How to uninstall Screen Dream

What is Screen Dream?

Screen Dream is advertised as an application which provides quick links to the latest movie trailers and upcoming movies. In fact, it is a browser hijacker that promotes hp.mysearch.com, a fake search engine. Like most apps of this type, it promotes this address by changing browser settings.

Note that people often download and install browser hijackers unintentionally when they are tricked. Therefore, apps of this type are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).

Screen Dream sets hp.mysearch.com as the address of the default search engine, new tab and homepage. It ensures that users visit this address when they open a browser (new window), new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar. Note that fake search engines often do not generate unique results - they display results generated by other, legitimate search engines.

In some cases, they display misleading results. In any case, search engines that are promoted through browser hijackers should not be used.

The addresses of fake search engines can usually be removed from the aforementioned settings only after uninstallation of the browser hijacker - most browser hijackers prevent users from changing or undoing the settings as long as they are installed. Browser hijackers also collect browsing data and sometimes even private, sensitive details.

Some examples of data that PUAs target are IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited websites, and entered search queries. The information might be sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) who would misuse it to generate revenue in other ways.

People who have apps such as Screen Dream installed on their browsers and/or operating systems thus risk becoming victims of identity theft, experiencing problems relating to browsing safety, online privacy, and other issues. Therefore, never download or install software of this type.

Threat Summary:

Name	Screen Dream
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Browser Extension(s)	Screen Dream, MySearch DS 3.
Supposed Functionality	This app supposedly provides quick links to movie-related pages.
Promoted URL	hp.mysearch.com
Serving IP Address (hp.mysearch.com)	23.64.191.229
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.

More examples of apps similar to Screen Dream/browser hijackers are Maps & Directions by QuestForDirections, Locate Your Package and Local Weather Alerts. Most promote fake search engines by changing settings in the browser and gathering various information.

Typically, they are advertised as useful apps that supposedly deliver features. Unfortunately, most do not operate as advertised and simply cause problems.

How did Screen Dream install on my computer?

In some cases, PUAs such as Screen Dream are downloaded and installed through ads that, if clicked, execute certain scripts, however, people mostly download and install PUAs together with other (usually free) programs.

This happens when developers distribute them using a deceptive marketing method called "bundling". I.e., when they include PUAs into the download/installation set-ups of other programs. Generally, information about additional downloads and installations is mentioned in "Custom", "Advanced" or other settings.

Many users often download and install software without checking these settings, thereby allowing additional PUAs to infiltrate.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

It is important to download programs from official websites and via direct links. Do not use third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, etc., unofficial pages, or other similar channels - they can distribute unwanted or even malicious apps.

The same applies to third party installers. Check all download and installation settings such as "Custom" and "Advanced" and decline offers to download or install additional (unwanted) software before completing the process.

Do not click ads that are displayed on web pages relating to gambling, pornography, adult dating, or other dubious sites - they can open potentially malicious web pages or cause download/installation of unwanted software.

Remove any unwanted or suspicious add-ons, plug-ins or extensions installed on the browser, or programs of this kind installed on the operating system immediately. If your computer is already infected with Screen Dream, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

Website promoting Screen Dream browser hijacker:

Another site promoting Screen Dream browser hijacker:

Notification stating that Screen Dream can read and change various 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 Screen Dream?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Screen Dream application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove hp.mysearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Screen Dream browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove hp.mysearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove hp.mysearch.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Screen Dream 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, "Screen Dream", "MySearch DS3"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

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

Screen Dream 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://hp.mysearch.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 "Screen Dream" and/or "MySearch DS3".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the hp.mysearch.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 "Screen Dream" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (like "MySearch DS3"), 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 "Screen Dream" (and/or "MySearch DS3"), look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.hp.mysearch.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 "hp.mysearch.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 hp.mysearch.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 "Screen Dream" (and/or "MySearch DS3"), 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 "Screen Dream" (and/or "MySearch DS3"), remove hxxp://hp.mysearch.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 hp.mysearch.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 hp.mysearch.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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