StreamingOnlineWatch

It is most likely that StreamingOnlineWatch has been installed onto your Google Chrome web browser because, it appears, this is the only browser that currently supports this suspicious, potentially unwanted program (PUP). Just recently, this extension was compatible with other browsers too but the official download page – streamingonlinewatch.com – is down, and only the Chrome web store is offering the PUP (at chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/streamingonlinewatch/pelahpfbhmhgpcffimlnlhopgdkknahh). Of course, it is very likely that this questionable piece of software is still being offered to the users of different browsers, but that is not done in an official manner. If you did not know this already, know that trusting random installers and downloaders is not a good idea. All in all, regardless of how it got in, it is suggested that you remove StreamingOnlineWatch. The reasons and the methods are discussed in this report, and if you want to ask questions before you delete the PUP, do so using the comments section.

Since the only source that represents StreamingOnlineWatch in a semi-official manner is the Chrome web store, our research team took to analyze every element available there. For example, it was found that over 2,000 Chrome users have downloaded this PUP. Also, those who download the extension, have to grant it the permissions to read and change data on websites, as well as to replace the New Tab. Because the PUP takes over New Tab, some classify it as a browser hijacker. Although it does not hijack the default search provider, it uses New Tab to introduce you to a suspicious search engine, findter.com. So, if you enter keywords into the field, you are automatically redirected to a third-party engine, and that should surprise you, especially since StreamingOnlineWatch offers a tool that is allegedly “Powered by Google.” Although it is suggested that Findter is “powered by Google Custom Search,” trusting it would be a mistake. If you do not remove the PUP and continue using this tool, you could be exposed to highly misleading results.

Unless StreamingOnlineWatch was installed without permission or by accident, you might have installed it willingly because it appears to be capable of streaming movies and TV series for free. At this moment, that is not how the PUP works, and it is unlikely that it has worked or will work better in the future. Let’s face it: The extension is useless. The only good thing about it is that it provides easy-access links to facebook.com, mail.google.com, yahoo.com, youtube.com, and instagram.com, which, of course, are few of the most popular sites worldwide. Anyway, that is not a reason to stick with StreamingOnlineWatch because you can add easy-access links to your bookmarks bar. To do that on Chrome, visit the desired website and click the star icon on the right of the address bar. That’s all there is to it. On the right of that, you should be able to see the “Open StreamingOnlineWatch New Tab” button, and it will be removed when you delete the PUP itself.

What if you find StreamingOnlineWatch useful? If that is the case, you need to think if it is safe as well? It is not. Although links to End User License Agreement and Privacy Policy links are added at the bottom of the corrupted New Tab, they do not work, and that is because the official website is down. Since you cannot check these important documents, you CANNOT be sure that the PUP is trustworthy, and that is an important reason to eliminate this extension immediately. Note that software, applications, and extensions that promise to stream movies and TV series for free are either misleading or illegal, and so you need to be cautious if you ever decide to install anything like that again.

The instructions we have provided to you below show how to delete StreamingOnlineWatch from Chrome, as well as how to reset the browser. You might need to do that if the PUP continues corrupting your browser in any way after you eliminate the extension. It is also recommended that you clear browsing data to ensure that no data trackers that belong to the PUP remain active. Although it should not be hard for you to erase the unwanted extension manually, if you downloaded it along with malware – or if it existed separately from the PUP – you can benefit from installing a trustworthy anti-malware program.

StreamingOnlineWatch Removal

1. Launch Google Chrome.
2. Enter chrome://extensions/ into the address bar.
3. Remove the undesirable extension.
4. Enter chrome://settings/resetProfileSettings?origin=userclick into the address bar.
5. Click RESET SETTINGS to reset the browser.
6. Enter chrome://settings/clearBrowserData into the address bar.
7. Choose the time range and boxes and then click CLEAR DATA.