How To Remove StreamSpotSearch Hijacker

Tips To Delete StreamSpotSearch

StreamSpotSearch is a browser hijacking application that sets its own engine as default to promote sponsored websites and generate revenue from advertising. It belongs to the group or Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA) targeting Windows exceptionally with the help of doubtful third-party bundles. Upon installation, it tends to change the main search engine, homepage, new tab settings to https://www.StreamSpotSearch.com. Later on, this precarious hijacker may add additional browser-based programs, extensions, or system applications to control more of the online traffic and browsing functions or the device itself. Such infections can be categorized as potentially unwanted programs because of the silent infiltration and intrusive symptoms ranging from redirects and pop-up ad display to installations of additional undesired programs.

Depth Analysis of StreamSpotSearch:

Soon after infiltrating the system, StreamSpotSearch starts initiating its bogus activities – redirecting to advertising services, and collecting revenue via pay-per-click schemes. The unwanted program plants cookies into the browser to spy on the users’ online sessions and produces attractive adverts. There are several websites that are closely related to this browser hijacker, so you shouldn’t be surprised if after a few clicks the screen reroutes you to unknown domains. There is very little to no value in most browser hijacking applications, so you should clean the device thoroughly in order to stop the excessive tracking and redirect activities.

StreamSpotSearch belongs to the PUP category because it employs stealth techniques to get into the targeted PC system. This generally refers to bundling measures or security-lacking websites. Once the app is on the machine, be ready to encounter malicious activities.

These are the main symptoms of this shady search engine:

• default homepage, new tab, and search engine gets changed to StreamSpotSearch.com;
• all search attempts redirects to other sites show results filled with links and other types of commercial material;
• advertisements appear on sites where they aren’t supposed to be;
• toolbars, extensions, add-ons, and other content gets installed without your permission or knowledge.

StreamSpotSearch redirect virus might present itself as a useful product, however, do not fall for believing in these claims as you might easily get tricked by the developers. They might add “handy features” to the browser hijacker such as fast access to popular networks. To avoid precarious issues caused by this threat, it is necessary to perform StreamSpotSearch removal from the work-station immediately.

Ways To Spread This Hijacker:

According to security experts, potentially unwanted programs like adware or browser hijackers most often penetrate the targeted computers through sources that lack required protection. These sources are known to be P2P networks such as Torrents. In addition, malicious programs are very likely to sneak into the work-station via free software packages. When you download software from untrustworthy sites and install it using ‘Quick’ or ‘Recommended wizard, you may end up installing unwanted applications as well since this settings doesn’t reveal the tools that are available inside the software package.

Tips To Avoid PUP Intrusion:

To prevent unwanted installations, you should always opt for the Custom/Advanced installation mode. This option allows you to de-select the components that give a concerning look and pick only the main software. Besides, having a reputable antivirus program running on your machine will do half of the security job for you. However, you cannot leave everything for the anti-malware as you are the one who is responsible for your own, your programs’, and your machine’s/device’s safety level. So. Be very careful surfing the web. But at the moment, you are highly recommended to remove StreamSpotSearch from the device without wasting any time.

Threat Summary

Name: StreamSpotSearch

Type: Browser hijacker, Redirect virus, Potentially unwanted program

Short Description: Redirects users to affiliated sites, promotes sponsored products, services and programs and make online revenues for the creators, Also steals users’ personal and confidential information and share them with hackers for evil purposes.

Symptoms: Numerous annoying adverts, Changes in default browser’s settings, default Internet search engine, Fake pop-up messages, identity theft, new tab settings. Users are enforced to visit hijacker’s website and search the Internet using their search engines, slowness of infected system’s performance.

Distribution methods: Free software installers (bundling), Deceptive emails, malicious pop-ups ads, fake flash player installers.

Damage: Web browsing tracking (potential privacy issues), exhibition of unwanted ads, redirects to shady websites.

Removal: To get rid of this infection and other malware threats, our security researchers recommend scanning your device with an effective anti-malware tool.

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 StreamSpotSearch:

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