Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Note! Your computer might be affected by Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker and other threats.
Threats such as Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker may be persistent on your system. They tend to re-appear if not fully deleted. A malware removal tool like SpyHunter will help you to remove malicious programs, saving you the time and the struggle of tracking down numerous malicious files. SpyHunter’s scanner is free but the paid version is needed to remove the malware threats. Read SpyHunter’s EULA and Privacy Policy
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
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.
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:
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:
Image Source:CqCounter.com
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
1.Remove or Uninstall Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker in Windows
Remove or Uninstall Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker in Windows.
Step 1: Remove/Uninstall Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker in Windows
Here is a method in few easy steps to remove that program.No matter if you are using Windows 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 get left behind, and that can lead to unstable work of your PC, mistakes 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:
Hold the Windows Logo Button and “R” on your keyboard. A Pop-up window will appear (fig.1).
In the field type in “appwiz.cpl” and press ENTER (fig.2).
This will open a window with all the programs installed on the PC. Select the program that you want to remove, and press “Uninstall” (fig.3).
Follow the instructions above and you will successfully uninstall Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker.
2.Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Your Browser
Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker from Your Browser.
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla FirefoxRemove a toolbar from Google Chrome Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer Remove a toolbar from Safari
Start Mozilla Firefox Open the menu window
Select the “Add-ons” icon from the menu
Select Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker and click “Remove”
After Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker is removed, restart Mozilla Firefox by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Start Google Chrome and Open the drop menu
Move the cursor over “Tools” and then from the extended menu choose “Extensions“
From the opened “Extensions” menu locate Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker and click on the garbage bin icon on the right of it.
After Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker is removed, restart Google Chrome by closing it from the red “X” in the top right corner and start it again.
Start Internet Explorer:
Click “‘Tools’ to open the drop menu and select ‘Manage Add-ons’
In the ‘Manage Add-ons’ window, make sure that in the first window ‘Add-on Types’, the drop menu ‘Show’ is on ‘All add-ons’
Select Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker to remove, and then click ‘Disable’. A pop-up window will appear to inform you that you are about to disable the selected toolbar, and some additional toolbars might be disabled as well. Leave all the boxes checked, and click ‘Disable’.
After Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker has been removed, restart Internet Explorer by closing it from the red ‘X’ in the top right corner and start it again.
Start Safari
Open the drop menu by clicking on the sprocket icon in the top right corner.
From the drop menu select ‘Preferences’ In the new window select ‘Extensions’ Click once on Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker Click ‘Uninstall’
A pop-up window will appear asking for confirmation to uninstall Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker. Select ‘Uninstall’ again, and the Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker will be removed.
Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker automatically by downloading an advanced anti-malware program.
1. Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker with SpyHunter Anti-Malware Tool
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker.2. Scan with SpyHunter to Detect and Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker.
Step 1:Click here to go to SpyHunter’s download instruction page. Step 2: Guide yourself by the download instructions provided for each browser. Step 3: After you have installed SpyHunter, wait for it to automatically update.
Step1: After the update process has finished, click on the ‘Scan Computer Now’ button. Step2: After SpyHunter has finished scanning your PC for any Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker files, click on the ‘Fix Threats’ button to remove them automatically and permanently. Step3: Once the intrusions on your PC have been removed, it is highly recommended to restart it.
2. Back up your data to secure it against attacks related to Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker in the future
Back up your data to secure it against attacks in the future
IMPORTANT! Before reading the Windows backup instructions, we highly recommend to back up your data automatically with cloud backup and insure it against any type of data loss on your device, even the most severe. We recommend reading more about and downloading SOS Online Backup.
1. For Windows 7 and earlier 1. For Windows 8, 8.1 and 10 1. Enabling the Windows Defense Feature (Previous Versions)
1-Click on Windows Start Menu 2-Type Backup And Restore 3-Open it and click on Set Up Backup 4-A window will appear asking you where to set up backup. You should have a flash drive or an external hard drive. Mark it by clicking on it with your mouse then click on Next. 5-On the next window, the system will ask you what do you want to backup. Choose the ‘Let Me Choose’ option and then click on Next. 6-Click on ‘Save settings and run backup’ on the next window in order to protect your files from possible attacks by Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker.
1-Press Windows button + R 2-In the window type ‘filehistory’ and press Enter 3-A File History window will appear. Click on ‘Configure file history settings’ 4-The configuration menu for File History will appear. Click on ‘Turn On’. After its on, click on Select Drive in order to select the backup drive. It is recommended to choose an external HDD, SSD or a USB stick whose memory capacity is corresponding to the size of the files you want to backup. 5-Select the drive then click on ‘Ok’ in order to set up file backup and protect yourself from Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker.
1- Press Windows button + R keys. 2- A run windows should appear. In it type ‘sysdm.cpl’ and then click on Run. 3- A System Properties windows should appear. In it choose System Protection. 5- Click on Turn on system protection and select the size on the hard disk you want to utilize for system protection. 6- Click on Ok and you should see an indication in Protection settings that the protection from Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker is on. Restoring a file via Windows Defense feature: 1-Right-click on the encrypted file, then choose Properties. 2-Click on the Previous Versions tab and then mark the last version of the file. 3-Click on Apply and Ok and the file encrypted by Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker should be restored.
Optional: Using Alternative Anti-Malware Tools
Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker Using Other Alternative Tools
STOPZilla Anti Malware
1. Download and Install STOPZilla Anti-malware to Scan for And Remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker. Step 1: Download STOPZilla by clicking here. Step 2: A pop-up window will appear. Click on the ‘Save File’ button. If it does not, click on the Download button and save it afterwards. Step 3: After you have downloaded the setup, simply open it. Step 4: The installer should appear. Click on the ‘Next’ button. Step 5: Check the ‘I accept the agreement’ check circle if not checked if you accept it and click the ‘Next’ button once again. Step 6: Review and click on the ‘Install’ button. Step 7: After the installation process has completed click on the ‘Finish’ button.
2. Scan your PC with STOPZilla Anti Malware to remove all Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker associated files completely. Step 1:Launch STOPZilla if you haven’t launched it after install. Step 2: Wait for the software to automatically scan and then click on the ‘Repair Now’ button. If it does not scan automatically, click on the ‘Scan Now’ button. Step 3: After the removal of all threats and associated objects, you should Restart your PC.
NOTE! Substantial notification about the Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker threat: Manual removal of Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker requires interference with system files and registries. Thus, it can cause damage to your PC. Even if your computer skills are not at a professional level, don’t worry. You can do the removal yourself just in 5 minutes, using a malware removal tool.
Ventsislav has been covering the latest malware, software and newest tech developments at SensorsTechForum for 3 years now. He started out as a network administrator. Having graduated Marketing as well, Ventsislav also has passion for discovery of new shifts and innovations in cybersecurity that become game changers. After studying Value Chain Management and then Network Administration, he found his passion within cybersecrurity and is a strong believer in basic education of every user towards online safety.
Image Source:CqCounter.com
Remove a toolbar from Mozilla Firefox
Remove a toolbar from Google Chrome
Remove a toolbar from Internet Explorer
Remove a toolbar from Safari
1. Install SpyHunter to scan for and remove Smartsputnik(.)ru Browser Hijacker.
1. For Windows 7 and earlier
STOPZilla Anti Malware
