LotteryStream Toolbar
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is LotteryStream?
LotteryStream is a deceptive toolbar that supposedly provides users with the latest lottery results and a number of other features - "Get the latest lottery numbers in your state-as well as the mega lotteries! Get your state's numbers, plus Powerball, MegaMillions and more - all in one click!"
Some users might believe that LotteryStream is a legitimate browser plug-in, however, it is categorized as a browser hijacker and a potentially unwanted program (PUP). The main reason for these negative associations is stealth installation. LotteryStream infiltrates systems without users' permission, modifies Internet browser settings, and monitors Internet browsing activity.
LotteryStream is designed to modify the Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox browser default search engine, new tab URL, and homepage settings by assigning them to ask.com. After altering these settings without users' permission, LotteryStream installs a number of browser plug-ins/applications that prevent users from reverting these changes.
In doing so, LotteryStream causes continual unwanted browser redirects, thereby diminishing the Internet browsing experience. Furthermore, this application monitors users' Internet browsing activity and collects various system information. Note that Mindspark Interactive Network co-operates with a number of other companies with whom this information is later shared.
The information may contain personally identifiable details and misused to generate revenue. Therefore, having an information-tracking app such as this installed on your system can lead to privacy issues. We strongly advise that you uninstall LotteryStrem toolbar from your system.
This browser toolbar is not the only application developed by Mindspark Interactive Network. The company has released many identical browser plug-ins including WebmailWorld, DailyRecipeGuide, and AutoPCBackup. The toolbars claim to offer different functionality, however, their behaviour is identical.
As with LotteryStream, these other toolbars modify browser settings and track Internet browsing activity. The purpose of these applications is to generate revenue for the developers, and thus, they provide no real value for the user.
How did LotteryStream install on my computer?
Mindspark Interactive Network employs a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' to distribute its products. Bundling is stealth installation of additional programs with regular software, and since many users rush software download and installation, bundling is very effective.
Research shows that, in general, most users pay little or no attention when downloading and installing software - they skip most of the steps, unaware that potentially unwanted programs are hidden within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings. Thereby, users expose their systems to risk of infection.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To avoid computer infections, closely observe the download and installation processes. Follow each step of the software download procedure and opt-out of all additionally-included apps.
In addition, installation should be performed with caution. Select the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any bundled software listed for installation and allow you to opt-out.
LotteryStream browser hijacker installer set-up:
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Quick menu:
- What is LotteryStream?
- STEP 1. Uninstall LotteryStream application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove LotteryStream redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove LotteryStream browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove LotteryStream homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove LotteryStream redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
LotteryStream toolbar 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 “LotteryStream Internet Explorer Toolbar”, select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the LotteryStream website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
LotteryStream 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 "LotteryStream", "Toolbar BHO", and "egbar.dll", 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://home.tb.ask.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 "Ask Web Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the lotterystream browser hijacker, 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 "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "LotteryStream", select this entry and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over hxxp://home.tb.ask.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
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" section, click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Ask" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the lotterystream browser hijacker, 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 "Extensions" and remove "LotteryStream 7.18.7.2108".
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, remove hxxp://home.tb.ask.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: "ask.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with lotterystream browser hijacker 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 lotterystream browser hijacker, 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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