What is Search.hsearchsmart.co?
Search.hsearchsmart.co is a browser hijacker that changes browser preferences by setting itself as the primary search provider, homepage, and new tab. It usually arrives together with freeware programs a user can download from the Internet. Promoted and advertised as a legitimate and useful search engine, Search.hsearchsmart.co should improve the searching experience, but this shady application causes constant freezes and crashes of the PC and the browser. Instead of improving the searching experience, this malware shows irrelevant results filled with commercial content and redirects to other partner sites. This article was specifically created to help you get rid of browser hijacker and remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from browsers.
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co?
Performing an antimalware scan with Norton would automatically search out and delete all elements related to Search.hsearchsmart.co. It is not only the easiest way to eliminate Search.hsearchsmart.co, but also the safest and most assuring one.
Norton Antivirus is a well-established tool for Mac users that can clear your computer from malware like Search.hsearchsmart.co 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 Search.hsearchsmart.co manual removal
To make sure that the hijacker won’t appear again, you need to delete Search.hsearchsmart.co completely. For this, you need to remove the application from the Control Panel and then check the drives for such leftovers as Search.hsearchsmart.co 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.
Uninstall Search.hsearchsmart.co 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 Search.hsearchsmart.co you need to call to memory what you have installed recently.
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from Mac
- Open a Finder window
- Click Applications line on the sidebar
- Select the application related to Search.hsearchsmart.co right-click it and choose Move to Trash
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from Windows XP
- Click the Start button and open Control Panel
- Go to Add or Remove Programs
- Find the application related to Search.hsearchsmart.co and click Uninstall
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from Windows 7/Vista
- Click the Start button and open Control Panel
- Go to Uninstall Program
- Find the application related to Search.hsearchsmart.co and click Uninstall
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co 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 Search.hsearchsmart.co
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from Windows 10
- Press Win+X to open Windows Power menu
- Click Control Panel
- Choose Uninstall a Program
- Select the application related to Search.hsearchsmart.co and remove it
If you experience problems with removing Search.hsearchsmart.co 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 Search.hsearchsmart.co from browsers
How to unlock Windows Group Policies
Before you will started to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from browser you should perform following instructions in Command Prompt
This step is necessary to delete Windows Group Policies created by Search.hsearchsmart.co
- 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 Search.hsearchsmart.co from Safari
- Start Safari
- Click on Safari menu button, then go to the Extensions
- Delete Search.hsearchsmart.co or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from Google Chrome
- Start Google Chrome
- Click on More tools, then go to the Extensions
- Delete Search.hsearchsmart.co or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from Internet Explorer
- Launch Internet Explorer
- Click on the Tools/Gear icon, then select Manage Add-ons
- Delete Search.hsearchsmart.co or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from Mozilla Firefox
- Start Mozilla Firefox
- Click on the right-upper corner button
- Click Add-ons, then go to Extensions
- Delete Search.hsearchsmart.co or other extensions that look suspicious and you don’t remember installing them
How to remove Search.hsearchsmart.co from Microsoft Edge
- Start Microsoft Edge
- Click the three-dot button in the upper right corner
- Choose Extensions
- Click the gear icon near Search.hsearchsmart.co 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 Search.hsearchsmart.co.
We also recommend to download and use Norton to scan the system after Search.hsearchsmart.co 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 Search.hsearchsmart.co.
