How to remove the StreamSpotSearch browser hijacker
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What kind of application is StreamSpotSearch?
StreamSpotSearch is a browser hijacker, which makes modifications to browser settings to promote streamspotsearch.com (a fake search engine). Furthermore, most browser hijackers track and record browsing-related information. Typically, their developers use dubious methods to proliferate them.
StreamSpotSearch in detail
Popular browser with large user bases such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer are common targets of browser hijackers. They operate by reassigning the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs to the addresses of bogus search engines.
These seemingly minor alterations diminish the browsing experience. To elaborate, with StreamSpotSearch installed, each new browser tab/window opened and web search made via the URL bar redirects to streamspotsearch.com. Fake search engines are seldom able to generate unique results, and so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) legitimate sites.
The search engine of StreamSpotSearch (streamspotsearch.com) is no exception to this, and redirect to Yahoo (search.yahoo.com). Browser hijackers can also undo any changes users try to make to their browsers and/or restrict/deny access to the settings.
Therefore, recovering the affected browser is impossible without removing the browser hijacker. As mentioned, it is highly likely that StreamSpotSearch has data tracking capabilities.
Most browser hijackers can monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, web pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and gather personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). The collected data usually contains personally identifiable information.
Therefore, the presence of data-tracking content can lead to serious privacy issues, financial loss and even identity theft. To ensure device and user safety, it is crucial to eliminate all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.
| Name | StreamSpotSearch |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
| Browser Extension(s) | StreamSpotSearch |
| Promoted URL | streamspotsearch.com |
| Serving IP Address (streamspotsearch.com) | 172.67.176.240 |
| 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. |
Browser hijackers in general
Browser hijackers often seem legitimate and harmless - StreamsBros, RecipeSearch, Eco Search, SearchTheConverter, and Ultra Tab are some examples of software within this category. Users are often enticed into download/installation with offers of "useful" features, however, the advertised functionality rarely works.
How did StreamSpotSearch install on my computer?
Apps of this type are distributed through the download/installation set-ups of other products. This deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing normal software with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling".
Rushing download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, etc.) increases the risk of unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system. Some browser hijackers have "official" promotional sites, from which they can be downloaded. Intrusive advertisements proliferate these applications as well.
Once clicked, they can execute scripts to stealthily download/install unwanted apps without users' permission.
How to avoid installation of unwanted applications
You are advised to research all software prior to download/installation and/or purchase. Use official and trustworthy download channels. Dubious sources such as unofficial and free file-hosting websites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders can offer bundled programs and/or content that has been otherwise tampered with.
When downloading/installing, read the terms, study all possible options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, functions and other additions. It is also important to exercise caution when browsing. Intrusive ads may seem legitimate, however, they can redirect to dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, adult-dating, pornography, and so on).
If you encounter these ads or redirects, inspect your devices and immediately remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with StreamSpotSearch, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Appearance of StreamSpotSearch browser hijacker promoting streamspotsearch.com (GIF):
Browser notification containing information about StreamSpotSearch app:
Deceptive websites promoting StreamSpotSearch app:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is StreamSpotSearch?
- STEP 1. Uninstall StreamSpotSearch application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove streamspotsearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove StreamSpotSearch browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove streamspotsearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove streamspotsearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
StreamSpotSearch 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, "StreamSpotSearch"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the streamspotsearch.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
StreamSpotSearch 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://streamspotsearch.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 "StreamSpotSearch".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the streamspotsearch.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 "StreamSpotSearch" 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 "StreamSpotSearch", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.streamspotsearch.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 "streamspotsearch.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 streamspotsearch.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 "StreamSpotSearch", 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 "StreamSpotSearch", remove hxxp://streamspotsearch.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 streamspotsearch.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 streamspotsearch.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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the purpose of forcing users visit streamspotsearch.com website?
The money generated through this page is directly dependent on the count of its visitors. That is why the creators of streamspotsearch.com seek to increase its traffic.
Is visiting streamspotsearch.com a threat to my privacy?
A fake search engine is a threat to privacy when it collects information about its users. Thus, visiting/using streamspotsearch.com may be unsafe.
How did a browser hijacker infiltrate my computer?
Browser hijackers are distributed using browser notifications, intrusive advertisements, and other social engineering tactics. It is uncommon for them to be downloaded and installed intentionally. Another popular way to distribute such apps is to bundle them with other software.
Will Combo Cleaner help me remove StreamSpotSearch browser hijacker?
Yes, Combo Cleaner will remove browser-hijacking applications from web browsers and computers. It can be difficult to remove browser hijackers manually when more than one of them is present. In such cases, it is necessary to remove all of them at once to prevent them from reinstalling one another. Combo Cleaner will remove all browser hijackers automatically.
Outstanding!
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