Search.whitesmoke.com redirect

What is search.whitesmoke.com?

The 'Whitesmoke search redirect virus' is a term used to describe a browser hijacker, which infiltrates Internet browsers through dubious free software 'download clients' and modifies browser settings by assigning the homepage and default search engine to search.whitesmoke.com

This browser hijacker often installs together with free software downloaded from the Internet using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling'. Internet users should be aware that, today, most free software download websites use download clients.

Download clients are small programs, which manage the process of freeware download and also monetize it by offering installation of advertised browser extensions together with the chosen free software.

Computer users who do not pay close enough attention to the freeware download steps can inadvertently install various potentially unwanted applications, which cause unwanted ads or, as in the case with WhiteSmoke, unwanted browser redirects.

WhiteSmoke can be used to correct grammar and spelling mistakes, however, developers of this program often bundle their software with various adware, and thus, you are advised not to use this application. At time of research, browser redirects were caused by a program called WhiteSmoke Search.

This software adds little or no value and modifies users' Internet browser settings by assigning search.whitesmoke.com to the default search engine and homepage fields.

This browser hijacker is similar to other adware distributed using free software downloads, which, after successful installation, modify the Internet browser settings. Examples include search.babylon.com and Delta-Search.com amongst many others. These websites employ dubious search engines crowded with sponsored search results and deceptive ads.

Using search.whitesmoke.com from your daily Internet searches is not recommended since accidental clicks on any ads within this site can lead to malware and virus infections. To avoid installation of this browser settings-changing adware, computer users should be attentive when downloading free software.

Inspect each download step and opt-out of installation of advertised browser plugins by clicking on the 'decline' button. If this browser hijacker has infiltrated your computer, use the removal guide provided to restore your Internet browser settings.

Screenshot of a deceptive free software download client promoting this browser hijacker:

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Quick menu:

• What is Search.whitesmoke.com?
• STEP 1. Uninstall WhiteSmoke Search applications using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Search.whitesmoke.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Search.whitesmoke.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Search.whitesmoke.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Search.whitesmoke.com redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Search.whitesmoke.com redirect removal:

Windows 11 users:

Right-click on the Start icon, select Apps and Features. In the opened window search for the application you want to uninstall, after locating it, click on the three vertical dots and select Uninstall.

Windows 10 users:

Right-click in the lower left corner of the screen, in the Quick Access Menu select Control Panel. In the opened window choose Programs and Features.

Windows 7 users:

Click Start (Windows Logo at the bottom left corner of your desktop), choose Control Panel. Locate Programs and click Uninstall a program.

macOS (OSX) users:

Click Finder, in the opened screen select Applications. Drag the app from the Applications folder to the Trash (located in your Dock), then right click the Trash icon and select Empty Trash.

In the uninstall programs window: look for "WhiteSmoke Search", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling potentially unwanted programs (which cause browser redirects to the search.whitesmoke.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software. Remove all entries that this program detects to ensure your PC is clean from any possible spyware and malware infections.

Search.whitesmoke.com homepage and default search engine removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Change homepage:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove search.whitesmoke.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you launch Internet Explorer, you can also enter about:blank to open a blank page when you start Internet Explorer.

Change default search engine:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". In the opened window select "Search Providers", set "Google", "Bing" or any other preferred search engine as your default and then remove "WhiteSmoke Search".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the whitesmoke virus, reset your Internet Explorer settings to default.

Windows XP users: Click Start, click Run, in the opened window type inetcpl.cpl In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows Vista and Windows 7 users: Click the Windows logo, in the start search box type inetcpl.cpl and click enter. In the opened window click the Advanced tab, then click Reset.

Windows 8 users: Open Internet Explorer and click the gear icon. Select Internet Options.

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Click the Reset button.

Confirm that you wish to reset Internet Explorer settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate "ChromeTabManager", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Change homepage:

Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over search.whitesmoke.com and click the x symbol. Now you can add your preferred website as your homepage.

Change default search engine:

To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings", in the "Search" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "WhiteSmoke Search" and add or select your preferred domain.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the whitesmoke virus, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon  (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) and select Settings. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen. Click the Advanced… link.

After scrolling to the bottom of the screen, click the Reset (Restore settings to their original defaults) button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Google Chrome settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

Remove malicious plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Change homepage:

To reset your homepage click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window remove search.whitesmoke.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.

Change default search engine:

In the URL address bar, type about:config and press Enter.
Click "I'll be careful, I promise!".
In the search filter at the top, type: "whitesmoke"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with whitesmoke virus removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

Open Mozilla Firefox, at the top right corner of the main window, click the Firefox menu, in the opened menu, click Help.

Select Troubleshooting Information.

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Mozilla Firefox settings to default by clicking the Refresh Firefox button.

Remove malicious extensions from Safari:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click Safari menu, then select Preferences...

In the preferences window select the Extensions tab. Look for any recently installed suspicious extensions and uninstall them.

In the preferences window select General tab and make sure that your homepage is set to a preferred URL, if its altered by a browser hijacker - change it.

In the preferences window select Search tab and make sure that your preferred Internet search engine is selected.

Optional method:

Make sure your Safari browser is active and click on Safari menu. From the drop down menu select Clear History and Website Data...

In the opened window select all history and click the Clear History button.

Remove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate any recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.

Change your homepage and new tab settings:

Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section look for the name of the browser hijacker and click "Disable".

Change your default Internet search engine:

To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge: Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Privacy and services", scroll to bottom of the page and select "Address bar". In the "Search engines used in address bar" section look for the name of the unwanted Internet search engine, when located click the "Disable" button near it. Alternatively you can click on "Manage search engines", in the opened menu look for unwanted Internet search engine. Click on the puzzle icon near it and select "Disable".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the whitesmoke virus, reset your Microsoft Edge browser settings. Click the Edge menu icon  (at the top right corner of Microsoft Edge) and select Settings.

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Select Restore settings to their default values. In the opened window, confirm that you wish to reset Microsoft Edge settings to default by clicking the Reset button.

• If this did not help, follow these alternative instructions explaining how to reset the Microsoft Edge browser.

Summary:

A browser hijacker is a type of adware infection that modifies Internet browser settings by assigning the homepage and default Internet search engine settings to some other (unwanted) website URL. Commonly, this type of adware infiltrates operating systems through free software downloads. If your download is managed by a download client, ensure that you decline offers to install advertised toolbars or applications that seek to change your homepage and default Internet search engine settings.

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