Removal of Screen Addict browser-hijacking application
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Screen Addict?
Screen Addict is a browser toolbar that supposedly allows users to watch movie trailers, quickly access various streaming sites, and access other movie-related functionality.
On initial inspection, search.mysearch.com may seem legitimate and useful, however, due to rogue behavior (stealth installation, modification of browser settings, and tracking of Internet browsing activity) it is classed as a potentially unwanted program (PUP) and adware.
Once infiltrated, search.mysearch.com hijacks Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox by assigning the new tab URL, homepage, and default search engine browser settings by assigning them to search.mysearch.com.
Users are unable to return browsers to their previous states, since search.mysearch.com automatically reassign settings to search.mysearch.com when attempts are made to change them. Continual unwanted browser redirects significantly diminish the Internet browsing experience.
Another downside of this bogus plug-in is information tracking. search.mysearch.com gathers website URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries, IP addresses, and other similar information relating to Internet browsing activity.
This data may seem insignificant, however, it will clearly contain personally identifiable details that are shared with third parties who misuse private information to generate revenue. This can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. Therefore, the search.mysearch.com PUP should be uninstalled immediately.
| Name | Screen Addict |
| Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab |
| Browser Extension(s) | Screen Addict |
| Supposed Functionality | Access to movie trailers online. |
| Promoted URL | search.mysearch.com |
| Serving IP Address (search.mysearch.com) | 23.61.124.108 |
| 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 | Screen Addict is designed to promote another browser hijacker called MySearch DS 2, which also promotes the aforementioned search.mysearch.com questionable search engine. |
| 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. |
Research shows that there are other browser toolbars with identical behavior to search.mysearch.com including, for example, Seen On Screen, GameOn, and Muzik Fury.
Although, these offer different functionality, they have identical functionality. After system infiltration, these toolbars hijack browsers and assign their settings to search.mysearch.com and continually monitor browsing activity. All toolbars are designed to generate revenue for the developers and provide no value for regular users.
How did Screen Addict install on my computer?
Although search.mysearch.com has an official download website, many users install this PUP inadvertently due to a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling', which is used to distribute search.mysearch.com.
To guarantee successful infiltration, developers hide search.mysearch.com within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings of the download/installation procedures. Unaware of this, many users skip the aforementioned settings, often leading to inadvertent installation of PUPs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
To prevent this situation, be cautious during the download/installation processes. Closely analyze each step within the 'Custom/Advanced' section.
Furthermore, never accept any offers to download or install additional programs and opt-out of those already included. If your computer is already infected with Screen Addict, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
Screen Addict asking for permissions in Google Chrome web browser:
Screen Addict asking for permissions in Mozilla Firefox web browser:
Website promoting Screen Addict browser hijacker:
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:
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Quick menu:
- What is Screen Addict?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Screen Addict application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.mysearch.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove Screen Addict browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.mysearch.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.mysearch.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Screen Addict 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 Addict"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications (which cause browser redirects to the search.mysearch.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Screen Addict 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 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 Addict".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the screen addict 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate "Screen Addict" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons (such as "MySearch DS 2"), 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 Addict", look for a browser hijacker URL (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 disable "Screen Addict" or "MySearch DS 2", look for "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 screen addict 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 plugins 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 Addict", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins (such as "MySearch DS 2").
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 Addict" , remove 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: "moz-extension"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with screen addict 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 screen addict 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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