How To Remove Smashtab Browser Hijacker

Easy Guide To Delete Smashtab from PC

Smashtab is a kind of rogue Software program that is mainly designed to promote Smashtab.net fake search engine, changes to browser settings, tacking user’s online browsing activity. It is considered as a web browser hijacker virus by the security expert. It also deemed to be potentially Unwanted Applications (PUAs). It has been designed and distributed by the team of cyber crook with the sole motive to makes illegal money through cheat’s innocent users. It gets inside into the targeted System without any users permission.

It is able to hijack all popular and mostly used web browsers like as Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari, Edge and others. Once installed successfully, it instantly take control over the targeted web browsers and makes several unwanted changes like as internet setting, browser setting, homepage setting and DNS setting etc. It also replaces the homepage and default search engine with malicious fake search engine Smashtab.net which generates fake search results and tends redirect to genuine search engine google.com.

 As a potentially unwanted program, it bombards your System screen with the tons of annoying advertisements  like as commercial ads, pop-up ads, coupons, banners, discounts etc on the running webpage with the aim to generate web traffic as well as makes illegal revenue on pay per click methods. Clicking on these adverts might cause the execution of malicious scripts which may lead lots of infections. It also forces users to install or update the existing software with fake and malicious software which may cause lots of malware infections.

 How Smashtab is More Harmful for PC?

Smashtab is a very nasty computer infection that can install additional browser extension, plug-in, add-ons etc on your Web browsers. It is able to disable the System security and privacy by inactivate firewall, task manager, control panel and real antivirus program. It can corrupt your System files and Windows registries as well as create duplicate file as a similar name. It is able to track users online browsing habits like as search queries, web histories, cookies and other online details and share such details to the cyber offender for illegal use. It connects your PC with remote server to remotely access your PC. If your system is already infected by this nasty virus then you are highly advice to remove Smashtab as soon as possible.

How did Smashtab install on your PC?

Smashtab  gets install into your PC via the bundling method. Bundling is a deceptive marketing method that is only a trick users into download and install  program with additional and malicious  package. Mostly users download and install  program through unknown sources or unofficial site with carelessness. They also skip custom or advance options as well as other important settings. Such installation process offers to download and install additional and malicious packages which leads lots of infections. It may also spreads while users  update the System from unknown sources or indirect links, clicking on malicious links, peer to peer sharing files through  torrent, eMule, Gnutella, clients etc.

 How To Prevent your PC from Smashtab:

 It is highly advice, do not download and install program especially freeware from third party downloader site. All application or Software must be download and install from official and trustworthy download channels.  It is important to check the custom or advance options as well as other important settings.  Update the System Software from relevant sources or direct links. Do not clicking on malicious links, files must be share from secure network. In order to keep your PC safe and secure please scan your System with automatic removal tool.

 Threat Summary:

Name: Smashtab

Type:  Browser Hijacker, Redirect virus

Promoted URL: Smashtab.net

Browser settings: Homepage, default search engine setting,

Symptoms: browser setting has been changed, redirect users to questionable site, Lots of annoying advertisements shows on the System screen.

Distribution Methods: Spam email attachments, freeware program, updating System Software

Removal: To eliminate this infection we are highly advice scan your PC with automatic removal tool.

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 Smashtab:

Remove the related items of Smashtab 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 Smashtab 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 (Smashtab) 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 Smashtab 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 Smashtab 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 Smashtab 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 Smashtab 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 Smashtab (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.