Remove smart-search-engine.com redirect

If your browser suddenly loads smart-search-engine.com every time you open it or do a search, your device is infected with a browser hijacker. Browser hijackers are not serious infections but they are quite frustrating to deal with because they make unwanted changes to the browser’s settings and try to redirect to sponsored websites. These types of infections usually sneak in using deceptive installation methods, and users don’t notice until they make setting changes. However, a browser hijacker will not cause direct damage to the computer. Nonetheless, the sooner you remove smart-search-engine.com browser hijacker, the better.

 

 

If your browser suddenly redirects to smart-search-engine.com, it’s likely that your computer is infected with a browser hijacker. These hijackers are often disguised as helpful browser extensions and can be found on many free download sites. Although they typically claim to enhance the browsing experience, they only cause issues. They can also install through a method known as software bundling, but regardless of how they manage to get in, they don’t have any redeemable features. To restore your browser to its normal settings, you need to remove smart-search-engine.com browser hijacker from your device.

Browser hijackers frequently use deceptive methods to enter systems without users noticing, but once installed, their presence is immediately noticeable because of the changes they make to the browser settings. Specifically, they change your homepage and new tab settings, while also setting smart-search-engine.com as your default search engine. As a result, any searches done through the address bar will redirect you to smart-search-engine.com before delivering results from google.com. Although Google is a trustworthy search engine, the operators of the hijacker profit from the initial redirection to smart-search-engine.com. There’s also no need to access Google through a third-party website or a questionable extension.

It’s worth noting that browser hijackers often make reversing the setting changes impossible while they’re installed. So if you can’t make any changes, it may be because the hijacker is blocking your attempts. To be able to make changes again, you’ll first need to delete smart-search-engine.com hijacker. We suggest using WiperSoft, as it’s very effective against such infections.

Additionally, we should mention that browser hijackers often have quite intrusive data collection practices. They can monitor your browsing habits, search queries, and IP addresses, which is intrusive, especially since these programs don’t provide any legitimate benefits. There’s no reason to put up with such an invasion of privacy. Use WiperSoft to remove smart-search-engine.com browser hijacker, and you’ll be able to change your browser settings however you want once it’s removed.

How did a browser hijacker install on my computer?

Browser hijackers use misleading methods to sneak into users’ devices. A common method is to disguise hijackers as useful browser extensions and promote them on various free software download websites. That’s why it’s important to research any program before downloading it. A simple search with Google can help you determine whether a program is safe or not. If you come across multiple warnings about it, it’s recommended to avoid it.

Infections like browser hijackers and adware frequently use a method known as software bundling to install themselves without the user’s explicit consent. Essentially, these unwanted infections come bundled with popular free programs as optional offers that are automatically installed alongside the main program. This method can be particularly deceptive, and many anti-virus tools flag these bundled items as potential threats.

Although these additional offers are technically optional, users need to manually deselect them to prevent their installations, which can be tricky as they are hidden in settings that users don’t frequently use. To correctly install free programs, you need to choose Advanced or Custom installation settings. Using Default or Basic settings will typically result in all bundled offers being installed automatically. By selecting Advanced settings, you can see all additional offers and deselect anything you don’t wish to install. It’s highly recommended to uncheck any extra offers, as legitimate programs usually don’t use software bundling. Allowing these extra offers to be installed will lead to a cluttered computer filled with unwanted software and all sorts of problems.

Remove smart-search-engine.com redirect

Browser hijackers are not serious infections, but it’s a good idea to use an anti-virus program such as WiperSoft to delete smart-search-engine.com. These types of infections can be persistent and difficult to remove manually. An anti-virus tool makes the removal process much easier. After successfully getting rid of the hijacker, you’ll have the option to change your browser settings normally.