Shopping Helper Smartbar Virus
Written by Tomas Meskauskas on (updated)
What is Shopping Helper?
Created by a company called ReSoft Ltd, the Shopping Helper Smartbar is a browser hijacker. This browser settings-changing adware infiltrates Internet browsers via free software downloads and assigns the browser homepage and default search engine fields to search.snapdo.com.
At time of research, this browser hijacker was promoted using a deceptive free software 'download client' developed by DomaIQ. Computer users should be aware that, today, most free software download websites employ download clients - small programs offering installation of advertised browser plug-ins along with the chosen freeware.
Users who do not pay close enough attention when downloading freeware can inadvertently install the Shopping Helper Smartbar browser hijacker or other potentially unwanted applications.
This browser extension claims to save time and money while shopping online, however, it causes unwanted browser redirects and tracks users' Internet browsing activity. This adware is known to record Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, page views, search queries, and other information.
At time of research, Shopping Helper Smartbar redirected users to search.snapdo.com, a deceptive Internet search engine, which returns dubious Internet search results.
Computer users should also be aware that creators of this browser hijacker are able to apply redirects to other malicious websites at any time. For these reasons, you are advised to eliminate this adware from your Internet browser/s immediately.
The Shopping Helper Smartbar browser hijacker is similar to other browser settings-changing adware including, for example, Shopathome, Inbox.com, and Looksafesearch.com To avoid installation of these potentially unwanted applications, be attentive when downloading and installing free software.
If your download is managed by a download client, inspect each download step and opt-out of installation of advertised browser plug-ins by clicking the 'decline' button. When installing recently-downloaded free programs, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options, rather than 'Quick' or 'Typical' - this will reveal any bundled adware intended for installation.
Internet users who have already installed Shopping Helper Smartbar should use this removal guide to eliminate browser redirects to the search.snapdo.com website.
Deceptive free software installers used in ShoppinHelper toolbar distribution:
Instant automatic 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 malware. Download it by clicking the button below:
▼ 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 Shopping Helper?
- STEP 1. Uninstall Shopping Helper Smartbar and Shopping Helper Smartbar Engine applications using Control Panel.
- STEP 2. Remove search.snapdo.com redirect from Internet Explorer.
- STEP 3. Remove search.snapdo.com browser hijacker from Google Chrome.
- STEP 4. Remove search.snapdo.com homepage and default search engine from Mozilla Firefox.
- STEP 5. Remove search.snapdo.com redirect from Safari.
- STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.
Shopping Helper Smartbar virus 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 "Shopping Helper Smartbar" and "Shopping Helper Smartbar Engine", select these entries and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".
After uninstalling the potentially unwanted programs (which cause unwanted browser redirects to the search.snapdo.com website), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.
Shopping Helper Smartbar virus removal from Internet browsers:
Video showing how to remove browser redirects:
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 "Shopping Helper Smartbar" and "SmartbarInternetExplorerBHOEnigne", select these entries and click "Remove".
Change your homepage:
Click on the "gear" icon (at the top right corner of Internet Explorer) select "Internet Options", in the opened window remove feed.snapdo.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 on 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 "Web Search".
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the shopping helper smartbar 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 "Tools" and click on "Extensions". Locate "New Tab" and "SearchGBY", select these entries and click the trash can icon.
Change your homepage:
Click the Chrome menu icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome) select "Settings". In the "On startup" section, click "set pages", hover your mouse over feed.snapdo.com and click the x symbol. Now, you can add your preferred website as your homepage.
Change your default search engine:
To change your default search engine in Google Chrome: Click the "Bars" icon (at the top right corner of Google Chrome), select "Settings", in the "Search" section click "Manage Search Engines...", remove "Web" and add or select your preferred domain.
Optional method:
If you continue to have problems with removal of the shopping helper smartbar 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 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 "Shopping Helper Smartbar".
Change your homepage:
To reset your homepage, click on the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window) then select "Options", in the opened window, remove feed.snapdo.com and enter your preferred domain, which will open each time you start Mozilla Firefox.
Change 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: "snapdo.com"
Right-click on the found preferences and select "Reset" to restore default values.
Optional method:
Computer users who have problems with shopping helper smartbar 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 shopping helper smartbar 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.
Post a comment:
If you have additional information on shopping helper smartbar redirect or it's removal please share your knowledge in the comments section below.
Outstanding!
▼ Show Discussion