Assistances to Remove TheSmartSearch.net redirect virus

TheSmartSearch.net is designed to take control of users' browsers and affect their browsing activities. It is closely related to browser hijackers that can intercept almost popular browser hijackers, including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Then, users may soon find that their default browser homepage has been replaced by an unfamiliar one. When users start to run their infected browsers or do a search, the threat may force them to visit certain specified websites and use it as their search engine. If so, computer users won't have the ability to load the web pages for the accurate search results have been extended from the result list by TheSmartSearch.net.

For the most part, TheSmartSearch.net redirects innocent users to unfamiliar web pages which contain lots of advertisements, aiming to attract users to click on the ads or use the website as the default homepage. The hijacker can fool you and take advantage of your personal information to make profits. This malware completes its purpose through enticing user into clicking on the ads pops- up promoted for adware developer, so users are usually captured in the trap after they choose to believe in the pops- up. Please note that the information provided by the browser hijacker may be bogus and users should be alert and don't be taken in by the tempting ads, or they may suffer from money losses or other damages.

TheSmartSearch.net should be removed from the compromised computer in time. Most users would mistakenly think that if they do not click on the pop-up ads or sponsored links from the website TheSmartSearch.net, they could keep their computers safe. However, it's not as simple as that. The redirect virus can appear on the startup of the affected browsers and install extensions, add-ons and links on your PC without consent. Unauthorized changes made by the redirect virus could reduce the level of the system security, which gives a chance for other type of malware to slip into the infected computers. The result would be that numerous computer threats will take over the system and eat up system resources as well as reduce the machine performance. What's worse, it is able to spy on your Internet activities and browser history to steal your confidential information for illegal benefits, such as credit card numbers, bank information, user names, passwords, identity information, IP address and email address, etc. So you ought to remove TheSmartSearch.net redirect virus effectively from your computer as soon as possible.

How to Remove TheSmartSearch.net redirect virus completely?

Step one: set the default homepage back
For Internet Explorer:
1. Click on Browser Tools
2. Select Manage Add-Ons on the tools window
3. Click Search Provider
4. Here you can see many kinds of search engine option as Bing and Google, select your favorite one to be a default homepage.
5. Choose Search Results and click on Remove icon to eliminate it
6. Click Tools, select Internet Options and then the General tab. Here you can option a website you like and save it.
c. Select the unwanted address and click ‘Remove' to remove it;
For Google Chrome:
1. Open Customize and control
2. Click on Settings
3. Select on Basic Options icon
4. Here you can reset your homepage (e.g.Google.com）
5. Once you choose a default homepage, click on Manage Search Engines and then click Google to be your default search engine.
6. Remove it from the browser by clicking TheSmartSearch.net and then the X' mark
For Mozilla Firefox:
1. Click Manage Search Engine
2. Select Search Results and then click Remove option, click OK
3. Open Tools, under the General tab, set Google.com as default homepage
Step two: locate related files of the redirect virus and remove them from the computer
%AllUsersProfile%
%AllUsersProfile%\Programs\{random letters}\
%AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\~r
%AllUsersProfile%\Application Data\~dll
Step three: Remove Cookies on all Browsers
Internet Explorer:
a. Click options on the browser and then choose Internet Options
b. Open General tab, click Delete Browsing History to remove all related cookies
c. Select cookies and click Delete
Firefox:
a. Click option
b. Select Privacy and then click on Remove Individual Cookies icon
c. Delete relevant cookies list on the box
Google Chrome:
a. Click option
b. Open Under the Bonnet tab
c. Select Privacy and then click Clear browsing data
d. Delete all cookies
Step four: Remove Malicious Registry
a. Open Registry Editor on the start menu
b. Type in Regedit and click OK
c. Remove all the following registry entries
HKEY
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings "CertificateRevocation" = ‘1'
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Attachments "SaveZoneInformation" = ‘0'
Conclusion

It is difficult for most victims to remove TheSmartSearch.net threat from the affected computer. Manual removal as mentioned above, it is only for the advanced PC users who can handle the process. Cyber hackers just lure this type of users to seek chances to boost commercial gains. Thus, users should pay more attention to their computer performance and run their advanced antivirus programs to scan the PCs once some weird symptoms show up in order to prevent more damages caused by hidden viruses. TheSmartSearch.net often comes bundled with free software and junk email attachments, and once users download such freeware or open the malicious attachments, they are likely to download the redirect virus onto their computers. Unprotected drive- by downloads is one of the avenues that can attract hazardous TheSmartSearch.net. If you have need to instantly remove TheSmartSearch.net, you may consider trying the manual removal solution. What's more, it's wise for you to install one professional malware removal tool to prevent any threats from attacking your computer.