How to remove My Smart Converter from browsers
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is My Smart Converter?
My Smart Converter hijacks browsers by changing certain settings to mysmartconverter.com, the address of a fake search engine. It possible that this app will also record various browsing-related data. People do not often download or install browser hijackers intentionally and, for this reason, they are categorized as potentially unwanted applications (PUAs).
Typically, browser hijackers change settings such as the address of the default search engine, homepage, and new tab. My Smart Converter assigns them to mysmartconverter.com. Therefore, users who have installed My Smart Converter are forced to visit mysmartconverter.com when they open a browser, new tab, or enter search queries into the URL bar.
This fake search engine does not generate unique results - it simply redirects users to search.yahoo.com and displays results generated by Yahoo. To remove mysmartconverter.com from the aforementioned settings, users must first uninstall My Smart Converter, since these apps prevent users from modifying the settings as long as they are installed.
As mentioned, My Smart Converter might also collect browsing data such as IP addresses, geolocations, addresses of visited pages, entered search queries, etc. In some cases, these apps can access sensitive details as well. The developers sell the data to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals) or misuse it to generate revenue in other ways.
Installed browser hijackers can thus cause problems relating to privacy, browsing safety, and some users might even become victims of identity theft. Therefore, remove My Smart Converter and other apps of this type from browsers and computers.
Name | My Smart Converter |
Threat Type | Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab. |
Browser Extension(s) | My Smart Converter |
Supposed Functionality | This app supposedly includes a file conversion feature. |
Promoted URL | mysmartconverter.com |
Serving IP Address (mysmartconverter.com) | 104.31.69.218 |
Affected Browser Settings | Homepage, new tab URL, default search engine |
Symptoms | Manipulated Internet browser settings (homepage, default Internet search engine, new tab settings). Users are forced to visit the hijacker's website and search the Internet using their search engines. |
Distribution methods | Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers. |
Damage | Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites. |
Malware Removal (Windows) | To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your computer with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. |
My Email Checker, Incredible Tab and Image Seeker are the names of other PUAs that are classified as browser hijackers, however, these are just some examples - there are many other apps of this type online. Most promote a fake search engine and collect details relating to users' browsing habits.
Generally, browser hijackers are useless and are designed only to generate revenue for the developers.
How did My Smart Converter install on my computer?
One of the most common ways that PUAs are distributed is to include them into the download/installation set-ups of other programs. This distribution method is known as "bundling". Typically, included apps and offers to download and install them are listed in "Advanced", "Custom" and other settings of the set-ups.
When users fail to check and change these settings, they agree by default with offers to download and install included PUAs. Sometimes unwanted downloads and installations happen through clicking deceptive advertisements, which then execute certain scripts.
How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications
You are advised against downloading files or programs from unofficial websites, through third party downloaders, Peer-to-Peer networks such as torrent clients, eMule, etc. Third party installers should also be avoided. Use official web pages and direct links.
Check all "Advanced" and "Custom" settings and decline offers to download or install additionally-included apps before completing the process. Do not click deceptive ads that appear on dubious web pages (such as those relating to gambling, adult dating, pornography, etc.).
Remove any unwanted apps (extensions, add-ons, plug-ins) installed on browser immediately. The same should be applied to programs of this kind that are installed on the operating system. If your computer is already infected with My Smart Converter, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.
mysmartconverter.com redirects to search.yahoo.com (GIF):
Website promoting My Smart Converter browser hijacker (Chrome):
Website promoting My Smart Converter browser hijacker (Firefox):
Notification stating that My Smart Converted can read and change certain data:
Instant automatic malware removal:
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Quick menu:
- What is My Smart Converter?
- STEP 1. Uninstall My Smart Converter application using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove mysmartconverter.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove My Smart Converter browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove mysmartconverter.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove mysmartconverter.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
My Smart Converter browser hijacker 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 recently installed suspicious applications (for example, "My Smart Converter"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the mysmartconverter.com website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
My Smart Converter browser hijacker removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer), select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove hxxp://mysmartconverter.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:
Click 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 "My Smart Converter".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mysmartconverter.com redirect, 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 "My Smart Converter" and other recently-installed suspicious browser add-ons, and remove them.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, disable "My Smart Converter", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.mysmartconverter.com) below the “Open a specific or set of pages” option. If present, click on the three vertical dots icon and select “Remove”.
Change your 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 engine" section, click "Manage search engines...", in the opened list look for "mysmartconverter.com", when located click the three vertical dots near this URL and select "Remove from list".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the mysmartconverter.com redirect, 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 on "Extensions" and remove "My Smart Converter", as well as all other recently installed browser plug-ins.
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), then select "Options", in the opened window disable "My Smart Converter", remove hxxp://mysmartconverter.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change your 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: "extensionControlled"
Set both results to "false" by either double-clicking each entry or clicking the button.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with mysmartconverter.com redirect 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 mysmartconverter.com redirect, 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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