How to remove StreamSearchVault browser hijacker

Easy steps to delete StreamSearchVault

StreamSearchVault is a browser hijacker application designed to promote StreamSearchVault.com -a fake search engine. Additionally, it monitors web browsing session about users to collect the information regarding their web browsing activities/ habits. Due to deceptive methods used for its distribution, this application is also called potentially unwanted application.

More about StreamSearchVault

StreamSearchVault promotes StreamSearchVault.com by changing browsers’ settings and assigning this address to the browsers’ homepage, new tab page and default search engine options. Such changes diminish the web browsing session significantly as the affected users would have the search the web thru this fake search engine. Also, each opened browsing tab redirects them to this rogue domain. As said, StreamSearchVault.com is a fake search engine. it does not generate its own search results. Therefore, it tends to redirect users to search.yahoo.com.

Despite the redirection caused to the legit Yahoo search engine, StreamSearchVault developers manage to insert sponsored ads and links with each search result page. They promote whoever pays them the most. In the process, they just ignore what is useful for the users. Therefore, you can expect suspicious apps/ malware, phishing/ scams and other low qualities pages as a redirection caused through those promotional content. Since the PUA can track users’ browsing session, you cannot surprise that the content is closely related to what you was recently looking for. The collected data like IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages and etc can be shared and/or sold to potent crooks who misuse them to generate illicit that cost on privacy and cause identity exposure.

To sum up, the presence of the browser hijacker application can create system infections, problems related to privacy, browser safety, monetary loss, identity theft and so on. To prevent any such things from happening in future, you are strongly recommended to remove StreamSearchVault browser hijacker from the system. This can be done by using some reputable antivirus tool. This software will run a full system and find all suspicious applications and browser extensions and remove them all with just one mouse click. However, you can refer our manual malware removal instruction provided below the post, if you do not want to use any security tools.

Threat Summary

Name: StreamSearchVault

Type: Browser hijacker

Symptoms: Alters new tab, homepage, search engine settings, delivers intrusive ads and redirects all in-browser searches

Risks: Exposes users to suspicious and potentially dangerous content, collects and tracks user information

Distribution: Software bundles, deceptive advertisements, p2p and other third party sites

Elimination: To remove StreamSearchVault, you should check the instructions below. Additionally, you should scan the device with some reputable antivirus tool and reset the browsers if necessary

How did StreamSearchVault intrude in?

Some PUAs have their official websites. These apps are also distributed thru download/ installation setups of other software. This false marketing method of packing one app with unwanted and malicious is termed as software bundling. By rushing the download and skipping the installation sections, users increase the risk of inadvertent installation of unwanted applications. Intrusive ads can cause PUAs installation as well. Once clicked on, they run certain scripts designed to cause stealth download/ installation.

How to prevent PUAs installation?

All software must be downloaded through official websites and direct links. Untrustworthy downloading channels such as unofficial and free file hosting sites, p2p networks and other third party downloaders- often offer harmful and/or bundled content. During downloading/ installing, it is advised to read terms, study possible options, use Custom/Advanced settings and opt out from supplementary apps, tools and functions and so on. Intrusive ads appear ordinary. However, they often redirect to unreliable and questionable pages such as gambling, adult dating and pornography and similar. If you encounter any such ads/ redirects, immediately check the system for suspicious applications and/or browser extensions/ plug-ins for their removal.

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 StreamSearchVault:

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