Remove Smart Search

About this infection

Smart Search is your typical browser hijacker that will take over your browser. It’s advertised as a useful program to have as it would supposedly make your browsing experience better, but in reality, it’s aiming to redirect you to sponsored websites in order to generate revenue. Browser hijackers aren’t malicious infections by themselves but those redirects they perform can lead to dangerous websites, which could cause malware to download onto your computer.

So even if they aren’t dangerous infections themselves, they could easily bring about more serious threats. They are also quite annoying as they change your browser’s settings without permission. You will have a new homepage/new tabs, and your search engine will be altered. There is no reason why you should put up with this, thus remove Smart Search.

You probably don’t remember installing the program, and that is because it likely used the bundling method to install. Bundling is basically adding additional offers (unwanted programs like adware and browser hijackers) to freeware in a way that allows them to install alongside. This is generally frowned upon because users are not explicitly informed about these installations.

Browser hijacker distribution

Browser hijackers are attached to freeware as extra offers, and you need to deselect them. This is quite easy to do because all you need to do is uncheck a few boxes. Choose Advanced or Custom settings when installing freeware, and all extra items will be made visible to you. Review the offers and deselect ones that are dubious. We don’t recommend allowing anything to install, unless you are completely sure about it being safe. After you have deselected unwanted offers, you may proceed to install the freeware. Using Default settings is not suggested because they hide all offers and allow them to install alongside the program.

While unlikely, it’s also possible that you installed the program yourself while looking for extensions that would improve your browsing experience. If you did install it knowingly, you need to be more careful in the future and always review programs before installing them.

Why delete Smart Search?

Browser hijackers are quite noticeable because they change browser’s settings. Your browser (whether it’s Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox) will have a new homepage, and always lead to search-smart.work. You will be unable to undo the setting changes unless you first get rid of the hijacker, so don’t waste your time before that. The site set as your new homepage will promote a search engine. Avoid using it as it will insert sponsored content into results. Sites that have nothing to do with what you were searching for will appear in your results simply because the hijacker is trying to generate more traffic for those sites. Not all of them will be safe, as hijackers do not check them before redirecting. You could end up on a site that promotes fraudulent programs or aims to install malware onto your device.

Browser hijackers are also known to track users as they browse and collect information about them. It could collect IP addresses, search queries, websites visited, etc. This information could later be shared with unknown parties without permission.

Smart Search removal

You have two options, either uninstall Smart Search manually or automatically. The latter may be easier if you have little experience with uninstalling programs. Simply obtain anti-spyware software and have it take care of everything. If you would prefer manual elimination, there are instructions placed below this article.

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.