How to remove Radio Streaming Tool and Hide My Searches?
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Radio Streaming Tool?
Radio Streaming Tool is advertised as an app that provides access to various online radio streaming services, however, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted application (PUA), a browser hijacker.
Radio Streaming Tool promotes search.radiostreamingtooltab.com (a fake search engine) by changing browser settings and also collects details relating to users' browsing activity. This app is installed together with another PUA called Hide My Searches. In most cases, people download and install PUAs inadvertently.
After installation, Radio Streaming Tool assigns settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab URL to search.radiostreamingtooltab.com.
Therefore, people who have this app installed on their browsers and/or operating systems are forced to visit search.radiostreamingtooltab.com when they open a browser, new tab or search through the URL bar.
Typically, settings that are appointed by a browser hijacker cannot be modified (changed, undone) unless the hijacker is uninstalled (this removes search.radiostreamingtooltab.com from the settings). As mentioned, search.radiostreamingtooltab.com is a fake search engine and does not generate unique search results - users are simply redirected to search.yahoo.com.
Therefore, search.radiostreamingtooltab.com indirectly provides search results generated by the Yahoo search engine. Furthermore, apps such as Radio Streaming Tool usually collect browsing-related information. For example, IP addresses, addresses of visited websites, entered search queries, geolocations, etc.
Installed browser hijackers might also record personal details. People responsible for these apps sell the data to third parties who misuse it to generate revenue.
They might also sell it to cyber criminals. Therefore, browser hijackers can cause problems relating to online privacy, browsing safety or even identity theft. We strongly recommend that you uninstall Radio Streaming Tool, Hide My Searches and any other browser hijackers immediately.
Name | Radio Streaming Tool |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
Detection Names | Avast (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), AVG (Win32:Adware-gen [Adw]), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of Win32/WinWrapper.V Potentially Unwanted), Microsoft (PUA:Win32/OpenDownloadManager), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal) |
Browser Extension(s) | Radio Streaming Tool |
Supposed Functionality | This app supposedly provides quick access to various online radio streaming services. |
Promoted URL | search.radiostreamingtooltab.com |
Serving IP Address (search.radiostreamingtooltab.com) | 3.219.120.252 |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine. |
Symptoms | Manipulated internet browser settings (homepage, default internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the internet using their search engines. |
Additional Information | Radio Streaming Tool is distributed with another browser hijacker called Hide My Searches. |
Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers. |
Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
More examples of apps that are categorized as browser hijackers include Easy Internet Speed Test, My Maps Homepage and Search My Obituaries. Browser hijackers are supposedly useful and deliver various features, however, they are generally redundant and cause only problems.
They are designed only to perform actions to help developers to generate revenue. Never download or install PUAs.
How did Radio Streaming Tool install on my computer?
Generally, people download and install PUAs inadvertently together with other, mostly free software. I.e., when they are included into the download/installation set-ups of other programs.
Additionally included apps are usually listed in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar settings, however, many people fail to change these settings, thereby agreeing by default with offers to download or install PUAs. Unwanted downloads and/or installations are also caused when people click deceptive ads that run certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
Download programs from official websites and via direct links. Do not use third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks (torrent clients, eMule), unofficial pages, or other similar channels. Avoid third party installers. Check download/installation setups, especially settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced".
Decline offers to download or install additional (unwanted) software. Do not trust or click ads that are displayed on web pages relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating, etc. In most cases, they open potentially malicious pages or cause download/installation of unwanted software.
Ensure that there are no unwanted or suspicious add-ons, plug-ins or extensions installed on the browser, or programs of this kind installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with Radio Streaming Tool, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Radio Streaming Tool download page:
Radio Streaming Tool browser installer:
Radio Streaming Tool asks permission to read and change various data:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is Radio Streaming Tool?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Radio Streaming Tool application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.radiostreamingtooltab.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Radio Streaming Tool browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.radiostreamingtooltab.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.radiostreamingtooltab.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Radio Streaming Tool browser hijacker removal:
Windows 11 users:
Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.
Windows 10 users:
Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.
Windows 7 users:
Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.
macOS (OSX) users:
Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.
In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "Radio Streaming Tool"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.radiostreamingtooltab.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Radio Streaming Tool browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://search.radiostreamingtooltab.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer. You can also enter about: blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.
Change your default search engine:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window, select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing", or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "Radio Streaming Tool".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.radiostreamingtooltab.com redirect, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.
Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.
Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.
In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.
Click the Reset button.
Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Radio Streaming Tool" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (e.g., "Hide My Searches"), and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "Radio Streaming Tool" or "Hide My Searches", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://search.radiostreamingtooltab.com or hxxps://hidemysearches.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "hxxp://search.radiostreamingtooltab.com" and "hxxp://hidemysearches.com", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.radiostreamingtooltab.com redirect, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.
After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
Remove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Radio Streaming Tool", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (e.g., "Hide My Searches").
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window disable "Radio Streaming Tool" or "Hide My Searches", remove hxxp://search.radiostreamingtooltab.com or hxxp://hidemysearches.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your default search engine:
In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with search.radiostreamingtooltab.com redirect removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.
Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.
Select Troubleshooting Information.
In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.
In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.
Remove malicious extensions from Safari:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...
In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.
In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.
In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.
Optional method:
Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...
In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.
Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage and new tab settings:
Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".
Change your default Internet search engine:
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.radiostreamingtooltab.com redirect, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.
In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.
Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.
- If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.
Summary:
A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.
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