What is StreamingTime?
StreamingTime might look like an innocent browser extension, but our research team says that this application is a browser hijacker. It means that it can change your browser’s settings without your permission, and it can collect information on your web browsing habits.
If you want to protect your privacy (and you most certainly do), you have to remove StreamingTime from your computer immediately. Scroll down to the bottom of this description for the manual removal instructions, or continue reading to find out more about this application. Either way, the bottom line is clear: you have to get rid of StreamingTime today.
Where does StreamingTime come from?
It would be hard to classify StreamingTime as a malicious infection because this application has an official distribution source. There is an official homepage for this extension, and we can access it via streaming-time.com. What’s more, the extension is also available on the Chrome Web Store, and it makes it seem that the application is endorsed by reliable distributors.
Nevertheless, it should be important to note that official app stores might not be enough to validate the reliability of a certain application. Therefore, users should not be hasty and add StreamingTime to their browsers without giving it proper research.
Although technically, StreamingTime cannot be added to your browser without your permission, it is very likely that users are often unaware of the fact that they install this extension. We believe that this extension could come bundled with freeware apps and other unfamiliar programs that users tend to download from file-sharing websites.
What’s more, StreamingTime might also be distributed via pop-ups and redirects. So it is possible that you have encountered this application while browsing some online streaming site that hosts a lot of pop-ups. Some of those pop-ups could have been part of the freeware distribution network, and they automatically added this extension to your Chrome browser.
What does StreamingTime do?
Right before you add this extension to your browser, you should see a pop-up that tells you about the permissions you give this application. If you allow StreamingTime to enter your system, you will allow it to “read and change all your data on the website you visit, change your search settings to: feed.streaming-time.com, and manage your apps, extensions, and themes.” Therefore, technically, you AGREE to modify your default search engine, but still, this application is so intrusive that our team had no other choice but to label it as a browser hijacker.
The point is that, no matter what the “original” function of StreamingTime might be, the application still monitors your online activity, and it can collect information about the websites you visit and the search keywords you use. Usually, such information is later used for online marketing, so don’t be surprised to see a lot of ads that cater to your likes and preferences.
The truth is that such behavior is not illegal. Quite a few popular websites employ cookies to provide you with the best “customized” experience. However, when such information falls into the wrong hands, it could also be exploited to promote corrupted content and even malware.
Thus, it when you notice that your default search engine has been changed, you should terminate those modifications immediately. It might be somewhat complicated to get rid of StreamingTime on your own, but we will try to show you how to do it step by step.
How do I remove StreamingTime?
When you get down to removing StreamingTime from your computer, you have to remember that there could be more potentially unwanted and dangerous programs on your computer. Thus, the best way to determine whether your system is safe or not is to scan it with a licensed antispyware tool. After the scan, you can choose what to do with the unwanted and potentially harmful applications.
You can surely remove most of them manually (especially if they have entries in the list of installed programs in Control Panel). However, if you do not want to deal with it on your own, you can remove them automatically with the security tool of your choice.
Please remember that a security tool is just part of the security measures you have to take. You should also avoid roaming around unfamiliar websites if you want to avoid the likes of StreamingTime in the future.
Manual StreamingTime Removal
- Press Win+R and type %LocalAppData%. Click OK.
- Go to Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Extensions.
- Remove the befmofeikcemiffcjbnphelmcamaommo folder.
- Press Win+R and type regedit. Click OK.
- Open HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\PreferenceMACs\Default\extensions.settings.
- Remove the befmofeikcemiffcjbnphelmcamaommo value on the right pane.
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