Remove StreamsSearchIt Redirect — How to Fix Guide

StreamsSearchIt – What is it?

“StreamsSearchIt” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is typically advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to search some special info, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser far more safe, allow downloading of any video clip, and so on.

However, the “StreamsSearchIt” plugin is quite pointless due to the fact that all such functions are already embedded to your browser and/or Windows. Such advertising and marketing mottos are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However often even experienced users are getting caught on such a lure. In certain scenarios, this hijacker is spread along with free apps.

StreamsSearchIt Search Hijacker

How harmful is StreamsSearchIt hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, StreamsSearchIt hijacker is likewise pretty harmful for browser use. It changes your search engine to its specific – Streamssearchit.com, and likewise transforms your background, adding its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, altering it to default with the mentioned sign).

In addition to visual adjustments done by StreamsSearchIt hijacker, you might observe that a couple of your search questions are redirecting to the uncertain websites, filled with web links and ads – so-called doorway websites. Such websites can consist of web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting surges if you try to open Google search page by force.

But all these activities are far more bothersome than truly damaging. The greatest threat, especially for people who have a lot of confidential information in their browsers, is installed in data collecting functionalities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited websites, as well as various other activities are easily collected by StreamsSearchIt hijacker.

How to remove StreamsSearchIt search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are often pretty very easy to remove. Usually, they have a separate application that can be spotted in the list of installed applications. Because of the specific marketing way of StreamsSearchIt hijacker, it can be quickly tracked and deleted by hand. Nevertheless, if you got StreamsSearchIt in the bundle with a free program, your PC might be infected with far more serious malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I’d suggest you make use of anti-malware programs to remove the StreamsSearchIt PUA and all various other malware.

You can use Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of finding and clearing away various malware, including mentioned hijacker. Nevertheless, major malware, that may be present on your computer in the discussed instance, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by editing the Group Policies. To stay clear of such situations, it is better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and erase all unwanted programs on your PC with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the malicious apps, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can see the detected malicious apps sorted by their possible harm simultaneously with the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious apps, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for each spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malicious app. By default, all malware will be moved to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To reset your browser settings, you are required to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action cannot be counteracted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

After choosing the Reset Browser Settings button, the menu will be displayed, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to the original.

Deleteing StreamsSearchIt hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender