SportSearchStream – What is it?

“SportSearchStream” search hijacker is a potentially unwanted application (PUA)¹, that is spread as a plugin for your internet browser. It is typically advertised as an add-on for Chrome or Firefox, that assists to browse some precise info, for instance, about sporting activity events, make your web browser far more safe, enable downloading of any kind of video clip, et cetera. Also, this app adds the “Managed by your organization” feature (on Chrome browsers).

However, the “SportSearchStream” plugin is rather useless since all such functions are currently embedded to your web browser and/or system. Such advertising and marketing slogans are targeted at low-skilled computer users, such as pensioners or schoolchildren. However occasionally even qualified users are getting caught on such an attraction. In particular scenarios, this hijacker is distributed along with free programs.

SportSearchStream Search Hijacker

How harmful is SportSearchStream hijacker?

Besides its uselessness, SportSearchStream hijacker is likewise pretty harmful for browser usage. It transforms your search engine to its particular – Sportsearchstream.com, and additionally alters your background, putting its watermark on your wallpaper (or, in some cases, altering it to default with the specified sign).

In addition to viewable adjustments done by SportSearchStream hijacker, you might observe that a number of your search inquiries are redirecting to the untrustworthy websites, full of web links and advertisements – so-called doorway sites. Such sites can include web links for malware downloads. The possibility of redirecting increases if you try to launch Google search page forcibly.

But all these activities are much more bothersome than truly dangerous. The largest danger, particularly for individuals who have a great deal of secret information in their internet browsers, is embedded in data gathering capabilities. Cookie files, conversations, often-visited web pages, and other activities are simply collected by SportSearchStream hijacker.

How to remove SportSearchStream 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 fairly easy to deal with. Most of the times, they have a separate application that can be located in the list of installed programs. Because of the specific marketing tactic of SportSearchStream hijacker, it can be conveniently tracked and removed by hand. However, if you got SportSearchStream in the package with a free program, your system might be infected with much more dangerous malware – trojans, spyware or perhaps ransomware. That’s why I’d recommend you make use of anti-malware programs to delete the SportSearchStream PUA and all various other malware.

You can make use of Microsoft Defender² – it is capable of detecting and eliminating different malware, including mentioned hijacker. However, significant malware, that can exist on your PC in the mentioned situation, can disable the Windows antimalware program by modifying the Group Policies. To stay clear of such scenarios, it is far better to make use of GridinSoft Anti-Malware.

To detect and remove 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 malicious programs, because it scans only the most popular registry entries and directories.

You can spectate the detected viruses sorted by their possible hazard till the scan process. But to choose any actions against malware, you need to wait until the scan is over, or to stop the scan.

To choose the action for every detected malicious or unwanted program, click the arrow in front of the name of the detected malware. By default, all the viruses will be removed to quarantine.

Reverting browser settings to original ones

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

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

Deleteing SportSearchStream 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 time plays against you and your PC. The activity of browser hijacker must be stopped as soon as possible, because of the 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