The Screen Dream is a program that falls under the category of malicious software from web-browser hijackers family. It affects internet browsers and makes changes to its settings like default search engine, newtab page and homepage. It is currently very active spreading on the Net. Many users have problems with cleaning a personal computer from Screen Dream start page and restoring the Edge, Firefox, IE and Google Chrome settings.
The Screen Dream browser hijacker takes over your browser’s default search provider and controls what will be displayed to you whenever you do a searching. Other than the search results, it also provides a large amount of annoying advertisements on the search page. Some of these ads made to trick you into buying some questionable products and applications. Moreover, sometimes, those advertisements could redirect you to misleading or harmful web pages.
As well as undesired web-browser redirects to Screen Dream, the browser hijacker can collect your Internet surfing activity by recording URLs visited, IP addresses, internet browser version and type, cookie information, Internet Service Provider (ISP) and pages visited. Such kind of behavior can lead to serious security problems or confidential information theft. This is another reason why the hijacker that redirects the browser to Screen Dream, is classified as PUP (potentially unwanted program).
In order to remove hijacker that responsible for web-browser reroute to the annoying Screen Dream page from your computer, clean the affected internet browsers and revert back the Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, MS Edge and Mozilla Firefox settings to its default state, please use the Screen Dream removal instructions below.
Remove Screen Dream toolbar (removal steps)
There are present several free hijacker removal utilities. Also it is possible to delete Screen Dream manually. But we recommend to combine all these solutions below into the one removal algorithm. Follow the steps of the instructions. Read this manual carefully, bookmark or print it, because you may need to close your browser or restart your PC system.
To remove Screen Dream, use the following steps:
- How to manually remove Screen Dream
- Run free malware removal tools to completely remove Screen Dream startpage
- Run AdBlocker to stop Screen Dream and stay safe online
- Why has my startpage and search provider changed to Screen Dream?
- To sum up
How to manually remove Screen Dream
The following instructions is a step-by-step guide, which will help you manually get rid of Screen Dream redirect from the FF, Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer.
Uninstalling the Screen Dream, check the list of installed software first
The process of browser hijacker infection removal is generally the same across all versions of MS Windows OS from 10 to XP. To start with, it’s necessary to check the list of installed applications on your machine and delete all unused, unknown and questionable software.
Windows 8, 8.1, 10
First, click the Windows button
, then click Search 
. Type “Control panel”and press Enter.Windows XP, Vista, 7
First, press “Start” and select “Control Panel”.
It will display the Windows Control Panel as displayed on the screen below.
Next, click “Uninstall a program” 
It will open a list of all programs installed on your personal computer. Scroll through the all list, and uninstall any suspicious and unknown software. To quickly find the latest installed software, we recommend sort software by date in the Control panel.
Delete Screen Dream redirect from Firefox
Start the Firefox and press the menu button (it looks like three stacked lines) at the top right of the internet browser screen. Next, click the question-mark icon at the bottom of the drop-down menu. It will open the slide-out menu.
Select the “Troubleshooting information”. If you’re unable to access the Help menu, then type “about:support” in your address bar and press Enter. It bring up the “Troubleshooting Information” page as displayed below.
Click the “Refresh Firefox” button at the top right of the Troubleshooting Information page. Select “Refresh Firefox” in the confirmation dialog box. The Firefox will start a process to fix your problems that caused by the browser hijacker infection which cause a redirect to Screen Dream page. When, it’s done, click the “Finish” button.
Get rid of Screen Dream search from Chrome
Reset Google Chrome settings is a easy way to remove the browser hijacker, malicious and ‘ad-supported’ extensions, as well as to recover the browser’s newtab, search provider by default and start page that have been modified by Screen Dream hijacker.
Open the Chrome menu by clicking on the button in the form of three horizontal dotes (
). It will open the drop-down menu. Select More Tools, then click Extensions.
Carefully browse through the list of installed add-ons. If the list has the add-on labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following guide: Remove Google Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy otherwise, just go to the step below.
Open the Chrome main menu again, press to “Settings” option.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Advanced” link. Now scroll down until the Reset settings section is visible, as shown on the screen below and press the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
Confirm your action, click the “Reset” button.
Remove Screen Dream redirect from Microsoft Internet Explorer
If you find that Internet Explorer web-browser settings like new tab page, search provider by default and start page having been hijacked, then you may revert back your settings, via the reset web-browser process.
First, launch the Internet Explorer. Next, click the button in the form of gear (
). It will show the Tools drop-down menu, click the “Internet Options” as shown on the screen below.
In the “Internet Options” window click on the Advanced tab, then click the Reset button. The Internet Explorer will display the “Reset Internet Explorer settings” window as displayed on the image below. Select the “Delete personal settings” check box, then click “Reset” button.
You will now need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
Run free malware removal tools to completely remove Screen Dream startpage
After completing the manual removal instructions above all unwanted applications and web-browser’s plugins that causes web browser redirects to the Screen Dream web-site should be removed. If the problem with Screen Dream hijacker is still remained, then we suggest to scan your PC for any remaining malicious components. Run recommended free browser hijacker infection removal applications below.
Use Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) to remove Screen Dream search
We advise using the Zemana Free. You can download and install Zemana to detect and delete Screen Dream from your machine. When installed and updated, the malicious software remover will automatically scan and detect all threats exist on the PC system.
- Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of Zemana AntiMalware for Microsoft Windows. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop or in any other place.
Zemana AntiMalware
164031 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: July 16, 2019
- At the download page, click on the Download button. Your internet browser will open the “Save as” dialog box. Please save it onto your Windows desktop.
- Once the download is complete, please close all apps and open windows on your machine. Next, launch a file called Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup.
- This will start the “Setup wizard” of Zemana Anti-Malware (ZAM) onto your computer. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
- When the Setup wizard has finished installing, the Zemana Anti-Malware will start and show the main window.
- Further, click the “Scan” button . Zemana AntiMalware program will scan through the whole computer for the Screen Dream browser hijacker and other browser’s malicious plugins. While the Zemana program is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified as threat.
- Once Zemana Free has completed scanning, Zemana Anti Malware (ZAM) will display you the results.
- Review the scan results and then click the “Next” button. The tool will get rid of browser hijacker that causes internet browsers to display undesired Screen Dream page and move threats to the program’s quarantine. After finished, you may be prompted to restart the computer.
- Close the Zemana and continue with the next step.
How to automatically remove Screen Dream with Malwarebytes
Manual Screen Dream removal requires some computer skills. Some files and registry entries that created by the hijacker can be not completely removed. We suggest that use the Malwarebytes Free that are completely clean your personal computer of hijacker. Moreover, the free program will help you to get rid of malicious software, PUPs, ad-supported software and toolbars that your system can be infected too.
Installing the MalwareBytes Free is simple. First you will need to download MalwareBytes Anti-Malware on your computer from the following link.
326383 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: April 15, 2020
Once the download is done, close all programs and windows on your PC. Double-click the install file called mb3-setup. If the “User Account Control” prompt pops up as shown on the screen below, click the “Yes” button.
It will open the “Setup wizard” which will help you install MalwareBytes on your PC system. Follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
Once install is done successfully, click Finish button. MalwareBytes Free will automatically start and you can see its main screen as on the image below.
Now press the “Scan Now” button to find out hijacker responsible for redirects to Screen Dream. This process can take some time, so please be patient. When a threat is found, the number of the security threats will change accordingly. Wait until the the scanning is finished.
When finished, a list of all items detected is prepared. You may move items to Quarantine (all selected by default) by simply click “Quarantine Selected” button. The MalwareBytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) will begin to delete browser hijacker that redirects your web browser to undesired Screen Dream site. When disinfection is finished, you may be prompted to reboot the personal computer.
We suggest you look at the following video, which completely explains the process of using the MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) to remove ‘ad supported’ software, hijacker and other malicious software.
Remove Screen Dream hijacker infection and malicious extensions with AdwCleaner
AdwCleaner is a free removal utility. It deletes potentially unwanted software, adware, browser hijacker infections and unwanted browser extensions. Video guide available here. It will identify and remove hijacker that cause a redirect to Screen Dream page. AdwCleaner uses very small PC system resources and is a portable program.
- Click the following link to download AdwCleaner. Save it on your Windows desktop.
AdwCleaner download
225259 downloads
Version: 8.4.1
Author: Xplode, MalwareBytes
Category: Security tools
Update: October 5, 2024
- Once downloading is complete, double click the AdwCleaner icon. Once this utility is started, click “Scan” button to scan for hijacker infection responsible for changing your browser settings to Screen Dream. This procedure can take quite a while, so please be patient. While the AdwCleaner program is checking, you may see how many objects it has identified as threat.
- When that process is finished, AdwCleaner will show a scan report. Review the results once the utility has complete the system scan. If you think an entry should not be quarantined, then uncheck it. Otherwise, simply click “Clean” button. It will open a prompt, press “OK”.
These few simple steps are shown in detail in the following video guide.
Run AdBlocker to stop Screen Dream and stay safe online
Use ad-blocker program such as AdGuard in order to block ads, malvertisements, pop-ups and online trackers, avoid having to install malicious and adware browser plug-ins and add-ons that affect your PC performance and impact your computer security. Surf the Internet anonymously and stay safe online!
Visit the page linked below to download the latest version of AdGuard for MS Windows. Save it on your Desktop.
26627 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
Once downloading is done, run the downloaded file. You will see the “Setup Wizard” screen as displayed below.
Follow the prompts. Once the installation is done, you will see a window as displayed on the screen below.
You can press “Skip” to close the install program and use the default settings, or press “Get Started” button to see an quick tutorial which will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
In most cases, the default settings are enough and you don’t need to change anything. Each time, when you run your computer, AdGuard will start automatically and stop pop up ads, Screen Dream redirect, as well as other malicious or misleading web sites. For an overview of all the features of the application, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that is located on your desktop.
Why has my startpage and search provider changed to Screen Dream?
Most often, the free applications installer includes the optional ‘ad supported’ software or PUPs like this hijacker. So, be very careful when you agree to install anything. The best way – is to select a Custom, Advanced or Manual setup method. Here disable all third-party software in which you are unsure or that causes even a slightest suspicion. The main thing you should remember, you don’t need to install the bundled apps which you do not trust! The only thing I want to add. Once the free programs is installed, if you uninstall this software, the startpage, new tab page and search engine of your favorite internet browser will not be restored. This must be done by yourself. Just follow the step by step tutorial above.
To sum up
Now your computer should be clean of the Screen Dream browser hijacker and other web-browser’s malicious add-ons. Uninstall AdwCleaner. We suggest that you keep AdGuard (to help you stop unwanted pop ups and annoying harmful web-sites) and Zemana Free (to periodically scan your computer for new malicious software, browser hijacker infections and adware). Make sure that you have all the Critical Updates recommended for MS Windows operating system. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new browser hijackers, malicious software and ad supported software are released.
If you are still having problems while trying to delete Screen Dream from your internet browser, then ask for help in our Spyware/Malware removal forum.
