Remove StreamBee (Removal Instructions)

StreamBee – a browser hijacker that inserts ads into your searches

StreamBee

StreamBee is a potentially unwanted application that seeks to gain pay-per-click revenue by promoting suspicious links and similar content. It typically spreads as a browser extension for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, MS Edge, or another web browser and is mostly downloaded with freeware apps from third-party websites.

Once installed, the StreamBee app would change the web browser settings that might be invisible to the naked eye. However, as soon as the search query is typed on the search or URL bar, users can briefly see the keysearchs.com showing up in the process. As a result, search results are not genuine – there are several sponsored links and ads added at the top, prompting users to click on them. In some cases, users might also spot redirects to Bing, Yahoo, or another different search provider – this behavior is typical for browser hijackers.

Name	StreamBee
Type	Browser hijacker, potentially unwanted program
IP address	172.67.185.145
Distribution	Browser hijackers can be found on some official sources such as Chrome Web Store, although most users install PUPs unintentionally – they download them along with freeware or are tricked by a deceptive advertisement/fake update
Symptoms	StreamBee extension is installed on the web browser; unknown application is installed on the system; homepage and new tab do not sustain any changes initially but during the search process users are redirected through several channels, including keysearchs.com; search results are directed to Bing, Yahoo, or another search provider and are filled with ads
Risks	Installation of other potentially unwanted programs, personal information disclosure to unknown parties, financial losses due to encountered scams
Removal	You can uninstall potentially unwanted programs by following the manual guide below or by scanning the computer with powerful anti-malware
Optional steps	Computer infections can cause significant damage to system files or disrupt normal settings. To revert these changes and remediate the OS, perform a full system scan with Fortect Intego repair software

Browser hijackers are not initially considered to be dangerous just like other malware types are (for example, Trojans or ransomware such as Epor). However, there are several drawbacks and deception around them that makes them fall into a potentially unwanted program category, and many security solutions detect them as such.

Thus, if you found the app on your machine seemingly out of nowhere, you could have avoided the StreamBee removal process with the help of SpyHunter Combo Cleaner or Malwarebytes Malwarebytes software, which would be likely to flag it before it managed to break into your device.

Since the so-called StreamBee virus might appear on your system unexpectedly, you might not even know it is there. Here are a few signs you should be looking at:

StreamBee browser extension is installed on Google Chrome or another browser;
Homepage and new tab address usually remain the same;
As soon as you enter a search query, you will be redirected through several URLs, including keysearchs.com, search-checker.com, my-search.com, and others;
Search results might be pulled our of a different provider, for example, Bing or Yahoo;
Search results are filled with ads and sponsored links.

Besides disrupting regular user web browser sessions, StreamBee is likely to recover information about your online activities. Typically, browser hijackers collect IP addresses, ISPs, locations, timestamps, links clicked, websites visited, browsing histories, and other data.

For that, several tracking technologies are used, such as cookies, web beacons,^[1] or JavaScript. Browsing cookies might remain on your web browser for up to a year, so even after you remove StreamBee, some third parties might continue tracking you each time you open your browser. This is why it very important to clean Google Chrome or another search app you are using regularly – you can find the instructions below.

StreamBee hijack

The collected information might later be shared with third parties, business parties, and other entities to increase the profits for the developer due to targeted advertisements. While this practice might sometimes be useful to both users and marketing companies, many potentially unwanted programs abuse it to insert annoying ads on various websites.

To uninstall StreamBee, all you have to is delete the extension from your web browser. However, as PUPs often travel in bulks, we highly advise you to check for other unwanted apps on your Windows or Mac systems. After your machine is cleaned properly, experts^[2] recommend performing a scan with Fortect Intego in case some system damage was sustained during the infection of adware or malware.

Avoid potentially unwanted applications by being attentive online

Potentially unwanted programs are called so for a reason – they typically appear on users' computers without acquiring proper permission to do so. Nonetheless, it is users themselves who grant permission for those apps to be installed, even if it was done intentionally. Thus, despite many people believing that PUPs simply appear on their machines out of nowhere, it is far from the truth. Adware and browser hijackers are simply not spread via software vulnerabilities^[3] or malicious spam emails – otherwise, these apps would be called malware.

Instead, developers of PUPs typically include them as an optional component within a program installer on a third-party website. There have been several tests made, and it was proven that almost all third-party websites bundle applications. If not enough attention is paid to the installation process of the desired app, users might end up with several PUPs on their system.

To avoid that, you should always pay close attention to the installation process of free software you download from the internet. Always make sure to read the installation instructions properly and opt for Advanced/Custom installation mode rather than Recommended/Quick one. This will allow you to remove ticks from pre-ticked boxes and prevent the installation of optional programs before they manage to break in. Also, watch out for fine print text, misplaced buttons, and similar tricks.

StreamBee virus

Delete StreamBee from your system

You should not have many difficulties when trying to remove StreamBee from your Google Chrome or another web browser. Simply access the settings section and uninstall the extension for good. Nonetheless, some browser hijackers are known to set the “Managed by your organization” feature, which would not allow you to delete the app that easily. In such a case, simply reset your web browser as per the instructions below.

In some cases, you can also perform StreamBee removal with the help of security software, although keep in mind that not all anti-malware tools can detect all PUPs, as they have different criteria for the purpose. Nevertheless, a robust security app can prevent the infiltration of much more dangerous malware and is an absolute must for anybody using a computer with an internet connection available.

Uninstall from Windows

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.

Delete from macOS

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.

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.

Instructions for Chromium-based Edge

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.

Remove from Google Chrome

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.

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.

How to remove StreamBee

StreamBee – a browser hijacker that inserts ads into your searches

Avoid potentially unwanted applications by being attentive online