About DirectStreamSearch hijacker origins

DirectStreamSearch search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is distributed as a plugin for your web browser. It is usually shared as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that aids to browse some special info, for example, about sporting activity events, make your browser a lot more secure, allow downloading of any type of video, et cetera.

However, the DirectStreamSearch plugin is quite useless due to the fact that all such functions are currently integrated to your browser and/or system. Such advertising mottos are targeted on low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However sometimes even skilled users are getting caught on such an appeal. In certain situations, this hijacker is spread along with free programs.

How harmful is DirectStreamSearch hijacker?

Besides its impracticality, DirectStreamSearch hijacker is likewise pretty hazardous for browser usage. It alters your search engine to its specific – directstreamsearch.com, and additionally modifies your background, putting its watermark on your background image (or, occasionally, changing it to default with the mentioned sign).

Apart from visual transformations done by DirectStreamSearch hijacker, you might observe that some of your search inquiries are redirecting to the dubious web pages, full of links and advertisements – so-called doorway websites. Such sites can have the web links for malware downloading. The possibility of redirecting increases if you attempt to open Google search page by force.

But all these activities are more frustrating than really destructive. The main danger, especially for people who have a great deal of secret information in their browsers, is embedded in data collecting capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages as well as other activities are simply collected by DirectStreamSearch hijacker.

How to remove DirectStreamSearch search hijacker?

• Download and install GridinSoft Anti-Malware.
• Open GridinSoft Anti-Malware and perform a “Standard scan“.
• “Move to quarantine” all items.
• Open “Tools” tab – Press “Reset Browser Settings“.
• Select proper browser and options – Click “Reset”.
• Restart your computer.

Browser hijackers are typically very easy to delete. Most of the times, they have an independent application that can be seen in the list of installed applications. As a result of the particular marketing way of DirectStreamSearch hijacker, it can be easily tracked and deleted by hand. Nonetheless, if you got DirectStreamSearch in the package with a free application( s), your system may be contaminated with a lot more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware or even ransomware. That’s why I ‘d recommend you to utilize anti-malware tools to delete the DirectStreamSearch PUA and all other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and removing different malware, including named hijacker. However, severe malware, that may exist on your personal computer in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antivirus tool by modifying the Group Policies. To prevent such circumstances, it is better to use GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and eliminate all malicious applications on your computer with GridinSoft Anti-Malware, it’s better to utilize Standard or Full scan. Quick Scan is not able to find all the viruses, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can observe the detected malware sorted by their possible harm till the scan process. But to perform any actions against malicious programs, you need to hold on until the scan is finished, or to stop the scan.

To set the action for every spotted virus or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of detected malware. By default, all the viruses will be moved to quarantine.

Reset browser settings to original ones

To revert your browser settings, you need to use the Reset Browser Settings option. This action is not able to be intercepted by any virus, hence, you will surely see the result. This action can be found in the Tools tab.

After pressing the Reset Browser Settings option, the menu will be shown, where you can specify, which settings will be reverted to original.

Deleteing DirectStreamSearch hijacker manually

Besides using anti-malware software for browser restoration, you may choose the “Reset browser settings” function, which is usually embedded in all popular browsers.

1. Open “Settings and more” tab in upper right corner, then find here “Settings” button. In the appeared menu, choose “Reset settings” option :
2. After picking the Reset Settings option, you will see the following menu, stating about the settings which will be reverted to original :

1. Open Menu tab (three strips in upper right corner) and click the “Help” button. In the appeared menu choose “troubleshooting information” :
2. In the next screen, find the “Refresh Firefox” option :

After choosing this option, you will see the next message :

1. Open Settings tab, find the “Advanced” button. In the extended tab choose the “Reset and clean up” button :
2. In the appeared list, click on the “Restore settings to their original defaults” :
3. Finally, you will see the window, where you can see all the settings which will be reset to default :
   

1. Open Settings menu by pressing the gear icon in the toolbar (left side of the browser window), then click “Advanced” option, and choose “Browser” button in the drop-down list. Scroll down, to the bottom of the settings menu. Find there “Restore settings to their original defaults” option :
2. After clicking the “Restore settings…” button, you will see the window, where all settings, which will be reset, are shown :

As an afterword, I want to say that the time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of possibility of other malware injection. This malware can be downloaded autonomously, or offered for you to download in one of the windows with advertisements, which are shown to you by the hijacker. You need to act as fast as you can.

References

1. More information about PUAs
2. Detailed review of Microsoft Defender