How To Remove Simple Word Count Hijacker

Simple Word Count: Easy Delete Process

Simple Word Count is a browser hijacker that changes browser’s default start and search pages to fxsmash.xyz domain. The notorious threat works as an additional web browser toolbar. It can be installed manually or unintentionally through software bundles, deceptive ads, fake Flash Player updates, etc. As soon as this perilous hijacker intrudes your computer, it can deliver its users ads and gather non-personal browsing details, such as viewed websites, geolocations, IP addresses, system/browser info, etc. Due to its spreading techniques and its functions, it is categorized as a potentially unwanted program (PUP).

Simple Word Count Makes Changes To System’s Settings:

Once gets in, Simple Word Count hijacker makes a directory, drops files in it, and alters the Windows Registry in order to insert itself as a browser plugin. It can automatically activate itself with each PC startup. The infection decreases Internet security level by showing ads and causing redirects to its sponsored pages. The program is not dangerous itself, but its affiliated sites which you will be taken to might be. That’s why you should terminate this parasite, and the sooner, the better. You can do that by performing a full system scan with a reliable security tool capable of identifying, detecting, and removing the infection.

After Simple Word Count hijack, users are forced to use a suspicious search tool which is not even able to produce results by itself. It generally redirects to search.yahoo.com or websearches.club. Nonetheless, the search results you get are still not relevant as they are often filled with ads and sponsored links. This perilous hijacker is capable of redirecting its victims to random websites once they click on the search result link. Simple Word Count redirects tendencies are not only intrusive but concerning as well.

The hijacker might trigger redirects to casual web portals once you click on search results. This activity allows generating profits by driving traffic to specific portals. However, users are not only annoyed by this activity but might be put at risk as well. The problem is that this notorious threat might redirect to phishing, potentially dangerous, tech support scam or other dubious websites. Therefore, you might fell for cyber offenders’ tricks and lose personal data or files. So, an instant Simple Word Count removal is highly recommended.

Ways To Spread Simple Word Count:

Browser hijackers, adware and other PUPs are most likely to sneak into the targeted computers bundled with freeware or shareware. This generally takes place when people download a free app from unreliable sites like download.com, soft32.com, softonic.com, cnet.com etc. and then perform careless installation process (ignoring terms, skipping steps and sections, choosing pre-set configuration settings etc.).

Thus, users should be careful with software installation. Instead of relying on Quick setup, you should always opt for Advanced or Custom installation. Only these options allow monitoring the installation settings and refusing installation of suspicious “additional downloads” or decline offers to modify your default search engine. In case your machine is already infected with this hijacker, you must remove Simple Word Count from the PC as early as possible.

Antimalware Details And User Guide

Click Here For Windows Click Here For Mac

Important Note: This malware asks you to enable the web browser notifications. So, before you go the manual removal process, execute these steps.

Google Chrome (PC)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the Menu button
• Select “Settings”. Scroll the mouse downward to choose “Advanced” option
• Go to “Privacy and Security” section by scrolling downward and then select “Content settings” and then “Notification” option
• Find each suspicious URLs and click on three dots on the right side and choose “Block” or “Remove” option

Google Chrome (Android)

• Go to right upper corner of the screen and click on three dots to open the menu button and then click on “Settings”
• Scroll down further to click on “site settings” and then press on “notifications” option
• In the newly opened window, choose each suspicious URLs one by one
• In the permission section, select “notification” and “Off” the toggle button

Mozilla Firefox

• On the right corner of the screen, you will notice three dots which is the “Menu” button
• Select “Options” and choose “Privacy and Security” in the toolbar present in the left side of the screen
• Slowly scroll down and go to “Permission” section then choose “Settings” option next to “Notifications”
• In the newly opened window, select all the suspicious URLs. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Block”

Internet Explorer

• In the Internet Explorer window, select the Gear button present on the right corner
• Choose “Internet Options”
• Select “Privacy” tab and then “Settings” under the “Pop-up Blocker” section
• Select all the suspicious URLs one by one and click on the “Remove” option

Microsoft Edge

• Open the Microsoft Edge and click on the three dots on the right corner of the screen to open the menu
• Scroll down and select “Settings”
• Scroll down further to choose “view advanced settings”
• In the “Website Permission” option, click on “Manage” option
• Click on switch under every suspicious URL

Safari (Mac):

• On the upper right side corner, click on “Safari” and then select “Preferences”
• Go to “website” tab and then choose “Notification” section on the left pane
• Search for the suspicious URLs and choose “Deny” option for each one of them

Manual Steps to Remove Simple Word Count:

Remove the related items of Simple Word Count using Control-Panel

Windows 7 Users

Click “Start” (the windows logo at the bottom left corner of the desktop screen), select “Control Panel”. Locate the “Programs” and then followed by clicking on “Uninstall Program”

Windows XP Users

Click “Start” and then choose “Settings” and then click “Control Panel”. Search and click on “Add or Remove Program’ option

Windows 10 and 8 Users:

Go to the lower left corner of the screen and right-click. In the “Quick Access” menu, choose “Control Panel”. In the newly opened window, choose “Program and Features”

Mac OSX Users

Click on “Finder” option. Choose “Application” in the newly opened screen. In the “Application” folder, drag the app to “Trash”. Right click on the Trash icon and then click on “Empty Trash”.

In the uninstall programs window, search for the PUAs. Choose all the unwanted and suspicious entries and click on “Uninstall” or “Remove”.

After you uninstall all the potentially unwanted program causing Simple Word Count issues, scan your computer with an anti-malware tool for any remaining PUPs and PUAs or possible malware infection. To scan the PC, use the recommended the anti-malware tool.

How to Remove Adware (Simple Word Count) from Internet Browsers

Delete malicious add-ons and extensions from IE

Click on the gear icon at the top right corner of Internet Explorer. Select “Manage Add-ons”. Search for any recently installed plug-ins or add-ons and click on “Remove”.

Additional Option

If you still face issues related to Simple Word Count removal, you can reset the Internet Explorer to its default setting.

Windows XP users: Press on “Start” and click “Run”. In the newly opened window, type “inetcpl.cpl” and click on the “Advanced” tab and then press on “Reset”.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 Users: Press the Windows logo, type inetcpl.cpl in the start search box and press enter. In the newly opened window, click on the “Advanced Tab” followed by “Reset” button.

For Windows 8 Users: Open IE and click on the “gear” icon. Choose “Internet Options”

Select the “Advanced” tab in the newly opened window

Press on “Reset” option

You have to press on the “Reset” button again to confirm that you really want to reset the IE

Remove Doubtful and Harmful Extension from Google Chrome

Go to menu of Google Chrome by pressing on three vertical dots and select on “More tools” and then “Extensions”. You can search for all the recently installed add-ons and remove all of them.

Optional Method

If the problems related to Simple Word Count still persists or you face any issue in removing, then it is advised that your reset the Google Chrome browse settings. Go to three dotted points at the top right corner and choose “Settings”. Scroll down bottom and click on “Advanced”.

At the bottom, notice the “Reset” option and click on it.

In the next opened window, confirm that you want to reset the Google Chrome settings by click on the “Reset” button.

Remove Simple Word Count plugins (including all other doubtful plug-ins) from Firefox Mozilla

Open the Firefox menu and select “Add-ons”. Click “Extensions”. Select all the recently installed browser plug-ins.

Optional Method

If you face problems in Simple Word Count removal then you have the option to rese the settings of Mozilla Firefox.

Open the browser (Mozilla Firefox) and click on the “menu” and then click on “Help”.

Choose “Troubleshooting Information”

In the newly opened pop-up window, click “Refresh Firefox” button

The next step is to confirm that really want to reset the Mozilla Firefox settings to its default by clicking on “Refresh Firefox” button.

Remove Malicious Extension from Safari

Open the Safari and go to its “Menu” and select “Preferences”.

Click on the “Extension” and select all the recently installed “Extensions” and then click on “Uninstall”.

Optional Method

Open the “Safari” and go menu. In the drop-down menu, choose “Clear History and Website Data”.

In the newly opened window, select “All History” and then press on “Clear History” option.

Delete Simple Word Count (malicious add-ons) from Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and go to three horizontal dot icons at the top right corner of the browser. Select all the recently installed extensions and right click on the mouse to “uninstall”

Optional Method

Open the browser (Microsoft Edge) and select “Settings”

Next steps is to click on “Choose what to clear” button

Click on “show more” and then select everything and then press on “Clear” button.

Conclusion

In most cases, the PUPs and adware gets inside the marked PC through unsafe freeware downloads. It is advised that you should only choose developers website only while downloading any kind of free applications. Choose custom or advanced installation process so that you can trace the additional PUPs listed for installation along with the main program.