Search.searchwos.com

Even though Search.searchwos.com could be available on such a reliable website as Google Chrome Web Store; the application itself may not necessarily be so trustworthy as well. In fact, it would seem the software is falling under the classification of browser hijackers, and so our specialists recommend erasing it with the instructions available below. It is because the search engine has the ability to hijack user’s browser and modify some default preferences. There are a couple of other reasons we would not advise you to use the application as well, but we will talk about them further in the text. Thus, if you want to find out other details about this browser hijacker we urge you to read more.

The first time our specialists looked up Search.searchwos.com, it was available together with a browser extension known by a similar name on Chrome Web Store through this link: chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/watch-online-streams/mlpbjcjcpehmeenjdodjemcfemhokfkm, but at the moment the software is no longer there. It is possible that the program was reported as undesirable or received some bad reviews from its users, so Google team recognized it as potentially dangerous and removed it from their store. Nevertheless, it does not mean the search engine could not be distributed using other channels.

Another way to come across Search.searchwos.com is to visit its official website (watchonlinestreams.com), although it does not seem to be working at the moment either. The site probably had a suggestion to download a program that should help users stream various content online through their browser. By clicking the download button users would probably install a browser extension called Online Stream, Watch Online Stream, or alike. This extension could add a couple of links that you can reach without its help and install Search.searchwos.com as well. We assume this could be the possible scenario because our specialists have researched quite a few identical applications before, for example, Search.searchlen.com, Search.easymoviesaccess.com, Search.yourpackagesnow.com, and many other that travel in this manner.

Since the application’s official site cannot be loaded at the moment, we believe it could be spread through suspicious pop-up ads just like its previous clones. That is if the browser hijacker is still distributed actively. Usually, such pop-ads appear on the computer not accidentally as they could be displayed by another threat, for example, a potentially unwanted program, adware application, etc. Thus, if you noticed an increase of annoying advertisements lately, it might be the perfect moment to scan the computer with a reputable antimalware tool. If the system is cleaned, you should not see any suspicious ads anymore.

Both the extension and the browser hijacker should be compatible with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. Based on the browser the hijacker might modify one or all of the following preferences: start page, search engine, or new tab page. As a result, the browser might start loading Search.searchwos.com instead of your previous homepage site or default search provider. The reason it is not advisable to search the Internet with this engine is because the application could show you potentially malicious third-party advertisements in the search results.

We cannot claim that all of the displayed ads could be harmful, but there is such a chance, and you should be aware of it if you are thinking about using this tool. To give you an example, the third-party ads might have links to websites created for malicious reasons, such as to distribute malware or gather your sensitive data. Some part of the advertisements could also lead to official web pages of potentially unwanted programs, suspicious toolbars or extensions, adware, other browser hijackers, etc. These are the main risks and the reason we recommend the application's removal.

Mainly, there are two ways you could eliminate the browser hijacker. Firstly, the threat might be deleted manually if you remove its extension from the browser and fix or erase its modified particular files. To learn how to complete these tasks you could check the instructions placed at the end of the text. The other way to get rid of Search.searchwos.com is to use a reliable security tool. It would help you fix or erase the applications created data automatically, so it should be an easier option for users who have less experience in these matters.

Remove Search.searchwos.com from browsers

Internet Explorer

1. Open Windows RUN by pressing Win+R.
2. Then type Regedit and press OK.
3. Navigate to this specific directory: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
4. Find a value name titled as Start Page.
5. Right-click the Start Page and select Modify.
6. Delete current value data, insert a link of a web page you like and choose OK.
7. Find another location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
8. Locate a key named as WatchOnlineStreams, OnlineStreams, or something alike, right-click this key and press Delete.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Access the Explorer by pressing Win+E.
2. Locate this specific path: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[user profile]\extensions
3. Find a file called @Streams.xpi, @Watch.xpi, or something alike, then right-click it and choose Delete.
4. Go to another location: %APPDATA%\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\[user profile]
5. Find a file that is named as prefs.js, right-click it and open it with Notepad.
6. Locate the given line: user_pref(“browser.startup.homepage”, “http://search.searchwos.com”) and replace the URL address in it with a website you like.
7. Save the document and close it.

Google Chrome

1. Press Win+E to open the Explorer.
2. Find this path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions
3. Locate a folder titled as mlpbjcjcpehmeenjdodjemcfemhokfkm, then right-click it and choose Delete.
4. Go to another directory: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
5. Again locate a folder named as mlpbjcjcpehmeenjdodjemcfemhokfkm, right-click and press Delete.

Remove Search.searchwos.com from other Google Chrome profiles

1. Press Win+E and find the following directories one by one:
   %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\[user profile]\Extensions
   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\[user profile]\Extensions
2. Find folders called mlpbjcjcpehmeenjdodjemcfemhokfkm, then right-click them separately and select Delete.
3. Find these listed locations one by one:
   %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage
   %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Local Storage
4. Find the following files and delete them both:
   chrome-extension_mlpbjcjcpehmeenjdodjemcfemhokfkm_0.localstorage-journal
   chrome-extension_mlpbjcjcpehmeenjdodjemcfemhokfkm_0.localstorage
5. Locate files called Preferences and Secure Preferences in this directory: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default
6. Right-click these files one by one and choose Delete.