This article aims to help you with the removal of Smartmediatabsearch.com hijacker from affected browser and system. Follow the detailed guide to remove this nasty app completely from your PC.
The website Smartmediatabsearch.com belongs to the company Imali Media Ltd. It is classified as a browser hijacker due to its capability to land on users’ systems without their knowledge and alter basic browser settings. In case of infection, its dubious domain could appear on the homepage and each new tab page while its search engine could be set as a default one. Furthermore, once this hijacker gains access to your browser, it could spy on online activities and deliver a lot of intrusive advertisements. Keep reading to understand how to remove it completely from your affected PC.
Threat Summary
| Name | Smartmediatabsearch.com |
| Type | Browser Hijacker, PUP |
| Short Description | The suspicious domain Smartmediatabsearch.com can be set as homepage and new tab page in each affected browser. Its rogue search engine replaces the default one. |
| Symptoms | The homepage and new tab page of affected browsers display the main page of Smartmediatabsearch.com hijacker. Many advertisements flood the browser and make it sluggish. |
| Distribution Method | Freeware Installations, Bundled Packages |
| Detection Tool |
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| User Experience | Join Our Forum to Discuss Smartmediatabsearch.com. |
Smartmediatabsearch.com – Methods of Distribution
Smartmediatabsearch.com is most likely to be distributed in software bundles. This method is preferred by many developers of potentially unwanted programs like Smartmediatabsearch.com as users are easily tricked into installing them programs along with the primary app. So remember which was the last app you installed on your PC. It could be the reason why you see Smartmediatabsearch.com hijacker in your browser. The installers of various free apps incorporate some additional components that sneak into the system if you miss to opt out their installation. Unfortunately, information about their existence is often not available in the regular configuration steps. As in some cases, it could be found in the Advanced/Custom options, it is advisable to choose them each time you install a new app.
In order to find all suspicious apps installed on your system, it is recommendable to scan it with advanced anti-malware tool.
Smartmediatabsearch.com is believed to hijack frequently used web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari.
Smartmediatabsearch.com – More About Its Impact
The idea of Smartmediatabsearch.com website is to provide searching services and quick access to several popular sites like Facebook, Gmail, Netflix, and eBay to online users. Its design resembles a lot the look of some major search engines. However, unlike them Smartmediatabsearch.com could land on your system without your knowledge and then alters some basic settings in the installed browsers without asking for permission. These are only part of the reasons why it is classified as a browser hijacker and as a one, it is better to be removed than used.
After it implements all the modifications and affects the browser, you can see its main page to appear on the homepage and each new tab page. Also, its dubious search engine could replace the default one in order to blackmail you into using its services.
As it gets clear from its main page, the hijacker is powered by a company called Step it App. The official website of this company reveals that it provides advertising platform that connects developers of free apps with advertisers. Apparently, its purpose is to stimulate more developers to release free apps and help them monetize their projects by adding in-app advertisements. As a result by using the apps that are powered by Step it App including Smartmediatabsearch.com, you will see a lot of advertisements that attempt to trick you into clicking on them so that developers could get paid by advertisers.
All the ads may slow down the performance of the running apps, browser and even system. At worst, the next pop-up, pop-under, banner, in-text ad or image ad you click could land you on a compromised web page that is set to deliver severe malware directly on your PC.
Yet another reason why you should remove Smartmediatabsearch.com hijacker is the hoax search engine it pushes. On the one hand, it does not display its own search results but just redirects to Yahoo search. On the other hand, it could modify search results and send data of all your search queries to its servers. Keep reading to learn more about data collection practices of this nasty hijacker.
Smartmediatabsearch.com – Privacy Policy
The first thing that gets cleaaer then you open the privacy policy of Smartmediatabsearch.com hijacker is name of its owner – Imali Media Ltd. In fact, this hijacker is not the first known to be developed by this comapny. Our team detected and reported several other websites that are similar to Smartmediatabsearch.com and alike it harass online users. Some of them are Search.newtab-tvsearch.com, Mediatvtabsearch.com and Funcybertabsearch(.)com.
The policy further reveals that Imali Media Ltd.‘s products are able to collect automatically specific details from users’ browsers and store them on their servers. Thus, by using the services of Smartmediatabsearch.com you agree with that it will obtain the following data:
- Your IP (internet protocol) address
- The type of browser you use
- The time at which you visited the site
- Which pages you visited throughout the site
Information you provide that can be collected:
- Your name
- Your email address
- Country of origin
- Your nickname
- Telephone number
- Website
- Company
- Job title
Unfortunately, a sure consequence of data collection is its use for advertising purposes. Be careful if deceptive blanks pop up on your screen as the hijacker may try to trick you into providing some personally identifiable details that at worst may be used for identity theft. Such fishy blanks may also enable Imali Media Ltd. to disclose your information to third-parties of unknown origin. In case that you want to prevent the hijacker from collecting your data, you need to remove it completely from the affected device.
Remove Smartmediatabsearch.com Browser Hijacker
The steps listed below will help you to remove Smartmediatabsearch.com hijacker completely from affected Chrome, Firefox, Explorer, and Safari browsers. In the guide that follows, you will also find how to remove this nasty program from your Windows system. There are two removal approaches – manual and automatic. In case that after the manual removal you still experience redirects to Smartmediatabsearch.com, you need to scan the system for some leftovers. With the help of an advanced anti-malware tool, you can easily locate and eliminate all leftovers.
Gergana Ivanova
Gergana has a bachelor's degree in Marketing. She has been with the STF team for five years, researching malware, reporting on the latest computer infections, and following digital marketing trends.
Follow Me:
- Guide 1: How to Remove Smartmediatabsearch.com from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Smartmediatabsearch.com from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Smartmediatabsearch.com from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Smartmediatabsearch.com from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Smartmediatabsearch.com from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Smartmediatabsearch.com from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Smartmediatabsearch.com from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Smartmediatabsearch.com from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Smartmediatabsearch.com
Step 2: Uninstall Smartmediatabsearch.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 Smartmediatabsearch.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 Smartmediatabsearch.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 Smartmediatabsearch.com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Smartmediatabsearch.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 Smartmediatabsearch.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 malware from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts, programs and malware, the recommended way of eliminating the threat is by using an anti-malware program. Combo Cleaner 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 Smartmediatabsearch.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 Smartmediatabsearch.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 Smartmediatabsearch.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 Smartmediatabsearch.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 Smartmediatabsearch.com will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Smartmediatabsearch.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.
