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
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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- Mac OS X
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- Microsoft Edge
- Safari
- Internet Explorer
- Stop Push Pop-ups
How to Remove Smartmediatabsearch.com from Windows.
Step 1: Scan for Smartmediatabsearch.com with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Step 2: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode
Step 3: 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 4: Clean Any registries, Created by Smartmediatabsearch.com on Your PC.
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.
Video Removal Guide for Smartmediatabsearch.com (Windows).
Get rid of Smartmediatabsearch.com from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Smartmediatabsearch.com and remove related files and objects
Your Mac will then show you a list of items that start automatically when you log in. Look for any suspicious apps identical or similar to Smartmediatabsearch.com. Check the app you want to stop from running automatically and then select on the Minus (“-“) icon to hide it.
- 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 Smartmediatabsearch.com files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Smartmediatabsearch.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.
Video Removal Guide for Smartmediatabsearch.com (Mac)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remove Push Notifications from Your Browsers
Turn Off Push Notifications from Google Chrome
To disable any Push Notices from Google Chrome browser, please follow the steps below:
Step 1: Go to Settings in Chrome.
Step 2: In Settings, select “Advanced Settings”:
Step 3: Click “Content Settings”:
Step 4: Open “Notifications”:
Step 5: Click the three dots and choose Block, Edit or Remove options:
Remove Push Notifications on Firefox
Step 1: Go to Firefox Options.
Step 2: Go to “Settings”, type “notifications” in the search bar and click "Settings":
Step 3: Click “Remove” on any site you wish notifications gone and click “Save Changes”
Stop Push Notifications on Opera
Step 1: In Opera, press ALT+P to go to Settings.
Step 2: In Setting search, type “Content” to go to Content Settings.
Step 3: Open Notifications:
Step 4: Do the same as you did with Google Chrome (explained below):
Eliminate Push Notifications on Safari
Step 1: Open Safari Preferences.
Step 2: Choose the domain from where you like push pop-ups gone and change to "Deny" from "Allow".
Smartmediatabsearch.com-FAQ
What Is Smartmediatabsearch.com?
The Smartmediatabsearch.com threat is adware or browser redirect virus.
It may slow your computer down significantly and display advertisements. The main idea is for your information to likely get stolen or more ads to appear on your device.
The creators of such unwanted apps work with pay-per-click schemes to get your computer to visit risky or different types of websites that may generate them funds. This is why they do not even care what types of websites show up on the ads. This makes their unwanted software indirectly risky for your OS.
What Are the Symptoms of Smartmediatabsearch.com?
There are several symptoms to look for when this particular threat and also unwanted apps in general are active:
Symptom #1: Your computer may become slow and have poor performance in general.
Symptom #2: You have toolbars, add-ons or extensions on your web browsers that you don't remember adding.
Symptom #3: You see all types of ads, like ad-supported search results, pop-ups and redirects to randomly appear.
Symptom #4: You see installed apps on your Mac running automatically and you do not remember installing them.
Symptom #5: You see suspicious processes running in your Task Manager.
If you see one or more of those symptoms, then security experts recommend that you check your computer for viruses.
What Types of Unwanted Programs Are There?
According to most malware researchers and cyber-security experts, the threats that can currently affect your Mac can be the following types:
- Rogue Antivirus programs.
- Adware.
- Browser hijackers.
- Clickers.
- Fake optimizers.
What to Do If I Have a "virus" like Smartmediatabsearch.com?
With few simple actions. First and foremost, it is imperative that you follow these steps:
Step 1: Find a safe computer and connect it to another network, not the one that your Mac was infected in.
Step 2: Change all of your passwords, starting from your email passwords.
Step 3: Enable two-factor authentication for protection of your important accounts.
Step 4: Call your bank to change your credit card details (secret code, etc.) if you have saved your credit card for online shopping or have done online activities with your card.
Step 5: Make sure to call your ISP (Internet provider or carrier) and ask them to change your IP address.
Step 6: Change your Wi-Fi password.
Step 7: (Optional): Make sure to scan all of the devices connected to your network for viruses and repeat these steps for them if they are affected.
Step 8: Install anti-malware software with real-time protection on every device you have.
Step 9: Try not to download software from sites you know nothing about and stay away from low-reputation websites in general.
If you follow these recommendations, your network and all devices will become significantly more secure against any threats or information invasive software and be virus free and protected in the future too.
How Does Smartmediatabsearch.com Work?
Once installed, Smartmediatabsearch.com can collect data about your web browsing habits, such as the websites you visit and the search terms you use. This data is then used to target you with ads or to sell your information to third parties.
Smartmediatabsearch.com can also download other malicious software onto your computer, such as viruses and spyware, which can be used to steal your personal information and show risky ads, that may redirect to virus sites or scams.
Is Smartmediatabsearch.com Malware?
The truth is that PUPs (adware, browser hijackers) are not viruses, but may be just as dangerous since they may show you and redirect you to malware websites and scam pages.
Many security experts classify potentially unwanted programs as malware. This is because of the unwanted effects that PUPs can cause, such as displaying intrusive ads and collecting user data without the user’s knowledge or consent.
About the Smartmediatabsearch.com Research
The content we publish on SensorsTechForum.com, this Smartmediatabsearch.com how-to removal guide included, is the outcome of extensive research, hard work and our team’s devotion to help you remove the specific, adware-related problem, and restore your browser and computer system.
How did we conduct the research on Smartmediatabsearch.com?
Please note that our research is based on independent investigation. We are in contact with independent security researchers, thanks to which we receive daily updates on the latest malware, adware, and browser hijacker definitions.
Furthermore, the research behind the Smartmediatabsearch.com threat is backed with VirusTotal.
To better understand this online threat, please refer to the following articles which provide knowledgeable details.