How to remove the SMedia browser hijacker and redirects to smedia.xyz

What is the SMedia browser hijacker?

SMedia is rogue software that operates by making modifications to browsers to promote smedia.xyz (a fake search engine). Therefore, it is categorized as a browser hijacker. Like most software within this category, SMedia has data tracking capabilities, which are used to monitor users' browsing activity.

Since users typically download/install SMedia unintentionally, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

Browser hijackers target Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and other popular browsers. Following successful infiltration, they assign the addresses of bogus search engines (e.g. smedia.xyz) as the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs.

Therefore, with SMedia installed, each new browser tab/window installed and each search made via the URL bar redirects to smedia.xyz. Fake search engines are seldom capable of providing search results, and so they redirect (or cause redirection chains leading) to Google, Yahoo, Bing and other legitimate sites.

The web searcher of SMedia (smedia.xyz) is no exception of this, and simply redirects to Yahoo (search.yahoo.com). Additionally, recovering an affected browser is impossible without removing the browser hijacker, since access to browser settings is restricted/denied and any permitted changes made are automatically reset.

Furthermore, most browser hijackers can track data, and SMedia also has such capabilities. SMedia can monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and collect sensitive information derived from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details).

The gathered data usually contains personally identifiable information and browser hijacker developers often share it and/or sell it to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals). In summary, the presence of data-tracking software on browsers/settings can result in financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft.

To ensure device integrity and user safety, remove all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins immediately upon detection.

Threat Summary:

Name	SMedia
Threat Type	Browser Hijacker, Redirect, Search Hijacker, Toolbar, Unwanted New Tab.
Detection Names	Forcepoint ThreatSeeker (Suspicious), Full List Of Detections (VirusTotal).
Browser Extension(s)	SMedia
Promoted URL	smedia.xyz
Serving IP Address (smedia.xyz)	104.18.37.13
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. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

ConverterzSearch, Quick Search Tool, and SearchGamez are some examples of other browser hijackers. They may seem legitimate and useful, but often tempt users into download/installation with a wide variety of features. Despite how good the promised functionality may sound, it is rarely operational.

In fact, this information is true of most PUAs - the only purpose of these unwanted applications is to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than delivering any real value, PUAs hijack browsers, force-open untrusted and malicious sites, run intrusive advertisement campaigns and gather private information.

How did SMedia install on my computer?

SMedia has an "official" promotional web page, from which it can be downloaded, however, these pages are not the only way that PUAs are distributed. They can also be downloaded/installed with other programs. This deceptive marketing technique of packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling".

By rushing through download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, using pre-set options, skipping steps and sections, etc.), many users risk unintentionally allowing bundled content into the system. Intrusive ads can infiltrate these apps into systems as well. When clicked, they can execute scripts to stealthily download/install PUAs without users' permission.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are advised to research all software prior to download/installation or purchase. All downloads must be done from official and trustworthy sources. Unofficial and free file-hosting websites, P2P sharing networks (BitTorrent, eMule, Gnutella, etc.) and other third party downloaders commonly offer deceptive and/or bundled content, and are thus untrusted.

Treat download and installation processes with caution. Read the terms, explore all available options, use the "Custom" or "Advanced" settings and opt-out of supplementary apps, tools, features, and so on. Intrusive ads may seem legitimate, however, they can redirect to dubious web pages (e.g. pornography, gambling, adult-dating, etc.).

If you encounter advertisements/redirects of this kind, inspect all devices and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with SMedia, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for Windows to automatically eliminate this browser hijacker.

SMedia browser hijacker asking for various permissions:

Website promoting SMedia browser hijacker:

Appearance of SMedia browser hijacker (GIF):

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▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner By downloading any software listed on this website you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. 7 days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

Quick menu:

• What is SMedia?
• STEP 1. Uninstall SMedia application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove smedia.xyz redirect from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove SMedia browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove smedia.xyz homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove smedia.xyz redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

SMedia 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, "SMedia"), select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted applications that cause browser redirects to the smedia.xyz website, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

SMedia 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://smedia.xyz 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 "SMedia".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the smedia.xyz 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 "SMedia" 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 "SMedia", look for a browser hijacker URL (hxxp://www.smedia.xyz) 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 "smedia.xyz", 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 smedia.xyz 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 "SMedia", 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 "SMedia", remove hxxp://smedia.xyz 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 smedia.xyz 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 smedia.xyz 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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