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What is Search Smarter and Search Assistor?

Search Smarter and Search Assistor are rogue browser plugins, which infiltrate users' Internet browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox) through fake downloads. At time of research, these potentially unwanted applications were distributed using a fake download called 'Secure loan viewer'.

Internet users are tricked into installing these potentially unwanted applications by a malicious website purporting to represent a financial institution (Trust Financial Group) and offering the viewing of loan decisions. Internet users should be aware that, rather than downloading 'Secure loan viewer' software, they will actually install adware called 'Search Smarter' and 'Search Assistor'.

These rogue browser plugins track users' Internet browsing habits (recording URLs visited, pages viewed, search queries entered, etc.) and cause unwanted ads within search engines (Google, Bing and Yahoo!), pop-up ads, and in-text advertisements.

Clicking ads generated by these bogus browser extensions can lead to installation of additional adware or even malware. Internet browsing tracking can lead to privacy issues and identity theft. Cyber criminals responsible for proliferating Search Smarter and Search Assistor adware, exploit Internet users' trust in financial institutions.

These bogus browser plugins are similar to other adware, which installs on users' Internet browsers without their consent, causing unwanted ads. Examples include SurfEnhance, WonderBrowse, OutoBox, amongst many others.

Commonly, these potentially unwanted applications are distributed using deceptive free software 'download clients', however, the case of Search Smarter and Search Assistor demonstrates that developers of rogue programs also use fake downloads to proliferate their deceptive browser extensions.

To avoid installation of these rogue plugins, Internet users should be attentive when downloading free software. If your download is managed by a download client, decline installation of any advertised browser extensions. In the case of fake downloads such as 'Secure loan viewer', users should inspect each installation step and cancel the process if they notice anything suspicious.

At time of research, the installer used to distribute these browser plugins encourages users to install 'Search Smarter and Search Assistor' (screenshot above) - at this stage users are able to cancel the installation. If you observe ads generated by these bogus browser plugins, use the removal guide provided to eliminate this adware from your Internet browser/s.

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Quick menu:

• What is Search Smarter and Search Assistor?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Search Smarter and Search Assistor application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Search Smarter and Search Assistor add-on from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Search Smarter and Search Assistor plugin from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Search Smarter and Search Assistor extension from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Search Smarter and Search Assistor redirect from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Search Smarter and Search Assistor 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 "Search Smarter" and "Search Assistor", select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

At time of research, the installer used to proliferate these rogue browser plugins was updated. Developers of this scam added one more application called 'Secure documents viewer'. When in the 'uninstall programs' window, users should also eliminate this plugin.

After uninstalling Search Smarter and Search Assistor, scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. Recommended malware removal software.

Remove Search Smarter and Search Assistor from Internet browsers:

Video showing how to remove potentially unwanted browser add-ons:

Remove malicious add-ons from Internet Explorer:

Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Manage Add-ons". Look for "Search Assistor" and "Search Smarter", select these entries and remove them.

If present, also remove "Secure documents viewer".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search smarter virus, 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 "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate: "Search Assistor" and "Search Smarter", select these entries and click the trash can icon. If present, also remove "Secure documents viewer".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the search smarter virus, 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 plugins from Mozilla Firefox:

Click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions" and remove "Search Smarter" and "Search Assistor". If present, also remove "Secure documents viewer".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with search smarter virus 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 search smarter virus, 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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