This article aims to help you with the removal of m.smartsrch.com redirect from affected browser and system. Follow the detailed guide at the end to get rid of this annoying website in full.
M.smartsrch.com is a browser redirect that could make you use its suspicious services by hijacking basic browser settings. After infection, its main page starts to appear as browser homepage and new tab page while its deceptive search engine is the default one. The website could also redirect you to websites of unknown origin where a lot of sponsored content is displayed.
Threat Summary
| Name | m.smartsrch.com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, PUP |
| Short Description | M.smartsrch.com is the domain of browser redirect that affects commonly used web browsers by modifying their settigns. It pushes a deceptive search engine. |
| Symptoms | The homepage and new tab page of affected browsers redirect to the domain of the suspicious m.smartsrch.com. Many advertisements can make the affected browser sluggish and unresponsive. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss m.smartsrch.com. |
M.smartsrch.com – Spread Techniques
M.smartsrch.com redirect is likely to land on computer systems along with other desired third-party freeware. As a typical potentially unwanted program it aims to sneak into the system unnoticeably. This is easily achievable with the help of third-party apps because their installers could be set to install the redirect by default. In order that m.smartsrch.com’s presence remains unseen the regular configuration steps do not provide any information about it. The majority of online users prefer to follow the regular steps instead of configuring the installation process through the Advanced or Custom steps. And that’s how infections like m.smartsrch.com take place on computer and mobile systems. So be advised to reveal the information on the Advanced/Custom installation steps each time you decide to install a new app on your PC. They could help you to avoid infections with nasty programs like m.smartsrch.com.
Misleading browser extensions that pretend to enhance your browsing experience may also be used for the distribution of Mmsmartsrch.com. They could be offered on Chrome Web Store or pushed by web pages that contain malicious scripts. Such scripts are able to trigger drive-by download attacks which deliver the infection code unnoticeably on the computer.
Frequently used web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari could be hijacked by m.smartsrch.com redirect.
M.smartsrch.com – More About Its Impact
M.smartsrch.com redirect is able to hijack essential browser settings after it lands on the system. It is known to modify the settings of the homepage, new tab page and default search engine. As a result, the redirect starts to appear during each browsing session. And you are forced to use its deceptive services. Below you can see a picture of the main page of this nasty redirect:
The primary goal of this dubious website is to generate revenue to its owners. For the purpose, its search engine is set to flood search results with links to sponsored content and redirect your browsing sessions to websites of unknown origin where lots of online ads appear as well. Thus, your access to websites that provide the most adequate information for your search queries is limited and you risk being misinformed. In addition, all intrusive ads could slow down browser loads or even cause crashes at times. You need to be careful with all the ads that appear as a click on the wrong one could land you on a corrupted web page that is set to deliver and install malicious code directly on your system.
Even though this dubious search engine website resembles a lot the look of some of the most reliable search engines, it lowers the security of system and browser. As long as its files are available on your system, they could be used as a gateway by malicious intenders. They may compromise the whole system and steal the data you keep on the hard drives.
M.smartsrch.com is also known to obtain various details from the affected browser and keeps a record of them on its servers. In the next paragraph, you could find more information about data collection practices utilized by the redirect.
M.smartsrch.com – Privacy Policy
You can access the Privacy Policy page associated with m.smartsrch.com redirect by clicking on the link presented in the footer of its main page. As found in the policy the website is owned by a company called AirFind. Its products are known to invade computer and mobile systems in order to deliver sponsored content and spy on users’ activities. Other hijacking websites owned by AirFind are Mobisearch.co and MyPortal.us, as detected by our team.
Their Policy page reveals all data collection practices done by their browser hijackers. Below, you can see exactly what information can be obtained from you when you are using any of the m.smartsrch.com services, according to its Policy:
- Your full name
- E-mail address
- Phone number
- Your physical address
- Your online contacts
- Your social networks’ data
- Cookies data
- Information you provide directly or via 3rd parties
More details related to your internet activities are acquired via cookies and additional tracking technologies. Eventually, m.smartsrch.com service could collect even more data which identifies you. Thus, you should be careful what kind of information you enter in the affected browser as the nasty redirect could send it to its servers and keeps records of it there. In case that you want to prevent m.smartsrch.com from collecting all the details mentioned above you should consider removing it.
How to Remove М.smartsrch.com Redirect
The steps listed below will help you to remove m.smartsrch.com redirect completely from affected Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, or Safari web browser. The guide that follows will also be helpful for the removal of this nasty program from your Windows system. You will find two removal approaches – manual and automatic. Have in mind that the manual removal steps may not reveal all harmful files dropped on the system. If these files remain on the system you can still experience redirects to m.smartsrch.com during browsing sessions. For maximum protection, it is good to scan the system for some leftovers with certified anti-malware tool.
Gergana Ivanova
Highly motivated writer with 5+ years of experience writing for ransomware, malware, adware, PUPs, and other cybersecurity-related issues. As a writer, I strive to create content that is based on thorough technical research. I find joy in the process of creating articles that are easy to understand, informative, and useful. Follow me on Twitter (@IRGergana) for the latest in the field of computer, mobile, and online security.
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- Guide 1: How to Remove m.smartsrch.com from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of m.smartsrch.com from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove m.smartsrch.com from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase m.smartsrch.com from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall m.smartsrch.com from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove m.smartsrch.com from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate m.smartsrch.com from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove m.smartsrch.com from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove m.smartsrch.com
Step 2: Uninstall m.smartsrch.com and related software from Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps that should be able to uninstall most programs. No matter if you are using Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista or XP, those steps will get the job done. Dragging the program or its folder to the recycle bin can be a very bad decision. If you do that, bits and pieces of the program are left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, errors with the file type associations and other unpleasant activities. The proper way to get a program off your computer is to Uninstall it. To do that:
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall most programs.
Step 3: Clean any registries, created by m.smartsrch.com on your computer.
The usually targeted registries of Windows machines are the following:
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
You can access them by opening the Windows registry editor and deleting any values, created by m.smartsrch.com there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:
Tip: To find a virus-created value, you can right-click on it and click "Modify" to see which file it is set to run. If this is the virus file location, remove the value.
Before starting "Step 4", please boot back into Normal mode, in case you are currently in Safe Mode.
This will enable you to install and use SpyHunter 5 successfully.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Get rid of m.smartsrch.com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall m.smartsrch.com and remove related files and objects
1. Hit the ⇧+⌘+U keys to open Utilities. Another way is to click on “Go” and then click “Utilities”, like the image below shows:
- Go to Finder.
- In the search bar type the name of the app that you want to remove.
- Above the search bar change the two drop down menus to “System Files” and “Are Included” so that you can see all of the files associated with the application you want to remove. Bear in mind that some of the files may not be related to the app so be very careful which files you delete.
- If all of the files are related, hold the ⌘+A buttons to select them and then drive them to “Trash”.
In case you cannot remove m.smartsrch.com via Step 1 above:
In case you cannot find the virus files and objects in your Applications or other places we have shown above, you can manually look for them in the Libraries of your Mac. But before doing this, please read the disclaimer below:
You can repeat the same procedure with the following other Library directories:
→ ~/Library/LaunchAgents
/Library/LaunchDaemons
Tip: ~ is there on purpose, because it leads to more LaunchAgents.
Step 2: Scan for and remove m.smartsrch.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as m.smartsrch.com, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. SpyHunter for Mac offers advanced security features along with other modules that will improve your Mac’s security and protect it in the future.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove m.smartsrch.com from Google Chrome.
Step 1: Start Google Chrome and open the drop menu
Step 2: Move the cursor over "Tools" and then from the extended menu choose "Extensions"
Step 3: From the opened "Extensions" menu locate the unwanted extension and click on its "Remove" button.
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Erase m.smartsrch.com from Mozilla Firefox.
Step 1: Start Mozilla Firefox. Open the menu window
Step 2: Select the "Add-ons" icon from the menu.
Step 3: Select the unwanted extension and click "Remove"
Step 4: After the extension is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red "X" button at the top right corner and start it again.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Uninstall m.smartsrch.com from Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Start Edge browser.
Step 2: Open the drop menu by clicking on the icon at the top right corner.
Step 3: From the drop menu select "Extensions".
Step 4: Choose the suspected malicious extension you want to remove and then click on the gear icon.
Step 5: Remove the malicious extension by scrolling down and then clicking on Uninstall.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Remove m.smartsrch.com from Safari.
Step 1: Start the Safari app.
Step 2: After hovering your mouse cursor to the top of the screen, click on the Safari text to open its drop down menu.
Step 3: From the menu, click on "Preferences".
Step 4: After that, select the 'Extensions' Tab.
Step 5: Click once on the extension you want to remove.
Step 6: Click 'Uninstall'.
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall the extension. Select 'Uninstall' again, and the m.smartsrch.com will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate m.smartsrch.com from Internet Explorer.
Step 1: Start Internet Explorer.
Step 2: Click on the gear icon labeled 'Tools' to open the drop menu and select 'Manage Add-ons'
Step 3: In the 'Manage Add-ons' window.
Step 4: Select the extension you want to remove and then click 'Disable'. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected extension, and some more add-ons might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click 'Disable'.
Step 5: After the unwanted extension has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red 'X' button located at the top right corner and start it again.
