Screen Dream: what it is and how to remove it
Screen Dream is a freeware classified as a browser hijacker as it piggybacks on free apps and actively pushes additional offers of Mysearch search site. Developed by APN, LCC is promoted as a useful Chrome New Tab Extension for watching new trailers in a convenient way.
Facts checked October 6, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Screen Dream: summary
| Distribution | Chrome Web Store, Google Play Store, third-party download websites, freeware bundles |
|---|---|
| Name | Screen Dream |
| Also known as | Screendream.yournewtab.com |
| Related malware | Mysearch engine |
| Classification | Browser hijacker / Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA) |
| Symptoms | Alteration of web browser's settings: nee start page, search engine, new tab window, toolbars. In addition to setting changes, it generates suspicious advertisements and triggers redirects |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 8 more facts
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
|---|---|
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Type | Search hijacker extension |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | my-search.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 4 June 2020 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Screen Dream dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Screen Dream browser hijacker is a rogue NewTab that promotes MySearch virus
Screen Dream is a freeware classified as a browser hijacker as it piggybacks on free apps and actively pushes additional offers of Mysearch search site.
Developed by APN, LCC is promoted as a useful Chrome New Tab Extension for watching new trailers in a convenient way. However, the service of this NewTab is oriented to affiliate marketing, so it's not very likely to be of use for the end-user. In contrast, this third-party tool seeks to take full control over a web browser and start generating altered search results.
Disregarding the way of installation, Screen Dream virus replaces a default start page and search provider with my-search.com or hp.mysearch.com and starts generating Google-based search results that contain links to sponsored websites. Moreover, it injects tracking cookies to Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, or another web browser to read users' browsing history.
The primary intention of this dubious NewTab is to generate pay-per-click revenue and increase visitors' rate to misleading third-party websites, thus using it poses a risk of exposing your machine to potentially dangerous websites.
Those who intend to install the Screen Dream NewTab for Chrome believing that it's going to improve the experience of web browsing should think twice before doing that. This dubious program has been developed by APN, LCC company, which is infamous for the production of potentially unwanted programs that are basically used by third parties for affiliate marketing.
The official download website on Chrome Web Store informs the potential users about the changes that it's going to initiate (an excerpt below ). However, Screen Dream browser hijacker is most frequently downloaded as a component of other free applications, so the information about its intention to set MYsearch as a search engine or read and change data on random websites is not explicitly disclosed.
Although the Screen Dream virus is not the best term to describe a Chrome NewTab extension, cybersecurity experts from losvirus.es do not recommend relying on this application due to the trustworthiness of its affiliates. These parties may try to push misleading content and make people visit scam websites.
Screen Dream redirects pose a risk of exposing your machine to websites that contain fake software update ads or hyperlinks rerouting traffic to rogue websites where you can get another cyber infection without realizing that. Moreover, browsing cookies that it renders are actively harvesting people's IP addresses, search queries, geolocation, and other information that can be used for tailoring more appealing advertising content.
Anyway, it's not advisable to use this ad-supported browser hijacker. Screen Dream removal is the only way to protect your machine from other cyber threats, as well as avoid exposure of some personally identifiable details to untrustworthy parties.
Decontamination of this search is not difficult and can be performed manually, but we strongly recommend taking advantage of a professional AV engine because it maybe not the only malware hiding on the machine.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Web browser's redirects to Screendream.yournewtab.com mean that malware is hiding on your machine
Screen Dream virus operates as a fraudulent search engine that claims to help find movie trailers online.
Despite the attractive appearance, it is classified as a potentially unwanted program by many security experts. It can not only hijack your browser but also track your browsing activity by placing tracking cookies.
Note that web browsers can start initiating redirects to the Screendream.yournewtab.com website where the installer of the Screen Dream new tab Chrome extension is provided all of a sudden. This may happen if a potentially unwanted program takes over your regular browser and sets itself as a primary search provider.
In many cases, the Screendream.yournewtab.com virus settles down on the machine via questionable download managers or PDF converters that enable notifications and start actively promoting malware.
While some users might find it tolerable, you should be aware that Screendream.yournewtab.com removal is difficult to complete. This browser hijacker doesn't allow you to change your homepage, new tab URL, and default search engine to your preferred one. As a result, you can only browse through this fraudulent search engine.
If that is not enough Screen Dream virus can alter the delivered search results to fulfill them with sponsored ads. It might be dangerous to your computer since malware-laden ads are a real threat to your system security. If you are tricked to click on them, there is a high possibility to install malware and other high-risk computer infections.
Additionally, it can put your privacy in danger — Screendream.yournewtab.com hijacker places tracking cookies to collect various information like IP address, clicked ads, browsing history, etc . Even though experts categorize this data as personally non-identifiable, you can manually submit valuable information to the address bar and identify yourself.
Therefore, do not risk your computer's security and your own privacy. Afterward, you will be able to reset Chrome settings and enjoy the hijacker-free system.
How Screen Dream got into your browser
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Usually, people are tricked to manually install the potentially unwanted program since developers put them inside the installers of regular applications.
The most common software-bundles which hide the hijacker inside is Audio/Video converters, PDF converters, or system optimization tools .
You can avoid letting the potentially unwanted program in by choosing Advanced or Custom settings. They fully disclose the information about the browser hijacker in the pre-selected "Get XXX browser hijacker now" marks. You should de-select them and use reputable security software for additional protection.
Nevertheless, people should also be careful when downloading the applications from such well-known sources as Chrome Web Store or Google Play Store because they offer hundreds of crapware as well, which can alter web browser's settings and cause many difficulties to reset those changes afterward.
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
my-search.com
How to remove Screen Dream
How to remove Screen Dream and get your search engine back
Remove the extension first.
The search settings only stay fixed once nothing on the PC can change them again.
Step 1: Remove extensions you did not add
Screen Dream often works through an extension, so go through the extension list of each browser:
chrome://extensionsedge://extensions- Extensions and themes in Firefox
Switch suspicious extensions off one at a time and reload the page where the problem shows, then remove the one that stops it, and any other you did not add.
Remember the other browsers and profiles on the PC. If Remove is missing or greyed out, a policy forces the extension, which the policy step deals with. Windows 11 and Windows 10 show the same pages.
Chrome on Windows 11: More > Extensions > Manage extensions. Full procedure with screenshots: Remove a browser extension
Step 2: Put the search engine back and delete my-search.com
Searches that pass through
my-search.commean the browser's default search engine was replaced. Chrome: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then Make default on Google, Bing or another engine you chose, and Delete on my-search.com.Edge has the same list under Manage search engines (search the Settings page for it), and Firefox under Settings > Search.
Look at On startup and the homepage settings too and remove the hijacker's address there. Nothing in this step differs between Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: check Search engine and On startup. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 3: Uninstall programs you did not mean to install
Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps in Windows 11, or Settings > Apps > Apps & features in Windows 10, and sort the list by install date. Look at what appeared around the day the problem started and uninstall every program you do not recognise or did not choose.
Free converters, PDF and video tools, "system optimizers" and unknown browsers are the usual carriers of Screen Dream. If a name is unclear, search for it before you remove it, so you do not uninstall a driver or a Windows component.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
Finish the browser part with a reset, which puts the search engine, start page, new tab page and site permissions back to their defaults and switches extensions off. Chrome: Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults.
Edge: Settings > Reset settings. Firefox: Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox, which also removes its extensions. Your bookmarks and saved passwords are kept, and the menus are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Chrome on Windows 11: Settings > Reset settings. Full procedure with screenshots: Reset a browser and fix a hijacked search engine
Step 5: Scan the PC, then run the offline scan
Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, run a Full scan and remove everything it finds. Then select Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) and click Scan now: the PC restarts and scans before Windows loads, which finds files that hide while Windows runs.
Save your work first, because the offline scan takes about 15 minutes. Both scans are built into Windows 11 and Windows 10, and a second scanner from another vendor is a useful extra opinion.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Uninstall from Windows
Windows users should remove the browser hijacker by uninstalling ScreenDream extension.
Uninstall from Windows 10/8:
- Type Control Panel into the Windows search box and open the result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
Uninstall from Windows 7/XP:
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel (Windows XP users should click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
Remove the unwanted program:
- In the Programs and Features window, look for any recently installed suspicious entries, select them, and click Uninstall.
- If User Account Control appears, click Yes to confirm, then complete the removal.
Remove from Google Chrome
Fix Chrome by uninstalling ScreenDream extension and resetting your browser afterwards.
Delete malicious extensions from Google Chrome:
- Open Google Chrome, click on the Menu (three vertical dots at the top-right corner) and select More tools > Extensions.
- In the newly opened window, you will see all the installed extensions. Uninstall all suspicious extensions related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and web data from Chrome:
- Click on Menu and pick Settings.
- Under Privacy and security, select Clear browsing data.
- Select Browsing history, Cookies and other site data, as well as Cached images and files.
- Click Clear data.
Change your homepage:
- Click menu and choose Settings.
- Look for a suspicious site in the On startup section.
- Click on Open a specific or set of pages and click on three dots to find the Remove option.
Reset Google Chrome:
If the previous methods did not help you, reset Google Chrome to eliminate all the unwanted components:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- In the Settings, scroll down and click Advanced.
- Scroll down and locate Reset and clean up section.
- Now click Restore settings to their original defaults.
- Confirm with Reset settings.
Remove from Microsoft Edge
Delete unwanted extensions from MS Edge:
- Select Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and pick Extensions.
- From the list, pick the extension and click on the Gear icon.
- Click Remove.
Clear cookies and other browser data:
- Click on the Menu (three horizontal dots at the top-right of the browser window) and select Settings > Privacy, search, and services..
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Select Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files. (apart from passwords, although you might want to include Media licenses as well, if applicable) and click on Clear.
Restore new tab and homepage settings:
- Click the menu icon and choose Settings.
- Then find On startup section.
- Click Remove next to any suspicious startup page.
Reset MS Edge if the above steps did not work:
- Press on Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
- Click on More details arrow at the bottom of the window.
- Select Details tab.
- Now scroll down and locate every entry with Microsoft Edge name in it. Right-click on each of them and select End Task to stop MS Edge from running.
Delete extensions from MS Edge (Chromium):
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
Clear cache and site data:
- Click on Menu and go to Settings.
- Select Privacy, search and services.
- Under Clear browsing data, pick Choose what to clear.
- Under Time range, pick All time.
- Select Clear now.
Reset Chromium-based MS Edge:
- Click on Menu and select Settings.
- On the left side, pick Reset settings.
- Select Restore settings to their default values.
- Confirm with Reset.
- This will disable extensions and reset startup pages but will not delete bookmarks, saved passwords, or browsing history.
Remove from Mozilla Firefox (FF)
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click on the Menu (three horizontal lines at the top-right of the window).
- Select Add-ons.
- In here, select the unwanted extension and click Remove.
Reset the homepage:
- Click three horizontal lines at the top right corner to open the menu.
- Choose Settings.
- Under Home, set your preferred homepage and new tab settings.
Clear cookies and site data:
- Click Menu and pick Settings.
- Go to Privacy & Security section.
- Scroll down to locate Cookies and Site Data.
- Click on Clear Data...
- Select Cookies and Site Data and Temporary cached files and pages, then click Clear.
Reset Mozilla Firefox
If clearing the browser as explained above did not help, reset Mozilla Firefox:
- Open Mozilla Firefox browser and click the Menu.
- Go to Help and then choose Troubleshooting Information.
- Under Give Firefox a tune up section, click on Refresh Firefox...
- Once the pop-up shows up, confirm the action by pressing on Refresh Firefox.
Delete from Safari
Remove dangerous extensions:
- Open Safari, click Safari in the menu at the top-left of the screen, and select Preferences.
- Go to the Extensions tab, look for any suspicious entries, and click Uninstall to remove them.
Clear history and website data:
- Click Safari in the menu and pick Clear History.
- Set Clear to all history and confirm with Clear History.
Reset Safari:
- Click Safari in the menu and select Preferences > Advanced.
- Enable Show Develop menu in menu bar.
- From the menu bar, click Develop and select Empty Caches.
Delete from macOS
To remove Screendream.yournewtab.com virus from Mac you must delete related elements as well.
Remove the unwanted application:
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for any suspicious entries, then drag them to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash).
Delete leftover files and folders:
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and remove any suspicious folders related to the unwanted program.
- Repeat the same check in the /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders, deleting any suspicious entries.
- Finally, empty the Trash to permanently remove the leftovers.
Reset Internet Explorer
Remove dangerous add-ons:
- Open Internet Explorer, click on the Gear icon (IE menu) on the top-right corner of the browser
- Pick Manage Add-ons.
- You will see a Manage Add-ons window. Here, look for suspicious plugins. Click on these entries and select Disable.
Change your homepage if it was altered:
- Open IE and click on the Gear icon.
- Select Internet Options.
- In the General tab, delete the Home page address and replace it by your preferred one (for example, Google.com).
- Click Apply and then select OK.
Delete temporary files:
- Press on the Gear icon and select Internet Options.
- Under Browsing history, click Delete...
- Select relevant fields and press Delete.
Reset Internet Explorer:
- Click on Gear icon > Internet options and select Advanced tab.
- Select Reset.
- In the new window, check Delete personal settings and select Reset.
Stream videos without limitations, no matter where you are
There are multiple parties that could find out almost anything about you by checking your online activity.
While this is highly unlikely, advertisers and tech companies are constantly tracking you online. The first step to privacy should be a secure browser that focuses on tracker reduction to a minimum.
Even if you employ a secure browser, you will not be able to access websites that are restricted due to local government laws or other reasons. In other words, you may not be able to stream Disney+ or US-based Netflix in some countries. To bypass these restrictions, you can employ a powerful VPN, which provides dedicated servers for torrenting and streaming, not slowing you down in the process.
Data backups are important - recover your lost files
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats to personal data.
Once it is executed on a machine, it launches a sophisticated encryption algorithm that locks all your files, although it does not destroy them. The most common misconception is that anti-malware software can return files to their previous states. This is not true, however, and data remains locked after the malicious payload is deleted.
While regular data backups are the only secure method to recover your files after a ransomware attack, tools such as can also be effective and restore at least some of your lost data.
From our report of Jun 2020 · not reviewed since
Ways to eliminate Screendream.yournewtab.com virus from your system
While there are two methods to remove Screendream.yournewtab.com from your computer, we suggest you choose an automatic elimination.
Browser hijackers are sneaky programs that might hide their components and prevent you from deleting them.
However, note that Screendream.yournewtab.com removal requires to uninstall all related entries. Therefore, it might be difficult for an inexperienced PC user. Pick any security software of the ones mentioned below and run a full system scan.
According to the experts from DieViren.de , people tend to rush and skip many steps of the guide. This may lead to computer damage or unsuccessful PUP removal. Thus, make sure to follow the guidelines attentively.
However, it's not sufficient to remove Screen Dream main installer to stop unwanted redirects and advertising. This browser hijacker might have installed additional PUPs that may also display sponsored ads or control some settings. Therefore, a thorough system check with a reliable security tool is recommended. Finally, post malware recovery of the system is recommended with a tool like .
Questions about Screen Dream
Why does my search engine keep changing to my-search.com?
Because something keeps setting it. An extension can change the search engine every time the browser starts, and an ad-supported program in Windows can do it for every browser and re-add the extension after you remove it. Some hijackers also add a policy that locks the setting.
Changing the search engine back only works once the source is gone. Remove extensions you do not recognise, uninstall programs installed around the time my-search.com first appeared, and then set the search engine again. If it still returns, check the browser for the Managed by your organization message and follow the policy steps in this guide.
Is my-search.com a virus?
It is a browser hijacker, not a virus in the classic sense. my-search.com is a search page that an extension or program set as your default without a clear choice from you.
It does not destroy files or spread to other PCs, but it takes control of your searches, collects them and shows ads, and the software behind it is often bundled with other unwanted programs.
Many antivirus products flag such software as potentially unwanted. Removing the extension or program and resetting the search engine is enough in most cases. A full scan afterwards checks for anything else that came with it.
Why do my searches go to my-search.com?
Because the browser's default search engine was changed to it. Screen Dream did that through an extension, a program or a browser policy, and as long as that source remains, the setting points to my-search.com.
The page then passes your query to a real search provider, so the results look almost normal, with extra sponsored links on top. Changing the search engine back on its own does not last, because the source resets it. Remove the extension or program first, then the policies if any, then set your own search engine.
Is it safe to keep searching with my-search.com?
We would not. Every query you type is logged by its operators and shared with their advertising partners, and the sponsored links at the top are chosen for payment, not relevance. Results that look like a download page or a support site may lead to scams.
The page will not damage Windows by itself, but there is no benefit in keeping it: the results come from another search engine anyway. Remove Screen Dream and use that search engine directly, by typing its address or choosing it in the browser settings.
Which browsers does Screen Dream affect?
We saw it in Chrome, Edge and Firefox. That does not mean the other browsers on your PC are safe: hijacker installers usually change every browser they find, and browser sync can carry an extension to other computers signed in to the same account.
Check the search engine, home page, new tab, extensions and policies in each browser you have, including ones you rarely open. Chrome and Edge profiles count separately, so switch to each profile and check it as well before you call the job done.
What does my-search.com know about me?
It knows what you searched for while it was your search engine, when, from which IP address and with which browser, and usually which results you opened. Tracking cookies let it connect those searches into a profile. It does not see your saved passwords or files.
After removing Screen Dream, delete the cookies and site data for my-search.com so the profile cannot be continued, and remove it from the browser's list of saved search engines. Signing out of important sites and back in also replaces session cookies.
I changed the search engine, but it switched back. Why?
The hijacker is still installed, and it rewrites the setting whenever the browser starts or the extension updates. Changing the setting is the last step, not the first. Find what controls it: the search settings page usually names the extension, and a greyed-out field means a policy.
Remove that source, restart the browser, then pick your search engine and delete the hijacker's entry from the list of saved search engines so it cannot be chosen by accident. Check again after a day, when extensions have had a chance to update.
The results look like Google or Bing. Is that real?
Partly. Many hijacker search pages pass your query to a real search engine and show its results, so the list looks familiar. What changes is the frame around it:
- extra sponsored links at the top
- the hijacker's own tracking
- sometimes a design that copies a known search engine
You can tell by the address bar. If it shows my-search.com or another unfamiliar domain instead of the search engine you know, the results come through a middleman. Remove Screen Dream and search directly.
Will resetting the browser remove Screen Dream?
A reset disables extensions, restores the default search engine, start page and new tab, and clears temporary data and cookies. It keeps bookmarks, history and saved passwords. For many hijackers that is enough.
It does not remove a program installed in Windows, policies in the registry, changes to the hosts file or DNS, or edited shortcuts, so Screen Dream can come back after a reset if one of those remains. Do the reset after removing the program and policies, not instead of it.
Will Fortect remove Screen Dream?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Screen Dream, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- Chrome Web Store: Screen Dream (read October 6, 2026)
- Tom's Guide: Tracking Cookies: What They Are, and How They Threaten Your Privacy (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Product Bundling (read October 6, 2026)
- DieViren: DieViren (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)