Search-Streamly: what it is and how to remove it
Search-Streamly is a browser hijacker that changes the main settings - homepage, new tab address, and search engine. It can also send push notifications if users press the "Allow" button in the prompt.
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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Search-Streamly: summary
| Distribution | Software bundling, shady websites, deceptive ads, redirects |
|---|---|
| NAME | Search-Streamly |
| TYPE | Browser hijacker; potentially unwanted program |
| SYMPTOMS | Browser settings are changed – the homepage, new tab address, search engine |
| DANGERS | Links in the search results can lead to misinformation and other dangerous websites where people can be tricked into providing their personal information |
| Detection names | No Microsoft detection name is known |
| 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 9 more facts
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
|---|---|
| Name | Search-Streamly |
| Type | Search hijacker extension |
| Symptoms | A changed search engine |
| Evidence | 4 write-ups by security sites; details still limited |
| Search page | portal.search-streamly.com |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge and Firefox |
| First seen | 28 October 2021 |
| Facts checked | 6 October 2026 |
Is Search-Streamly dangerous? What it collects
From our report of Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
Search-Streamly adds a different search engine and forces its users to browse through it
Search-Streamly is a browser hijacker that changes the main settings - homepage, new tab address, and search engine.
It can also send push notifications if users press the "Allow" button in the prompt. The changes happen quickly and unexpectedly, so many think that they have been infected with a virus. What users do not realize is that they ignored multiple warnings about what the app will be able to do while installing it.
There are many browser plugins you can choose from on official web stores but not all of them are trustworthy. Even though we always stress that you should install applications only from official sources, you should still not trust everything blindly. Sometimes add-ons created by shady individuals slip through the cracks, so you still need to do your research before adding anything.
There are multiple plugins just like this one that look exactly the same and serve the same purpose. A couple that we previously wrote about are IncognitoSearchWeb, JustVideoSearch, and GameSearchTech. All of them have a few basic functions to make them seem useful - a PDF file converter, calculator, currency converter, and an ability to bookmark websites.
You can do the same things on every browser with a click of a button so it is just not worth it having an additional intruder in your digital space collecting your browsing data. The only things that are different between these plugins are the names, and color schemes. The creators of these applications have released multiple versions and it is still unknown who the individuals behind this are.
From our report of Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
The process of installation
Usually, people do not find these kinds of plugins on their own.
They often surf through already shady pages that are full of deceptive ads and sneaky redirects. Search-Streamly was found on a promotional site that redirected users to the chrome web store where they could install it. The promotional site probably lured people in with fake promises and functions. This add-on does not provide customized search results, or any benefits whatsoever.
What it does instead is change the homepage address to portal.search-streamly.com and redirect users through feed.search-streamly.com to one of these search engines:
Browser hijackers rarely have their own search engines. The developers attach already existing ones just to make them functional. Although Yahoo and Bing are well-known and trustworthy engines, the other ones are not. They can lead to misinformation or dangerous websites where users can be tricked into providing their personal information or downloading more PUPs and malware.
While you have this app installed in your browser, it can read your browsing history and change data on its' websites. The creators of the plugin can see your IP address, the websites you visit links you click on, and what you purchase.
All of this data can be sold to advertising networks or other third parties and it is just another way to make money for them. Besides that, every promotional link you click on, also generates revenue for the developers.
The user information is tracked with the help of cookies. They are little pieces of data and are stored on your device. The good thing is that you can eliminate them anytime, and it is even recommended to do that occasionally.
We suggest using a maintenance tool like to do the job for you. This software can also improve the performance of your machine by deleting temporary files.
- Yahoo
- Searchlee
- Bing
- Nearbyme
From our report of Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Search-Streamly
- After successful removal, use a maintenance tool , that will fix any remaining damage
Check your browser and PC
- Address:
portal.search-streamly.com
How to remove Search-Streamly
How to remove Search-Streamly 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
In Chrome open
chrome://extensions, in Edgeedge://extensions, and in Firefox the menu > Extensions and themes.Remove every extension you do not remember adding, especially search, new tab, coupon, PDF, weather or video downloader add-ons. Check every browser and every profile, because each keeps its own list.
If an extension has no Remove button or comes back, a browser policy holds it (see "Managed by your organization" in the procedure below). The pages are the same on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
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 portal.search-streamly.com
In Chrome open Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, make an engine you trust the default, and delete
portal.search-streamly.comfrom the list.In Edge type
search engineinto the search box at the top of Settings and open Manage search engines; in Firefox use Settings > Search. Then check the homepage and the new tab page in the same settings, because hijackers change all three.If portal.search-streamly.com is back after a restart, an extension, a program or a policy still sets it, so finish the other steps and check again. The settings are the same on 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
Search-Streamly rarely comes alone: it is usually installed by, or together with, a free program. In Windows 11 open Settings > Apps > Installed apps, in Windows 10 Settings > Apps > Apps & features, and sort by install date.
Uninstall every entry from the day the trouble began that you did not install on purpose, for example a download manager, a converter or a browser you never chose.
Keep drivers and entries from Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA or your PC's maker unless you are sure.
Full procedure with screenshots: Uninstall a program or app in Windows On uGetFix
Step 4: Reset the browser
A reset removes what the steps above could miss:
- changed start pages
- site permissions
- hidden settings
In Chrome open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults; in Edge Settings > Reset settings; in Firefox Help > More troubleshooting information > Refresh Firefox.
Tip: Bookmarks and saved passwords stay, while extensions are turned off and the search engine and start page return to the defaults.
Reset every browser on the PC, including Edge, which Windows 11 and Windows 10 always have.
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
A scan finds the parts of Search-Streamly that the manual steps cannot see. In Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options, start a Full scan and quarantine what it reports.
Follow it with Microsoft Defender Antivirus (offline scan) > Scan now, which restarts the PC and checks the disk while Windows and the malware are not running.
It takes about 15 minutes and works the same in Windows 11 and Windows 10. If either scan finds something, run the full scan again after removal until it comes back clean.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Access your website securely from any location
When you work on the domain, site, blog, or different project that requires constant management, content creation, or coding, you may need to connect to the server and content management service more often. The best solution for creating a tighter network could be a dedicated/fixed IP address.
If you make your IP address static and set to your device, you can connect to the CMS from any location and do not create any additional issues for the server or network manager that needs to monitor connections and activities. VPN software providers like can help you with such settings and offer the option to control the online reputation and manage projects easily from any part of the world.
Recover files after data-affecting malware attacks
While much of the data can be accidentally deleted due to various reasons, malware is one of the main culprits that can cause loss of pictures, documents, videos, and other important files.
More serious malware infections lead to significant data loss when your documents, system files, and images get encrypted. In particular, ransomware is is a type of malware that focuses on such functions, so your files become useless without an ability to access them.
Even though there is little to no possibility to recover after file-locking threats, some applications have features for data recovery in the system. In some cases, can also help to recover at least some portion of your data after data-locking virus infection or general cyber infection.
From our report of Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
Let's eliminate the plugin
First try just removing the extension, and seeing if that helps.
You can do that via browser settings:
MS Edge (Chromium)
- 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 the suspicious plugins that might be related to the unwanted program by clicking Remove.
- 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 on Uninstall at the bottom.
- Open Edge and click select Settings > Extensions.
- Delete unwanted extensions by clicking Remove.
- 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 unwanted plugin and click Remove.
- Click Safari > Preferences...
- In the new window, pick Extensions.
- Select the unwanted extension and select Uninstall.
- 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.
From our report of Oct 2021 · not reviewed since
Potentially unwanted programs are more active than ever
If you removed the browser extension, but it did not help and the settings changed back again, this might be a sign of a PUA hiding in your system.
In that case, the application will keep messing up your browser until you completely remove it from your PC. They infiltrate the system by disguising it as "handy" tools or as bundled software they come attached as a package in the installer together with the desired program.
Locating the program responsible for hijacking your browser might be difficult if you have never done this before. The program could be disguised as antivirus, video, or image editing software.
If you do not want to risk deleting the wrong files, we suggest using or professional security tools that will scan your machine, eliminate it, and prevent such infections in the future by giving you a warning before a PUP can make any changes.
The next time you want to install a program from a freeware distribution site, at least follow these steps to minimize the risk of bundled software:
If manual removal is what you still prefer, we have instructions for Windows and Mac machines:
To fully remove an unwanted app, you need to access Application Support, LaunchAgents, and LaunchDaemons folders and delete relevant files:
- Always choose "Custom" or "Advanced" installation methods
- Read the Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy
- Untick the boxes next to the names of programs that you do not want to install
- Enter Control Panel into Windows search box and hit Enter or click on the search result.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- From the list, find the entry of the suspicious program.
- Right-click on the application and select Uninstall.
- If User Account Control shows up, click Yes.
- Wait till uninstallation process is complete and click OK.
- Click on Windows Start > Control Panel located on the right pane (if you are Windows XP user, click on Add/Remove Programs).
- In Control Panel, select Programs > Uninstall a program.
- Pick the unwanted application by clicking on it once.
- At the top, click Uninstall/Change.
- In the confirmation prompt, pick Yes.
- Click OK once the removal process is finished.
- From the menu bar, select Go > Applications.
- In the Applications folder, look for all related entries.
- Click on the app and drag it to Trash (or right-click and pick Move to Trash)
- Select Go > Go to Folder.
- Enter /Library/Application Support and click Go or press Enter.
- In the Application Support folder, look for any dubious entries and then delete them.
- Now enter /Library/LaunchAgents and /Library/LaunchDaemons folders the same way and terminate all the related .plist files.
Questions about Search-Streamly
How do I change my search engine back from portal.search-streamly.com?
Open the browser's search engine settings, choose the search engine you want and set it as default, then remove portal.search-streamly.com from the list.
If the option is greyed out or a note says it is controlled by an extension, remove that extension first and try again. If the browser says it is managed by your organization, a policy holds the setting, and the policy steps in this guide apply.
When the change will not stick, reset the browser: it restores the default search engine and start page and turns off extensions, but keeps bookmarks and saved passwords. Then check Installed apps for a program that may put portal.search-streamly.com back.
Is portal.search-streamly.com a virus?
It is a browser hijacker, not a virus in the classic sense. portal.search-streamly.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.
What is portal.search-streamly.com?
It is the search page used by the browser hijacker Search-Streamly. It has no search index of its own: it forwards your queries to another search engine and adds ads and tracking along the way.
People rarely choose it on purpose; it becomes the default search engine, home page or new tab after an extension, program or policy changes the browser settings. The page itself is not malware, but it should not be in your browser if you did not set it. The steps above remove the source and restore your settings.
Is portal.search-streamly.com dangerous?
It is not designed to infect the PC, but it is not neutral either. It logs searches, adds sponsored results that are hard to tell apart from real ones, and its ad partners are not checked as strictly as those of major search engines.
Some hijacker pages have shown ads for fake updates, tech support scams and unwanted software. The main harm is to privacy. Remove Search-Streamly, and if you entered personal data on sites reached through its results, check those sites carefully.
Do I have to fix every browser?
Yes, every one where the search engine or start page changed. In the cases we checked, Search-Streamly affected Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
Each browser stores its own search settings and extensions, so fixing one does not fix the others, and Windows-level changes such as shortcuts can affect each browser differently. Work through them one at a time:
- remove the extension
- check the policies
- restore the search engine
- start page
If you sync a browser, stay signed in so the fix spreads to your other computers.
Did portal.search-streamly.com record my searches?
Almost certainly. Logging is the point of a hijacker search page: each query, with your IP address, browser details and the result you clicked, is valuable to advertisers.
The operators of portal.search-streamly.com can store and share that data under their own privacy policy, which you never agreed to knowingly. There is no way to delete it from their side. What you can do is stop the flow:
- remove Search-Streamly
- clear cookies and site data for portal.search-streamly.com
- treat sensitive searches made in the meantime as known to a third party
Why does my search page look slightly different?
Because it is not your search engine's own page. Search-Streamly sends searches to portal.search-streamly.com, which may copy the colours and layout of a known search engine while adding its own ads and tracking. Small differences give it away:
- an unfamiliar address
- more ads than usual
- a different logo
- a search box with a brand name you do not recognise
Remove the hijacker and set your search engine again from the browser's settings to get the real page back. Then delete the hijacker's entry from the saved search engines list.
Can I just block portal.search-streamly.com?
You can, but it treats the symptom. Blocking the domain in a firewall or the hosts file makes searches fail instead of redirecting, while the extension or program that set it keeps running and collecting data.
Hijacker operators also switch to new domains in updates, so a block may stop working within weeks. Remove the source instead, then set your own search engine. If you want extra protection afterwards, turn on Potentially unwanted app blocking in Windows Security, which stops many hijacker installers before they run.
Is only one browser affected?
Often not. Programs that install hijackers tend to change every browser they find, and sync can carry the extension to other computers signed in to the same browser account. Check Chrome, Edge and Firefox, even the ones you rarely use, and look at the shortcut targets on the desktop and taskbar for each.
If you use sync, remove the extension while signed in so the removal syncs too. Also check the On startup setting and the new tab page, because hijackers change those as well as the search engine.
Will Fortect remove Search-Streamly?
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 Search-Streamly, 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
- CISO: Beware of new malware that steal browser cookies, allow hackers remotely control your web activity (read October 6, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Potentially unwanted program (read October 6, 2026)
- FTC: How to recognize, remove and avoid malware (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: Microsoft Defender Offline (read October 6, 2026)
- Microsoft Learn: How Microsoft names malware (read October 6, 2026)