If your browser is redirecting to Smartwebfinder.com out of the blue, there’s a good chance you have a malicious browser extension causing search results to be redirected through this website.
Never changed your default search engine? You need to remove the Smartwebfinder.com search redirect from your device.
This browser hijacker can modify your default search URL so that all your searches go through the malicious developer’s chosen website. Having your searches go through a different search engine can be frustrating. What’s worse, removing can be tricky if you don’t know where to look.
For those who need to fix the Smartwebfinder.com search redirect, this removal guide will help you remove the browser hijacker search redirect in a few simple steps.
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What is Smartwebfinder.com?
Smartwebfinder.com is a browser hijacker that redirects your searches from your browser’s address bar using the website “Smartwebfinder.com.” This can happen when unwanted software, such as a malicious browser extension or program, infects your device and changes your default search URL.
Like many browser hijackers, including Google redirecting to Bing, it automatically changes your default search engine to run searches through a suspicious website. In this case, it uses Smartwebfinder.com and redirects all searches to Bing.com. No matter what you type into your browser’s address bar, it will redirect through Smartwebfinder.com and bring up a Bing search result.
Here’s an example of the Smartwebfinder.com search redirect.
Smartwebfinder.com acts similarly to the Theonlinesearch.com search redirect browser hijacker, which also redirects users to Bing search results. This can be incredibly annoying, especially when you’re not getting the right search results you’re used to.
Why is my browser redirected to Smartwebfinder.com?
The Smartwebfinder.com browser hijacker can help hackers generate revenue through your searches and may lead to harmful websites with malware, such as spyware, adware, infostealers and more. It can track your browsing habits and IP address, which threat actors can use to steal your data, deliver targeted ads and sell this information to companies. This is similar to adware, which can collect information about the victim’s internet activity.
It’s not something you want to have on your device, especially if it risks your privacy and ruins your daily online activities. The good news is that it can be easily removed with simple steps.
Signs of Smartwebfinder.com Search Redirect
A browser hijacker could have infected your device in a few ways, whether through a pop-up ad you clicked, free software installers or a suspicious download. With the Smartwebfinder.com search redirect, it is a malicious browser extension that’s found its way onto your device. Whatever the case, the key symptoms of your device being affected include the following:
- Your default search engine switches to Smartwebfinder.com
- Your browser’s default home page is different
- Search queries are being redirected using Smartwebfinder.com
- New tabs pop up every time you perform a search
- There’s an unusual increase in ads appearing on websites
- A suspicious browser extension is installed in your browser
While the site uses Bing, it’s important to note that this is an official search engine from Microsoft and doesn’t directly cause harm. That said, threat actors change your browser’s settings for personal gain, whether it’s to generate revenue through ads, sell your data to third-party companies or lead you to harmful websites. If you haven’t made any changes yourself, it’s best to eliminate any form of malicious software immediately.
How to remove Smartwebfinder.com Search Redirect
Fortunately, removing this Smartwebfinder.com browser hijacker triggering redirects is simple. The best way to fix the issue is to use one of the best antivirus services, as these can detect malware hiding on your device and remove them with ease. But you’ll also want to reset your browser and remove any suspicious programs lingering around.
Remove Smartwebfinder.com with antivirus software
The best antivirus software will detect and remove malicious programs and software affecting your device – including the Smartwebfinder.com browser hijacker. Simply installing an antivirus and performing a system scan should be able to detect the source of the issue and get rid of it. What’s more, you don’t need to pay for all the security tools an antivirus service offers, as free antivirus software from providers such as Bitdefender or Avast One offers the same detection and removal features.
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Reset your default browser settings
A browser hijacker will alter your browser’s settings right under your nose. Since it can be difficult to find out all the specific changes made, you’ll want to reset your browser’s settings.
Find out how to reset settings in Google Chrome below:
- On Google Chrome, click on the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner and select Settings.
- Select Reset and clean up in the right-hand toolbar.
- Click Restore settings to their original defaults and then select Reset settings.
This will reset Chrome settings and Chrome shortcuts, disable extensions, and delete cookies and temporary site data. This is a good way to undo what the browser hijacker may have changed, along with the altered Bing default search engine. Alternatively, you could also select Clean up computer to see if Chrome can find any harmful software affecting your device and remove it.
Remove suspicious programs
Browser hijackers can sneak onto your device as programs disguised as harmless services. If antivirus software doesn’t detect these malicious programs, you can remove them yourself by heading into your computer’s Control Panel.
- Use the search tool along the taskbar and type Control Panel on your Windows PC. Click on it.
- In the window that pops up, select Uninstall a program under Programs.
- Select any suspicious programs you don’t trust or don’t look familiar. Double-click or right-click to Uninstall.
Use AdwCleaner to fix Smartwebfinder.com redirect
AdwCleaner is a free tool from Malwarebytes that can scan and remove adware, spyware, PUPs (Potentially Unwanted Programs), browser hijackers, unwanted browser toolbars and more. In this case, it’s very effective at removing search redirects such as Smartwebfinder.com.
AdwCleaner can be used to find malicious software still lingering on your device and reset Chrome policies that were changed when the browser hijacker infected your device. It helps make returning your browser to normal much more straightforward, and since it’s free to use, AdwCleaner is worth downloading to clean up Smartwebfinder.com.
Following these steps will help stop nasty browser hijackers changing your browser settings. Hackers use this form of malware to redirect a user’s web search to sites the threat actor wants victims to see, such as web pages with ads that will help them generate revenue.
For more ways to keep your devices safe, you can check out how to remove malware on Android and how to remove malware on iPhone.
