What is Smart Search?
Smart Search is yet another browser hijacker that replaces homepage/new tab of a browser. Malware like this is aimed at generating profit through per-pay-click marketing scheme. That’s why you will encounter altered search results, browser redirects and huge amount of various advertisements popping up on each page you visit. Also, it collects the user’s personal information related to his browsing habits. All collected data is transferred to third-party companies which may use them for selfish purposes. To completely remove Smart Search and all its leftovers, you may seek assistance from the anti-malware program, it’s the most convenient way. Experienced users may use the manual way. Both methods are provided below.
How Smart Search got installed on your computer?
Smart Search injects in the browser through the bundles with free programs. A virus presented as a useful extension or app. Developers do not show information about hijacker – they hide this it within “Custom” settings or other sections of the installation processes. So, you shouldn’t give access to installation Smart Search on your device. It is the best way to avoid implementation of hijackers. But if your system already infected by virus, you can follow instructions below to remove Smart Search from browsers.
How to remove Smart Search?
To make sure that the hijacker won’t appear again, you need to delete Smart Search completely. For this, you need to remove the application from the Control Panel and then check the drives for such leftovers as Smart Search files and registry entries. We should warn you that performing some of the steps may require above-average skills, so if you don’t feel experienced enough, you may apply to the automatic removal tool.
Performing an antimalware scan with Norton would automatically search out and delete all elements related to Smart Search. It is not only the easiest way to eliminate Smart Search, but also the safest and most assuring one.
Norton Antivirus is a well-established tool for Mac users which is able to completely remove Smart Search and all related files from your computer. Another important advantage of the program is an up-to-date database of computer threats which is perfect to protect your computer in case of a new malware attack.
Steps of Smart Search manual removal
Uninstall Smart Search from Control Panel
As it was stated before, more likely that the hijacker appeared on your system brought by other software. So, to get rid of Smart Search you need to call to memory what you have installed recently.
How to remove Myfirsttab.co from Mac
- Open a Finder window
- Click Applications line on the sidebar
- Select the application related to Myfirsttab.co right-click it and choose Move to Trash
How to remove Smart Search from Windows XP
- Click the Start button and open Control Panel
- Go to Add or Remove Programs
- Find the application related to Smart Search and click Uninstall
How to remove Smart Search from Windows 7/Vista
- Click the Start button and open Control Panel
- Go to Uninstall Program
- Find the application related to Smart Search and click Uninstall
How to remove Smart Search from Windows 8/8.1
- Right-click the menu icon in left bottom corner
- Choose Control Panel
- Select the Uninstall Program line
- Uninstall the application related to Smart Search
How to remove Smart Search from Windows 10
- Press Win+X to open Windows Power menu
- Click Control Panel
- Choose Uninstall a Program
- Select the application related to Smart Search and remove it
If you experience problems with removing Smart Search from Control Panel: there is no such title on the list, or you receive an error preventing you from deleting the application, see the article dedicated to this issue.
Read what to do if program won’t uninstall from Control Panel
Remove Smart Search from browsers
How to unlock Windows Group Policies
Before you will started to remove Smart Search from browser you should perform following instructions in Command Prompt
This step is necessary to delete Windows Group Policies created by Smart Search
- Start Command Prompt as Administrator
- To do this in Windows 10/8 or Windows 7 click Start and in the search box type cmd. Right-click on the found result and choose Run as Administrator.
- While in command prompt type:
rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicyUsers" - Press Enter button.
- Then type:
rd /S /Q "%WinDir%\System32\GroupPolicy" - Press Enter button.
- Finally, type:
gpupdate /force - Press Enter button.
Since some of the hijacker threats use a disguise of a browser add-on, you will need to check the list of extensions/add-ons in your browser.
How to remove Myfirsttab.co from Safari
- Start Safari
- Click on Safari menu button, then go to the Extensions
- Delete Myfirsttab.co or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Smart Search from Google Chrome
- Start Google Chrome
- Click on More tools, then go to the Extensions
- Delete Smart Search or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Smart Search from Internet Explorer
- Launch Internet Explorer
- Click on the Tools/Gear icon, then select Manage Add-ons
- Delete Smart Search or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Smart Search from Mozilla Firefox
- Start Mozilla Firefox
- Click on the right-upper corner button
- Click Add-ons, then go to Extensions
- Delete Smart Search or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Smart Search from Microsoft Edge
- Start Microsoft Edge
- Click the three-dot button in the upper right corner
- Choose Extensions
- Click the gear icon near Smart Search or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
- Choose Remove
Reset your browsers
How to reset settings in Google Chrome
- Click on the icon in the right-upper corner
- Choose Settings
- Click Advanced settings
- Click the Reset button
- In “reset” window click the Reset button
How to reset settings in Mozilla Firefox
- Click the icon in the upper right corner
- Choose Help
- Select Troubleshooting Information
- Click the Refresh Firefox… button
How to reset settings in Internet Explorer
- Click on the Tools button
- Go to Internet options
- Go to the Advanced tab
- Click Reset
How to reset settings in Microsoft Edge
- Start Microsoft Edge
- Click the three-dot button in the upper right corner
- Choose Settings
- Under the Clear browsing data category select Choose what to clear
- Select everything and click Clear
If the above-mentioned methods didn’t help in eliminating the threat, then it’s better to rely on an automatic way of deleting Smart Search.
We also recommend to download and use Norton to scan the system after Smart Search removal to make sure that it is completely gone. The antimalware application will detect any vicious components left among system files and registry entries that can recover Smart Search.
