Browser hijacking software associated with the redirecting domain Smartsputnik(.)ru has been reported to haunt users during their browsing experience. The software is outlined as dangerous primarily because it is redirected via third-party domains and all users who have seen redirects associated with Smartsputnik(.)ru should immediately take steps towards removing it from their computer. Otherwise, the worst case consequences could eventually be stolen financial and personal information or malware installed on the user PC via third-party URLs.
Name | Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker |
Type | Browser Hijacker/PUP |
Short Description | The domain may do various dangerous or unhealthy to the PC activities. |
Symptoms | The user may witness online advertisements as well as redirects to other potentially harmful domains. |
Distribution Method | Via PUPs, installed by bundling or by visiting a suspicious third-party site that is advertising it. |
Detection Tool | Download Malware Removal Tool, to See If Your System Has Been Affected by malware |
User Experience | Join our forum to discuss Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker. |
Smartsputnik(.)ru Hijacking Software – How Is It Spread
The Smartsputnik(.)ru browser hijacker is strongly believed to be associated with other PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs) like it. Such programs may perform the so-called privilege escalation with a purpose of installing Smartsputnik(.)ru on the computer, modifying Windows Registry Entries or adding it as an extension to the computer. This may result in the home-page of the user causing redirects to mail(.)ru search.
Another method of distribution this software might employ is connected with bundling downloads. This is essentially the adding of the program to third-party downloaded software installers. These are usually the setups of free programs like media players, file converters, free antivirus utilities, etc. Some sites providing them may include Smartsputnik(.)ru masked “as a free extra” in the “Advanced” or “Custom” installations.
Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker and Domain In Detail
In case you have this browser hijacker installed on your computer, bear in mind that its first activities may be to modify the following registry entries on your computer:
→ HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\Start Page
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID
HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\PCW\Security
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Google Chrome
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Mozilla Firefox\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Opera\
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Internet Explorer\
Not only this but even though the host is with a .ru domain extension when it was checked in CqCounter whois, the following information appeared, suggesting its original location may be concealed:
Furthermore, the domain does not have a privacy policy or other terms and upon opening causes redirect to mail(.)ru search via the following URL:
After the domain from the URL(searchtds(.)ru) has been visited, it was quickly established to be a pay-per-click traffic generating website, suggesting the domain Smartsputnik(.)ru may be generating hoax traffic for profit. This is a common scheme characteristic for browser hijackers:
Not only this, but the domain also has several different types of cookies from several third-party websites. These tracking technologies can be used to obtain different user information such as browsing history, online clicks, online searches and other information:
The collected user information by the Smartsputnik(.)ru browser hijacker may then be also used to display different types of advertisements:
- Pop-ups.
- Taken over banner spaces.
- Highlighted text on the websites visited.
- Sponsored search results.
Some of those third-party sponsored links may lead to dangerous websites, and this is the primary reason why this PC slowing browser hijacker should be removed from your computer. The two primary dangers associated with it may be:
- The danger of information theft via tech support scams, phishing websites or fake retailer sites.
- The risk of infecting the PC with malware via a malicious URL to which the user could be redirected to.
Smartsputnik(.)ru Hijacker– Conclusion and Removal
This bottom line for this program is that it is most likely a part of a pay-per-click scheme, but it may also collaborate with third-party sites to redirect traffic to them. This is why its removal is strongly recommended by malware researchers. We have provided effective removal instructions with which you may permanently remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Hijacker from your system and protect it from future intrusions and we advise following them methodologically for maximum effectiveness.
Delete Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Windows and Your Browser
Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
- Guide 1: How to Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Windows.
- Guide 2: Get rid of Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Mac OS X.
- Guide 3: Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Google Chrome.
- Guide 4: Erase Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Mozilla Firefox.
- Guide 5: Uninstall Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Microsoft Edge.
- Guide 6: Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Safari.
- Guide 7: Eliminate Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Internet Explorer.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
How to Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Windows.
Step 1: Boot Your PC In Safe Mode to isolate and remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker





Step 2: Uninstall Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker 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:



Step 3: Clean any registries, created by Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker 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 Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker there. This can happen by following the steps underneath:



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 Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Mac OS X.
Step 1: Uninstall Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker 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 Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker 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 Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker files from your Mac
When you are facing problems on your Mac as a result of unwanted scripts and programs such as Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker, 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 Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker 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 Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker 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 Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker 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 Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker 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 Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker will be removed.
Windows Mac OS X Google Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge Safari Internet Explorer
Eliminate Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker 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.