WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Removal (Free Guide)

Here’s a short summary of WebSearchStreams malware:

THREAT NAME	WebSearchStreams
THREAT TYPE	Adware, Browser Hijacker
AFFECTED BROWSER SETTINGS	Homepage, New Tab Homepage and Default Search Engine
SYMPTOMS	Intrusive pop-up ads, advertisement banners, desktop notifications from the website even when the browser is closed, suspicious browser extensions are installed without permission, browser settings are changed such as the home page and search engine without permission
DISTRIBUTION METHOD	Bundled software distribution, malicious websites, pop-up, banner ad and fake Windows update prompts.
DANGERS	Can cause your poor or slow PC performance, potential unwanted data theft such as personal and financial information and open up the computer to other threats.
REMOVAL	Scan the whole system with iolo System Mechanic all-in-one anti-virus tool or other virus removal tool or manually remove website permissions through the settings in the browser. You can also manually uninstall PUP’s.

Although WebSearchStreams is just a minor threat compared to viruses that can literally destroy computers, steal financial and personal information, it is still something that needs to be dealt with at first sight. WebSearchStreams is just the first step to getting more, severe infections if not treated.

How to Avoid Getting Infected with WebSearchStreams and Malware Alike?

Avoiding getting infected with online threats is easy as long as you know where and how they are contracted. To avoid being a victim of WebSearchStreams, avoid these internet browsing habits:

• Do Not Click on Fake Notifications and Ads – This is probably the top reason why people get victimized by online threats such as WebSearchStreams. If you could still remember the early days of the internet, you could imagine the browsers plagued with hundreds of extensions and computers back in the day would perform very slow.
  
  This is because, in the old days, most people were not yet aware and educated about the consequences of clicking on fake ads and notifications. Fast forwarded to the current decade, this distribution tactic is still being used by cybercriminals but has just evolved. If you just remain vigilant and avoid visiting suspicious websites, you would be able to avoid seeing and clicking on these fake ads and notifications.
  
• Installing Pirated Applications – Another way for cybercriminals to infiltrate a victim’s computer is through making their application look like a legitimate one. They would make their application look exactly the same way as the original one with the same color scheme, fonts and logos making it hard to know that it is fake and full of viruses. That is why you should avoid downloading and installing pirated applications downloaded from malicious websites.

• Software Bundling – Software bundling is a term used where there are additional applications are bundled together in just 1 installer package. This tactic is even used by legitimate applications and if you want to avoid falling into this scheme, you have to read the installation agreement and opt-out from anything that tells you if you agree to install an additional application.

Here are 2 examples of how software bundling looks like:

If you would notice in the samples, by default the additional application has a check on it, meaning if you click next then it will automatically install it. That is why you really have to ready the installation agreement carefully.

WebSearchStreams Removal Guide

If you are the many unfortunate victims of WebSearchStreams, then don’t you worry. We have gathered the best methods to perform to remove it from your browser.

Method #1 – Automatic Malware and Virus Removal

If you don’t have the time and want to avoid the hassle of performing any troubleshooting methods, you can always turn to use an automatic malware and virus removal tool such as iolo System Mechanic. With iolo System Mechanic, you will not be only protected from online threats by automatically getting rid of malware and viruses, but your computer will also be automatically optimized.

iolo System Mechanic can automatically update your drivers making sure it is up to date reducing the chance of getting any Windows errors caused by corrupt and outdated drivers.

Method #2 – Uninstalling Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs) Like WebSewarchStreams Manually

Removing PUAs is the same as removing regular applications from your Windows computer. All you have to do is look for the suspicious application which you did not install yourself.

• Remove WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Ads from Windows OS
• Remove WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Ads from MAC OS

Uninstall and Remove WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Malware From Windows

1. Press down the “Windows” key and press the letter “R” on the keyboard to bring up the “Run” window and type in “appwiz.cpl”.

2. In the “Uninstall or Change a Program” screen, look for all the items that are listed and installed without your permission and simply click on “Uninstall” to permanently remove them from the computer and follow the prompts.

Removing the WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker From Windows Shortcuts

1. Right-click on your browser icon and then — left-click on its properties.

2. In the properties, click the “Shortcut” tab and delete the line (it might be WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker or any other malicious webpage) after the “.exe”. and click “Apply” and “Ok”.

You can perform the same steps for any other browser icon/shortcuts like Internet Explorer, Chrome, Edge, etc. Just take note that the shortcuts for the browsers may not be on the desktop.

Uninstalling WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker From MAC Operating System

Step 1: On the menu bar, click “Go” and select “Applications”.

Step 2: In the “Applications” window, look for all files that relate to WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Toolbar and drag the icon to the trash.

In order for Mac OS users to remove the WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Toolbar, go to the following folders and delete all entries that relate to the WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Toolbar: Application Support, LaunchAgents and LaunchDaemons.

Manual Steps to Disable WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Notifications From Popular Browsers

• Steps for Google Chrome (Windows);
• Steps for Mozilla Firefox;
• Steps for Internet Explorer;
• Steps for MS Edge;
• Steps for Google Chrome (Android);
• Steps for Safari (MAC);

WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Notification Disable For Google Chrome (Windows)

Step 1: Click on the three dots to access the menu button on the upper right corner of Chrome and click “Settings”.

Step 2: Click on “Privacy and Security”, click “Site Settings” and then click “Notifications”.

Step 3: Click the three dots located on the right side of the intrusive website and select “Remove” or “Block”.

WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Notification Disable For Mozilla Firefox

Step 1: Click the menu or three bars located on the upper right corner of Firefox and click “Options”.

Step 2: In the Options window, select “Privacy & Security”.

Step 3: Click on the “Permission” section by scrolling down to the bottom part of the page and click “Settings” next to “Notifications”.

Step 4: In the notifications settings, click on the suspicious website and click the drop-down option and select “Block” and “Save Changes”.

WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Notification Disable For Internet Explorer

Step 1: Click the Gear on the upper right corner of Internet Explorer and click “Internet Options”.

Step 2: In Internet Options, click “Privacy” and click “Settings”.

Step 3: Click on all the suspicious websites that are listed and remove them by clicking “Remove”.

WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Notification Disable For Microsoft Edge

Step 1: Click the three dots on the upper right corner of MS Edge and click “Settings”.

Step 2: Click “Advanced” and click on “Manage Permissions”.

Step 3: Click on the “X” button right next to the suspicious website to remove it.

WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Notification Disable For Google Chrome (on Android)

Step 1: Tap the three dots to access the menu and tap “Settings”.

Step 2: Tap “Notifications” in the settings menu.

Step 3: Look for suspicious websites and tap on the radio buttons right next to them. Please note that the “blue” button means it’s enabled and “grey” means it’s disabled.

WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Notification Disable For Safari (Mac)

Step 1: Click the “Safari” icon on and click “Preferences”

Step 2: Click on the “Websites” tab and select “Notifications”

Step 3: On the right side of the suspicious website, click on the “Arrow” and click “Deny”.

Manual Steps To Completely Delete WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Malware Extensions From Popular Browsers

• Remove it from Google Chrome;
• Remove it from Mozilla Firefox;
• Uninstall it from Safari;
• Uninstall it from Edge;
• Remove it from Internet Explorer.

Removing WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Extension from Google Chrome

Step 1: Click the Three Dots on the upper right corner of Chrome to access the “menu” and click “More Tools” and “Extensions”.

Step 2: Look for all unknown extensions and remove them by click “Remove”.

Optional Method: Resetting Chrome to Default Settings

Step 1: Open the Chrome menu and click on “Settings” and click “Advanced”.

Step 2: Click the “Restore Settings to Their Original Defaults” and click “Reset Settings” to confirm in the Advanced Options in Chrome.

Removing WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Extension From Mozilla Firefox

Step 1: Click the Three Bars located on the upper right corner of Firefox and click “Add-ons”.

Step 2: Click on “Extensions” on the next window and look for all suspicious add-ons and click the 3 dots right next to it and click “Remove”.

Optional Method: Resetting Firefox to Default Settings

Step 1: Open the menu in Firefox and click “Help” and then click on “Troubleshooting Information”.

Step 2: In the Troubleshooting Information screen, click on “Refresh Firefox” and click “Refresh Firefox” to confirm.

Eliminating WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Extension from Safari (Mac)

Step 1: Click the “Safari” button located in the upper left corner and click on “Preferences”.

Step 2: In the preferences window, click “Extensions” and uninstall all suspicious extensions.

Optional Method: Resetting Safari to Default Settings

Step 1: Click the “Safari” button and click “Clear History and Website Data”. Select “All History” and click “Clear History” to confirm.

Deleting WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Extension From Microsoft Edge

Step 1: Open the menu by clicking the three dots on the upper right corner of MS Edge and click “Extension”.

Step 2: In the next window, uninstall all suspicious extensions by clicking on it and clicking on “Uninstall”. Click “OK” to confirm.

Optional Method: Resetting Microsoft Edge to Default Settings

Step 1: Open the menu by clicking the three dots in MS Edge and click “Settings”.

Step 2: Click “Reset Settings” then click “Restore Settings to Their Default Values” and then click “Reset”.

Uninstalling WebSearchStreams Browser Hijacker Extension from Internet Explorer

Step 1: Click the gear button on the upper right side of the browser and click on “Manage Add-ons”.

Step 2: Click the “Toolbars and Extensions” and click on all the add-ons that do not look familiar to you and click “Disable”.

Resetting Internet Explorer to Default Settings

The steps on resetting the settings in Internet Explorer on all versions of the Windows Operating System are similar. Below are the steps:

Open the Internet Explorer menu by clicking the gear icon on Internet Explorer and click on “Internet Options”

Step 1: In the Internet Options window, click the “Advanced” tab and click on “Reset” to confirm.

Conclusion

Yes, WebSearchStreams can easily be avoided and removed but it’s a lot better not to get infected by it at all. If you want to surf the internet with peace of mind, we strongly encourage you to install an anti-virus tool such as iolo System Mechanic to keep you safe from online threats.