Smartest.click POP-UP Redirect
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is smartest.click?
smartest.click is a rogue website designed to force users to visit various other untrustworthy sites. There are many websites such as this available.
Some examples are pusshnetwork.com, valusc.com, and objectdexchange.com Generally, users visit smartest.click inadvertently - they are redirected by potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that are installed inadvertently. In addition to unwanted redirects, PUPs affect computer performance, deliver intrusive advertisements, and record user-system information.
As soon as a potentially unwanted program is installed, it forces browsers to open new tabs or windows and redirects users to the smartest.click website, which then causes extra (about 2-3) redirects to other untrustworthy (potentially malicious) sites. Visiting these websites could result in high-risk computer infections.
Furthermore, PUPs deliver intrusive ads (banners, coupons, pop-ups, surveys, etc.) that are usually displayed via tools that enable placement of third party graphical content on any site (and conceal underlying content).
If an intrusive ad of this type is clicked, it will redirect users to a potentially malicious website (or websites), or could execute a script that downloads and installs potentially unwanted programs.
Furthermore, potentially unwanted programs collect information such as IP addresses, keystrokes, search queries, visited websites, geo-locations, and other data, some of which will contain sensitive or personally identifiable information that is shared with third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) and used to generate revenue.
These actions can lead to privacy issues or even more serious problems such as identity theft. Some potentially unwanted programs also run various background tasks that use a varying amount of system resources (depending on the process), and thus users might experience reduced computer performance.
These are the main reasons why you should uninstall all potentially unwanted programs from your computer immediately.
| Name | smartest.click pop-up |
| Threat Type | Adware, Unwanted ads, Pop-up Virus |
| Symptoms | Seeing advertisements not originating from the sites you are browsing. Intrusive pop-up ads. Decreased Internet browsing speed. |
| Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake flash player installers. |
| Damage | Decreased computer performance, browser tracking - privacy issues, possible additional malware infections. |
| Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
There are many potentially unwanted programs, all of which are very similar (or identical) and cause more or less identical problems. Developers offer "useful" features, however, there is no real value in this software. PUPs of this type are designed only to generate revenue by delivering advertisements, causing unwanted redirects, and collecting (and sharing) user information.
How did adware install on my computer?
Potentially unwanted programs can often be downloaded from their official websites, however, many users are tricked into downloading and installing them unwillingly. Programs of this type are installed when software developers use the "bundling" method or through intrusive ads.
"Bundling" is essentially stealth installation of third party programs with regular software (applications) downloaded from the Internet. Developers hide them in "Custom", "Advanced" and other similar options/settings of the installation (or download) processes.
Furthermore, users tend to skip installation steps without first checking these settings and developers do not disclose "bundled" PUP installations properly. This combination can result in inadvertent installations of PUPs.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications?
Install software carefully - do not skip installation steps without studying them carefully, especially if the downloaded software is free. Check installation settings and options (such as the aforementioned "Custom", "Advanced", and other similar settings). Opt-out of unwanted offers/software and only then finish the installation.
Do not download software from untrustworthy/unofficial websites (or other sources) or torrents - use only official sources. Do not click suspicious intrusive ads or buttons, especially if you are on an untrustworthy/unofficial website.
If you happen to click intrusive ads that redirect you to pornography, adult dating, gambling, or other websites of this type, close them immediately and remove any unwanted or suspicious extensions, add-ons, and plug-ins from your browser, or programs from your computer.
If your computer is already infected with rogue applications, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate them.
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Manual threat removal might be a lengthy and complicated process that requires advanced IT skills. Combo Cleaner is a professional automatic malware removal tool that is recommended to get rid of malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
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Quick menu:
- What is smartest.click?
- STEP 1. Uninstall adware applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove adware from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove rogue plug-ins from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove adware-type extensions from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove malicious extensions from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Adware 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 any potentially unwanted programs, select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program that causes smartest.click redirects, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Remove adware from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:
Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:
Click the "gear" icon 
(at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Manage Add-ons". Look for any recently-installed suspicious browser extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the smartest.click pop-up, 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 "More tools" and click "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and remove them.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the smartest.click pop-up, 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 plug-ins from Mozilla Firefox:
Click the Firefox menu 
(at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click "Extensions", in the opened window, remove all recently-installed suspicious browser plug-ins.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with smartest.click pop-up 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, click Safari menu, and select Preferences....
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...
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 upper-right corner of Microsoft Edge), select "Extensions". Locate all recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons and click "Remove" below their names.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the smartest.click pop-up, 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:
Commonly, 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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Outstanding!
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