How To Remove TheStreamSearch Hijacker

TheStreamSearch: Complete Uninstall Process

TheStreamSearch is a nasty PC threat that belongs to the browser hijacker category. This type of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) don’t often intrude the computer devices openly, instead users install them along with other free applications that are promoted on free file-hosting pages. Soon after the intrusion, it makes changes to default browser’s settings to promote thestreamsearch.com- a fake search engine. It sets this URL as the new home page, search engine and new tab addresses and redirects all searches to Yahoo, Yandex and other search providers. The search results are filled with ads and sponsored links that reroute users to affiliated sites.

TheStreamSearch Tracks Users’ Online Activities:

TheStreamSearch inserts various spying cookies on the internet browser and constantly monitors its victims’ actions whatever they do online. It records browsing-relation information that includes IP address, links clicked, sites visited, technical details of the system, search queries etc. These details are very helpful for the commercial content creators to generate personalized advertisements that increases the chances of getting clicks on those ads. And hence, during the presence of this nasty hijacker in your computer, you are flooded with thousands of annoying ads all over the day which interrupts your web session badly.

TheStreamSearch ads are in multiple formats such as coupons, deals, banners, offers, discounts etc. They work on pay-per-click scheme and earn profits for the developers with each click users make on them. We highly advise to not click on these adverts as they might contain vicious links and redirect you to potentially dangerous sites. Such web portals might be promoting shady applications, fake surveys, fake tech support scams or hosting PUPs or more dangerous cyber threats like Trojans, ransomware etc.

PUPs like TheStreamSearch, Find.stormsearch.net and others can also steal users’ personal data like credit card and banking details that can be misused by the scammers for deceptive transactions or purchases. And hence, this perilous hijacker may lead to severe privacy issues, identity theft and huge financial loss. It keeps contribution malicious deeds in the background all the time which consumes enormous amount of memory resources and drags down the overall PC performance severely. Due to this, machine begins responding in a very slow manner and takes more than usual time to complete any task. And hence, an instant TheStreamSearch removal is strongly required.

Software Bundling Triggers Hijackers Installations:

Browser hijackers, adware and other PUPs are mostly spread through bundling techniques. When people download a freeware from third-party site like softonic.com, cnet.com, download.com, soft32.com and then install the app by choosing the Quick or Recommended settings when asked, they generally end up with installing an additional program without even realizing. This is because the potentially unwanted programs are disguised under these configuration settings and if select these installation options, they manage to get installed as well together with the regular software.

So, to prevent this, always select the Custom or Advanced options and refuse all the offers that are suggested. Here you can opt-out the components that you don’t want to be installed and pick only the one you require. Additionally, rely only on official pages and direct links to download software and avoid using the untrustworthy channels, Peer-to-peer sharing networks, and other third-party downloaders. In case your device is already infected with this hijacker, you must remove TheStreamSearch from the machine 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 TheStreamSearch:

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