How to remove Smart Searching Tab

Delete Smart Searching Tab from the system

This article provides you complete details about Smart Searching Tab malware. The learners will come to know how this malware works, various deceptive ways through it is distributed and the measures to prevent its infiltration. The victims will get benefited by this article as at the end the step by step manual and automatic guide for its removal is provided for them. So, just read the article carefully, throughout.

Depth Analysis on Smart Searching Tab

Smart Searching Tab is a browser hijacker application that is designed to promote a fake search engine by modifying settings of installed browsers and preventing users’ access to them. This app promotes hsmartsearching.net in this manner. Various deceptive methods are used for its distribution. Typically, users end up installing it after some freeware or shareware download, especially when they rush the download and skip most of the installation steps. Since it infiltrates in without users’ consent, the app is also called potentially unwanted application.

Once infiltrates, the Smart Searching Tab conducts major changes on the installed browsers’ settings and assigns the homepage, new tab page and default search engine options to hsmartsearching.net (its URL address). After this, the users are forced to visit this page all the time when they open their browsing tab and enter search queries on the search URL bar. The site, being a fake search engine, simply redirects the queries to a legit searching tool named search.yahoo.com. While the redirect is harmless, this will impact the general working performances of the browsing app.

A quick glance of Smart Searching Tab

Type – Browser Hijacker

Symptoms -Default homepage, new tab page and search engine of the infected browser shown by a different domain name, users are repeatedly redirected to this domain (belongs to hackers) when open their browsing tab/Window and search queries on the search box

Distribution methods -software bundling, fake software updates/Flash Player installers, Deceptive pop-up ads

Damages – data tracking (possibly privacy issues), potentially unwanted apps intrusion, diminished browsing and possibly the system performances

Removal – To remove Smart Searching Tab, use some reputable antivirus tool or follow step-by-step instruction provided below the article 

How the browser hijacker works?

After the installation, very initially, the Smart Searching Tab changes the crucial system settings to gain system persistence and adds various malicious files to the Task bar that makes it running on the background all the time. While running, it continues doing its malicious tasks on the device that impacts on the general PC performances. The browser hijacker’s impacts are mainly over the web browsing performances. It hijacks them to take the complete control over the web browsing session of the users. Various modifications done on the browsers’ settings allow it to redirect the queries entered and viewed pages all the time to the hackers’ belonging sites. As mentioned earlier in the introduction, the Smart Searching Tab promotes hsmartsearching.net –a fake search engine that does not bear the potential to display its own search result. Thus, it is reluctant to use such searching tools for the web browsers.

The most dangerous feature of the PUP is the data tracking that allows the developers to track the users’ browsing session online. This way, they can easily get the idea about the users’ browsing activities/habits. They can collect the data include IP addresses, Search queries, Viewed pages, URLs visited, ISP, Type of OS and browser used and so on. Such data could be shared to potent crooks w ho misuse them to generate illicit revenue. Thus, the data tracking can result into huge risk of privacy and can cause identity exposure. To prevent such issues, immediately remove Smart Searching Tab from the device.

How did PUP intrude in?

Some apps of this type have their official websites where these are promoted as some legit tools that make users fall onto them and end up installing them on their device. However, most commonly, they end up installing them unintentionally. The reason is that there are various distribution methods used by the crooks for the malware distribution. The most common of them is the software bundling. In this method, stealth installation of unwanted apps takes place with some regular software. What the developers do is hide the bundled apps behind Custom/Advanced options. Users rush these setups and skip most of the installation steps leading the inadvertent installation of unwanted applications.

How to prevent malware intrusion?

In order to prevent this situation, you need to be careful during web browsing session, especially during software downloading/installation moment. Always rely on official websites and direct links for any software download. Avoid p2p networks, free file hosting sites and third party downloaders or installers that are deemed as untrustworthy. During installation, choose Custom/Advanced option and manually opt out all additionally attached apps so that you can deselect any unwanted apps from getting installed. For betterment, employ some reputable antivirus tool that provides adequate protection to the device.

Remove Smart Searching Tab

Manual malware removal guide is provided below in step by step manner. Follow it so that you will not find any trouble during removal process. You can use some reputable antivirus tool to automatically remove Smart Searching Tab from the device.

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 Smart Searching Tab:

Remove the related items of Smart Searching Tab 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 Smart Searching Tab 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 (Smart Searching Tab) 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 Smart Searching Tab 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 Smart Searching Tab 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 Smart Searching Tab 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 Smart Searching Tab 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 Smart Searching Tab (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.