How to remove SmartResultsRemote adware from the operating system

What is SmartResultsRemote?

SmartResultsRemote is an adware-type application with browser hijacker characteristics. Following successful infiltration, it operates by delivering intrusive advertisement campaigns, making alterations to browser settings and promoting fake search engines.

Additionally, most adware-type apps and browser hijackers have data tracking capabilities, which are used to monitor users' browsing habits. Due to the dubious methods employed to distribute SmartResultsRemote, it is also classified as a Potentially Unwanted Application (PUA).

One of the distribution techniques used for this app is proliferation via fake Adobe Flash Player updates. Bogus software updaters/installers are also used to spread Trojans, ransomware and other malware.

Adware delivers pop-ups, banners, coupons, surveys, full-page and other intrusive ads. These significantly affect the browsing experience, as they overlay web page content and reduce browsing speed.

Intrusive ads are also a threat to device/user safety - when clicked, they can redirect to various untrusted/malicious sites and some can even stealthily download/install rogue software (e.g. PUAs). Browser hijackers assign the addresses of fake search engines as the homepage, default search engine and new tab/window URLs.

Therefore, with a browser hijacker installed, each new browser tab/window opened and search query typed into the URL bar redirects to the promoted address. Furthermore, bogus search engines are seldom capable of providing unique results, and so they redirect to (or cause redirection chains ending with) Google, Yahoo, Bing and other genuine sites.

Recovering a hijacked browser is impossible without eliminating the software affecting it, since this software restricts/denies access to the browser settings, or resets any permitted changes made. Furthermore, most PUAs can track data.

They can monitor browsing activity (URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries typed, etc.) and gather personal information extracted from it (IP addresses, geolocations and other details). The gathered data is then shared with and/or sold to third parties (potentially, cyber criminals).

In summary, the presence of unwanted software on devices can result in system infections, financial loss, serious privacy issues and even identity theft. To ensure device/user safety, all suspicious applications and browser extensions/plug-ins must be removed without delay.

Threat Summary:

Name	Ads by SmartResultsRemote
Threat Type	Adware, Mac malware, Mac virus.
Detection Names	Avast (MacOS:Adload-AD [Trj]), Ikarus (Trojan-Downloader.OSX.Adload), ESET-NOD32 (A Variant Of OSX/TrojanDownloader.Adload), GData (OSX.Trojan.Agent.1YZT6H), Full List (VirusTotal).
Additional Information	This application belongs to the Adload malware family.
Symptoms	Your Mac becomes slower than normal, you see unwanted pop-up ads, you are redirected to dubious websites.
Distribution methods	Deceptive pop-up ads, free software installers (bundling), fake Flash Player installers, torrent file downloads.
Damage	Internet browser tracking (potential privacy issues), display of unwanted ads, redirects to dubious websites, loss of private information.
Malware Removal (Mac)	To eliminate possible malware infections, scan your Mac with legitimate antivirus software. Our security researchers recommend using Combo Cleaner. ▼ Download Combo Cleaner for Mac To use full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Combo Cleaner. Limited seven days free trial available. Combo Cleaner is owned and operated by Rcs Lt, the parent company of PCRisk.com read more.

ElementaryMethod, WebFunctionSearch, DefaultProgress and SignalBalance are some examples of other adware-type apps. They typically seem legitimate and offer a wide variety of "useful" functionality, however, the features promised are rarely operational.

In fact, this applies to most PUAs. The only purpose of this unwanted software is to generate revenue for the developers. Rather than delivering any real value, PUAs can run intrusive ad campaigns, hijack browsers, cause redirects and collect private information.

How did SmartResultsRemote install on my computer?

Some PUAs have "official" promotional websites from which they can be downloaded, however, these applications are more commonly downloaded/installed with other products. This deceptive marketing technique of pre-packing regular software with unwanted or malicious additions is called "bundling".

By rushing through download/installation processes (e.g. ignoring terms, skipping steps, using "Easy/Express" setting, etc.), many users risk unintentionally allowing bundled content onto their devices. Once clicked, intrusive ads can execute scripts to download/install PUAs without users' consent.

How to avoid installation of potentially unwanted applications

You are strongly advised to research all software before download/installation and/or purchase. All downloads must be done from official and verified sources, since untrusted channels including unofficial and free file-hosting sites, Peer-to-Peer sharing networks and other third party downloaders can offer bundled content.

When downloading/installing, you are advised to read the terms, study all available options, use the "Custom/Advanced" settings and opt-out of additional apps, tools, features, etc. Intrusive advertisements may seem legitimate, however, they can redirect to highly dubious web pages (e.g. gambling, pornography, adult-dating, and many others).

If you encounter these ads or redirects, check all devices and immediately remove all suspect applications and browser extensions/plug-ins. If your computer is already infected with SmartResultsRemote, we recommend running a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS to automatically eliminate this adware.

Files related to SmartResultsRemote adware that need to be removed:

• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SmartResultsRemote/SmartResultsRemote
• ~/Library/Application Support/com.SmartResultsRemoteDaemon/SmartResultsRemote
• ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.SmartResultsRemote.plist
• ~/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.SmartResultsRemoteDaemon.plist

IMPORTANT NOTE! Rogue setups/apps that promote SmartResultsRemote adware are designed to create a new device profile. Therefore, before taking any further removal steps, perform these actions:

1) Click the "Preferences" icon in the menu bar and select "Profiles".

2) Select the "SmartResultsRemote" profile and delete it.

3) Perform a full system scan with Combo Cleaner anti-virus suite.

After performing these actions, you can proceed with further removal steps for this adware.

Instant automatic Mac malware removal: 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 Mac malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ DOWNLOAD Combo Cleaner for Mac 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. Limited seven 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 SmartResultsRemote?
• STEP 1. Remove SmartResultsRemote related files and folders from OSX.
• STEP 2. Remove SmartResultsRemote ads from Safari.
• STEP 3. Remove SmartResultsRemote adware from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove SmartResultsRemote ads from Mozilla Firefox.

Video showing how to remove SmartResultsRemote adware using Combo Cleaner:

SmartResultsRemote adware removal:

Remove SmartResultsRemote-related potentially unwanted applications from your "Applications" folder:

Click the Finder icon. In the Finder window, select "Applications". In the applications folder, look for "MPlayerX","NicePlayer", or other suspicious applications and drag them to the Trash. After removing the potentially unwanted application(s) that cause online ads, scan your Mac for any remaining unwanted components.

Remove adware-related files and folders

Click the Finder icon, from the menu bar. Choose Go, and click Go to Folder...

Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: /Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/Application Support/

In the "Application Support" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious folders. For example, "MplayerX" or "NicePlayer", and move these folders to the Trash.

Check for adware generated files in the ~/Library/LaunchAgents/ folder:

In the Go to Folder... bar, type: ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

In the "LaunchAgents" folder, look for any recently-added suspicious files and move them to the Trash. Examples of files generated by adware - "installmac.AppRemoval.plist", "myppes.download.plist", "mykotlerino.ltvbit.plist", "kuklorest.update.plist", etc. Adware commonly installs several files with the exact same string.

Check for adware generated files in the /Library/LaunchDaemons/ folder:

In the "Go to Folder..." bar, type: /Library/LaunchDaemons/

In the "LaunchDaemons" folder, look for recently-added suspicious files. For example "com.aoudad.net-preferences.plist", "com.myppes.net-preferences.plist", "com.kuklorest.net-preferences.plist", "com.avickUpd.plist", etc., and move them to the Trash.

Scan your Mac with Combo Cleaner:

If you have followed all the steps correctly, your Mac should be clean of infections. To ensure your system is not infected, run a scan with Combo Cleaner Antivirus. Download it HERE. After downloading the file, double click combocleaner.dmg installer. In the opened window, drag and drop the Combo Cleaner icon on top of the Applications icon. Now open your launchpad and click on the Combo Cleaner icon. Wait until Combo Cleaner updates its virus definition database and click the "Start Combo Scan" button.

Combo Cleaner will scan your Mac for malware infections. If the antivirus scan displays "no threats found" - this means that you can continue with the removal guide; otherwise, it's recommended to remove any found infections before continuing.

After removing files and folders generated by the adware, continue to remove rogue extensions from your Internet browsers.

Remove malicious extensions from Internet browsers

Remove malicious Safari extensions:

Open the Safari browser, from the menu bar, select "Safari" and click "Preferences...".

In the preferences window, select "Extensions" and look for any recently-installed suspicious extensions. When located, click the "Uninstall" button next to it/them. Note that you can safely uninstall all extensions from your Safari browser - none are crucial for regular browser operation.

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Safari.

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 extensions, select these entries and click "Remove".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Google Chrome.

Remove malicious extensions from Mozilla Firefox:

Click the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) and select "Add-ons and themes". Click "Extensions", in the opened window locate all recently-installed suspicious extensions, click on the three dots and then click "Remove".

• If you continue to have problems with browser redirects and unwanted advertisements - Reset Mozilla Firefox.

▼ Show Discussion