Remove Smart Search browser hijacker

Smart Search is a browser hijacker that promotes smartersearches.net by changing important browser settings. The extension is advertised as a tool for searching in multiple languages, but once installed, it takes control of settings that determine where searches and new tabs are opened.

 

 

Smart Search changes the browser’s homepage, new-tab URL, and default search engine to smartersearches.net. As a result, users can be repeatedly sent through this address when opening new tabs or performing searches instead of using the search provider they selected themselves.

Smartersearches.net is a fake search engine. It does not provide its own search results or even have a conventional homepage. Instead, visits to the domain trigger a series of redirects. During analysis, this redirect chain ultimately took users to Yahoo, which generated the actual search results.

The final destination may not be identical for every user. Factors such as geolocation can affect where a redirect chain ends, meaning some visitors could be taken to another search engine or website rather than Yahoo.

The unwanted changes are caused by the Smart Search browser extension, so simply changing the affected search settings may not solve the problem while the browser hijacker remains installed. Removing Smart Search is necessary to regain control over the settings it modified.

Browser hijackers can also create privacy concerns because software in this category can track browsing-related information. However, the available analysis does not confirm exactly what information Smart Search itself collects. Potentially monitored information associated with browser hijackers can include visited URLs, search queries, cookies, IP addresses, and geolocation information.

Users who find Smart Search installed in their browser should remove the extension and check their homepage, new-tab, and default search engine settings. Any unwanted smartersearches.net entries can then be removed and replaced with the user’s preferred settings.

How is Smart Search distributed and how can browser hijackers be avoided?

Smart Search has been promoted through more than one channel. It has an official promotional website as well as a separate offer page that directs users to its Chrome Web Store listing. These pages can lead users to install the extension without realizing that it functions as a browser hijacker.

The extension is also distributed through bundled software installers. With this method, Smart Search can be included as an additional component alongside another program. Users downloading software from unofficial sources, including freeware websites, peer-to-peer networks, and third-party download portals, may encounter installers containing these additional offers.

Installation choices can make bundled extensions easier to overlook. Selecting “Quick” or “Express” options without reviewing the available settings may result in additional components being installed. Using “Custom” or “Advanced” settings provides an opportunity to inspect and reject unwanted applications, extensions, or other optional additions.

Questionable websites, intrusive advertisements, and spam browser notifications are also identified as distribution channels for Smart Search. Some advertisements can initiate downloads when clicked, while deceptive websites can encourage visitors to install extensions under misleading circumstances.

Software and browser extensions should therefore be obtained from official or otherwise verified sources. Before installing an extension, users should check what it does and review the permissions it requests rather than relying only on its advertised features.

Attention is also necessary when installing free software. Each installation step should be reviewed, particularly when optional programs or browser extensions are offered. Unwanted components should be deselected before completing the installation.

Suspicious websites should not be given permission to send browser notifications. Such notifications can be used to promote unwanted software or direct users to questionable pages. Intrusive advertisements on unreliable websites should likewise be treated cautiously.

Remove Smart Search browser hijacker

Smart Search can be identified by the browser changes it makes after installation. It replaces the homepage, new-tab URL, and default search engine with smartersearches.net, causing searches to pass through this fake search engine. Removing the Smart Search extension and restoring the affected browser settings stops these changes from controlling normal browsing.

While browser hijackers are not serious infections, they can be difficult to get rid of manually. Thus, it’s recommended to use an anti-virus program to remove Smart Search browser hijacker.

Offers

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Quick Menu

Step 1. Uninstall Smart Search and related programs.

• Windows 8
• Windows 7
• Windows XP
• Mac OS

Remove Smart Search from Windows 8

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen. Once Quick Access Menu shows up, select Control Panel choose Programs and Features and select to Uninstall a software.

Uninstall Smart Search from Windows 7

Click Start → Control Panel → Programs and Features → Uninstall a program.

Delete Smart Search from Windows XP

Click Start → Settings → Control Panel. Locate and click → Add or Remove Programs.

Remove Smart Search from Mac OS X

Click Go button at the top left of the screen and select Applications. Select applications folder and look for Smart Search or any other suspicious software. Now right click on every of such entries and select Move to Trash, then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

Step 2. Delete Smart Search from your browsers

• Internet Explorer
• Chrome
• Firefox
• Safari

Terminate the unwanted extensions from Internet Explorer

1. Tap the Gear icon and go to Manage Add-ons.
2. Pick Toolbars and Extensions and eliminate all suspicious entries (other than Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Oracle or Adobe)
3. Leave the window.

Change Internet Explorer homepage if it was changed by virus:

1. Tap the gear icon (menu) on the top right corner of your browser and click Internet Options.
2. In General Tab remove malicious URL and enter preferable domain name. Press Apply to save changes.

Reset your browser

1. Click the Gear icon and move to Internet Options.
2. Open the Advanced tab and press Reset.
3. Choose Delete personal settings and pick Reset one more time.
4. Tap Close and leave your browser.
5. If you were unable to reset your browsers, employ a reputable anti-malware and scan your entire computer with it.

Erase Smart Search from Google Chrome

1. Access menu (top right corner of the window) and pick Settings.
2. Choose Extensions.
3. Eliminate the suspicious extensions from the list by clicking the Trash bin next to them.
4. If you are unsure which extensions to remove, you can disable them temporarily.

Reset Google Chrome homepage and default search engine if it was hijacker by virus

1. Press on menu icon and click Settings.
2. Look for the “Open a specific page” or “Set Pages” under “On start up” option and click on Set pages.
3. In another window remove malicious search sites and enter the one that you want to use as your homepage.
4. Under the Search section choose Manage Search engines. When in Search Engines..., remove malicious search websites. You should leave only Google or your preferred search name.
   

Reset your browser

1. If the browser still does not work the way you prefer, you can reset its settings.
2. Open menu and navigate to Settings.
3. Press Reset button at the end of the page.
4. Tap Reset button one more time in the confirmation box.
5. If you cannot reset the settings, purchase a legitimate anti-malware and scan your PC.

Remove Smart Search from Mozilla Firefox

1. In the top right corner of the screen, press menu and choose Add-ons (or tap Ctrl+Shift+A simultaneously).
2. Move to Extensions and Add-ons list and uninstall all suspicious and unknown entries.

Change Mozilla Firefox homepage if it was changed by virus:

1. Tap on the menu (top right corner), choose Options.
2. On General tab delete malicious URL and enter preferable website or click Restore to default.
3. Press OK to save these changes.

Reset your browser

1. Open the menu and tap Help button.
2. Select Troubleshooting Information.
3. Press Refresh Firefox.
4. In the confirmation box, click Refresh Firefox once more.
5. If you are unable to reset Mozilla Firefox, scan your entire computer with a trustworthy anti-malware.

Uninstall Smart Search from Safari (Mac OS X)

1. Access the menu.
2. Pick Preferences.
3. Go to the Extensions Tab.
4. Tap the Uninstall button next to the undesirable Smart Search and get rid of all the other unknown entries as well. If you are unsure whether the extension is reliable or not, simply uncheck the Enable box in order to disable it temporarily.
5. Restart Safari.

Reset your browser

1. Tap the menu icon and choose Reset Safari.
2. Pick the options which you want to reset (often all of them are preselected) and press Reset.
3. If you cannot reset the browser, scan your whole PC with an authentic malware removal software.