate web searcher. In other word, SmartStreamSearch.com does not generate its own search results. Therefore, it tends to redirect users to Yahoo (search.yahoo.com) search engine.

Browser hijackers can undo any changes that users made to the browsers’ settings and can even restrict/ block users’ access to the aforementioned settings. Thus, returning to the previous browser settings option is possible only after SmartStreamSearch removal. Another reason to perform its removal is its data tracking capability. It uses this ability to track users’ browsing session and collect the data related to their web browsing activities/habits. The list of the collected data could include:

• IP addresses,
• Search queries,
• Viewed pages,
• URLs visited,
• ISP,
• Type of OS and browser,
• Geo-location and etc

The biggest problem is that the gathered information could be shared and/or sold to third parties (potentially, cybercriminals) or misused in some other ways to generate revenue. In such a case, users experience a huge risk of privacy, identity exposure, monetary loss and even more severe issues. To prevent all such issues from happening in future, SmartStreamSearch removal is strongly recommended to you to do without delay.

How did SmartStreamSearch intrude in?

It is common that PUAs are included in the download/ install setups of regular software as additional offers. This distribution method in which packing of regular software is done with unwanted and malicious one is called software bundling. As a rule, the offers to download/ installation included apps can be declined in Custom/Advanced and other similar settings or by un-ticking the checkboxes available in the download/ install setups. However, not all users do that. They simply rush the download and skip most of the installation steps. Meanwhile, they leave those aforementioned settings unchecked and unchanged and lead to the inadvertent installation of the unwanted applications. In some cases, PUAs download/ installation can be caused when users click on some deceptive ads. However, only those ads that are designed to run certain scripts can cause stealth download/ installations.

How to prevent PUAs intrusion?

It is strongly recommended you to download programs and files only from official websites and via direct links. Other sources like p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders/ installers can be used to promote unwanted apps. Also, it is important to check download/ install setups for Advanced/Custom and other settings and decline the offers to download and/or install additionally included unwanted applications before finalizing the installation process. Ads displayed on any shady/ questionable pages should never be trusted. It is common that users click on such ads get redirected to some untrustworthy pages or end up to unwanted software download/ installation.

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 SmartStreamSearch:

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