How to uninstall the Stream Facts browser hijacker

What is Stream Facts?

Stream Facts is one of many browser hijackers that collect information relating to users' browsing habits and promote the address of a fake search engine (search.streamfacts.today). As with similar apps, it achieves this by changing certain browser settings.

In many cases, users download and install browser hijackers inadvertently and, therefore, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Stream Facts promotes search.streamfacts.today by assigning it as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. Therefore, users are forced to visit search.streamfacts.today when they open a browser, new tab or enter search queries into the URL bar.

Note that, by entering search queries, users are redirected to search.streamfacts.today and then to opti-page.com (the address of another fake search engine). Commonly, fake search engines display results generated by other, legitimate search engines (such as Yahoo, Google) or they generate and display misleading information.

People with browser hijackers such as Stream Facts installed on their browsers/operating systems cannot undo the changes made, unless they uninstall the app. Therefore, uninstalling Stream Facts will prevent search.streamfacts.today (and opti-page.com) from being opened.

Furthermore, the apps often collect IP addresses, entered search queries, addresses of visited pages, geolocations, and so on. In some cases, they also gather sensitive, personal details. Developers sell the data to third parties (often cyber criminals) who misuse it in other ways.

In any case, these actions can cause problems relating to online privacy and browsing safety, and some users might even become victims of identity theft. Therefore, browser hijackers should never be trusted (or downloaded/installed). If Stream Facts or other, similar apps are already installed, removed them immediately.

Threat Summary:

Name	Stream Facts
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Stream Facts
Supposed Functionality	This app supposed allows people to download videos.
Promoted URL	search.streamfacts.today
Serving IP Address (search.streamfacts.today)	104.24.107.251
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.
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

There are many browser hijackers on the internet. Typically, they are advertised as useful, legitimate applications that supposedly improve the browsing experience, include various features, etc. In fact, they deliver no real value and are designed only to help the developers to generate revenue.

Furthermore, people are exposed to risk of serious problems. Some examples of other PUAs that are also classified as browser hijackers include RollingSearch, Radio Hub Online and Quick Photo Editor.

How did Stream Facts install on my computer?

Developers often include PUAs into the download/installation set-ups of other software as "additional offers". This is to trick users into unintentionally downloading and installing PUAs with the required software. In most cases, offers to download and install potentially unwanted apps can be found in "Advanced", "Custom" and other similar settings of the software setups.

Many users fail to check these settings and leave them unchanged, thereby allowing included PUAs to be downloaded and installed together with regular software. PUAs are often installed through deceptive ads that run certain scripts, however, this happens only when people click the ads.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

Unofficial web pages, Peer-to-Peer networks (such as torrent clients, eMule, etc.), third party downloaders, and other similar channels should not be used to download software. The same applies to installation through third party, unofficial installers. These channels are often monetized by distributing unwanted, malicious software.

The only safe and proper way to download software is using official websites and direct links. Check all download and installation settings such as "Custom", "Advanced", and "Manual". Dismiss offers to download or install additional, unwanted software.

Do not click intrusive ads that appear on dubious web pages, since these tend to open dubious websites or cause unwanted downloads/installations. Remove any unwanted extensions, plug-ins and add-ons that are already installed on the browser, and remove programs of this kind from the operating system immediately.

If your computer is already infected with Stream Facts, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Stream Facts redirects to opti-page.com through search.streamfacts.today (GIF):

Website promoting Stream Facts browser hijacker:

Another rogue installer promoting Stream Facts browser hijacker:

Notification stating that Stream Facts can read and change data:

Instant automatic malware removal: Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is Stream Facts?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Stream Facts application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove search.streamfacts.today redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Stream Facts browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove search.streamfacts.today homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove search.streamfacts.today redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Stream Facts 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, "Stream Facts"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the search.streamfacts.today website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Stream Facts 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.streamfacts.today 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 "Stream Facts".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.streamfacts.today 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 "Stream Facts" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, 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 "Stream Facts", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.search.streamfacts.today) 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 "search.streamfacts.today", 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.streamfacts.today 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 "Stream Facts", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.

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 "Stream Facts", remove hxxp://search.streamfacts.today 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.streamfacts.today 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.streamfacts.today 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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