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Search.smartshopping.com Redirect

Also Known As: search.smartshopping.com browser hijacker
Type: Adware
Damage level: Medium

What is search.smartshopping.com?

Search.smartshopping.com is presented as a legitimate Internet search website, however, be aware that this site is promoted using deceptive software installers that stealthily modify Internet browsers' settings. Furthermore, this site continually tracks Internet browsing activity.

search.smartshopping.com browser hijacker

The rogue installers mostly target Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox. After the default search engine, homepage and new tab URL settings are assigned to search.smartshopping.com, a number of third party applications/browser add-ons are installed to prevent users from reverting these changes.

This behavior significantly diminishes Internet browsing - when users open new browser tabs or attempt to search via the URL bar, they are continually redirected to search.smartshopping.com.

Note that this site generates dubious search results that might lead to infectious web pages and, thus, attempts to search the Internet via search.smartshopping.com can result in further adware or malware infections.

Users' Internet browsing activity is continually monitored, since this browser hijacker gathers various types of data including IP addresses, website URLs visited, search queries, pages viewed, and other similar information that may contain personal details.

These details are shared with third parties who misuse personal data to generate revenue, Thus, the presence of an information-tracking app on your system can lead to serious privacy issues or even identity theft. For this reason, you are strongly advised to uninstall this PUP.

Search.smartshopping.com has similar behavior to other browser-hijacking apps designed to generate revenue. For instance, yourcurrentnewsnow.com, exciterewards.com, mygridsearch.com, and mystart.com also track Internet browsing activity and cause unwanted browser redirects.

Rather than providing the functionality promised, browser-hijacking apps are designed to generate revenue for the developers - users receive no real value.

How did search.smartshopping.com install on my computer?

As mentioned above, search.smartshopping.com is promoted using a deceptive software marketing method called 'bundling' - stealth installation of potentially unwanted programs with the chosen software/apps. The developers hide bogus applications within the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings, since they are aware that many users skip this section.

Users who rush the download and installation processes often inadvertently install PUPs. The developers are concerned only with the amount of revenue generated (which is dependent on the number of apps distributed) and, thus, they do not properly disclose installation of rogue applications.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?

This situation can be prevented by closely analyzing each step of the software download and installation processes. Choose the 'Custom' or 'Advanced' settings, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical', otherwise bundled applications will remain concealed and you will be unable to cancel them. Bear in mind that bundled software is mostly rogue - never install it.

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Quick menu:

Search.smartshopping.com browser hijacker removal:

Windows 11 users:

Accessing Apps and Features in Windows 11

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 8

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:

Accessing Programs and Features (uninstall) in Windows 7

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:

Uninstall app in OSX (Mac)

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.

search.smartshopping.com browser hijacker uninstall via Control Panel

In the uninstall programs window: look for any recently-installed suspicious applications, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove". At time of testing search.smartshopping.com redirect was caused by a program named 'ActSys'.

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs that cause browser redirects to the search.smartshopping.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Search.smartshopping.com browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove browser redirects:

Internet Explorer logoRemove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Removing search.smartshopping.com related Internet Explorer extensions

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

Change your homepage:

Removing search.smartshopping.com from Internet Explorer homepage

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window, remove hxxp://search.smartshopping.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 your default search engine:

Removing search.smartshopping.com from Internet Explorer default search engine

Click the "gear" icon Internet Explorer options 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 "smartshopping".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.smartshopping.com browser hijacker, 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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows XP

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.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 7

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

Reseting Internet Explorer settings to default in Windows 8 - accessing

In the opened window, select the Advanced tab.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - Internet options advanced tab

Click the Reset button.

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - click the Reset button in the Internet options advanced tab

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

Resetting Internet Explorer settings to default on Windows 8 - confirm settings reset to default by clicking the reset button

Google Chrome logoRemove malicious extensions from Google Chrome:

Removing search.smartshopping.com related Google Chrome extensions

Click the Chrome menu icon Google Chrome options icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious add-ons, select these entries and click the trash can icon.

Change your homepage:

Removing search.smartshopping.com from Google Chrome homepage

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

Change your default search engine:

Removing search.smartshopping.com from Google Chrome default search engine

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

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search.smartshopping.com browser hijacker, reset your Google Chrome browser settings. Click the Chrome menu icon Google 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.

Google Chrome settings reset step 1

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

Google Chrome settings reset step 2

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

Google Chrome settings reset step 3

Mozilla Firefox logoRemove malicious plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:

Removing search.smartshopping.com related Mozilla Firefox extensions

Click the Firefox menu firefox menu icon (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions" and remove all recently-installed browser plug-ins.

Change your homepage:

Removing search.smartshopping.com from Mozilla Firefox homepage

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

Change your default search engine:

Removing search.smartshopping.com from Mozilla Firefox 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: "smartshopping"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search.smartshopping.com browser hijacker removal can reset their Mozilla Firefox settings.

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

Accessing settings (Reset Firefox to default settings step 1)

Select Troubleshooting Information.

Accessing Troubleshooting Information (Reset Firefox to default settings step 2)

In the opened window, click the Refresh Firefox button.

Clicking on Refresh Firefox button (Reset Firefox to default settings step 3)

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

Confirm your want to reset Firefox settings to default (Reset Firefox to default settings step 4)

safari browser logoRemove malicious extensions from Safari:

removing adware from safari step 1 - accessing preferences

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

removing adware from safari step 2 - removing extensions

In the opened window click Extensions, locate any recently installed suspicious extension, select it and click Uninstall.

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...

resetting safari step 1

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

resetting safari step 2

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) logoRemove malicious extensions from Microsoft Edge:

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 1

Click the Edge menu icon Microsoft Edge (chromium) menu icon (at the upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.

Removing adware from Microsoft Edge step 2

Optional method:

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

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 1

In the opened settings menu select Reset settings.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 2

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.

Microsoft Edge (Chromium) reset step 3

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

Summary:

declining installation of adware while downloading free software sampleCommonly, adware or potentially unwanted applications infiltrate Internet browsers through free software downloads. Note that the safest source for downloading free software is via developers' websites only. To avoid installation of adware, be very attentive when downloading and installing free software. When installing previously-downloaded free programs, choose the custom or advanced installation options – this step will reveal any potentially unwanted applications listed for installation together with your chosen free program.

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About the author:

Tomas Meskauskas

Tomas Meskauskas - expert security researcher, professional malware analyst.

I am passionate about computer security and technology. I have an experience of over 10 years working in various companies related to computer technical issue solving and Internet security. I have been working as an author and editor for pcrisk.com since 2010. Follow me on Twitter and LinkedIn to stay informed about the latest online security threats. Contact Tomas Meskauskas.

PCrisk security portal is brought by a company RCS LT. Joined forces of security researchers help educate computer users about the latest online security threats. More information about the company RCS LT.

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Software uninstall instructions
Malware activity

Global malware activity level today:

Medium threat activity

Increased attack rate of infections detected within the last 24 hours.

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