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What is Sm23mS?

The Sm23mS browser add-on claims to help save time and money when shopping online. While such functionality may seem legitimate, this browser extension is categorized as adware or a potentially unwanted application.

This plug-in adds no real value and generates intrusive third party ads ("Ads by Sm23mS" and "Brought By Sm23mS") including, for example, sponsored links, coupons, deals, shopping comparisons, content suggestions, banners, pop-ups and pop-under advertisements.

Clicking ads displayed by Sm23mS can lead to high-risk malware infections. As well as generating deceptive ads, this bogus browser plug-in tracks users' Internet browsing activity by recording pages read, movement from page-to-page, user web requests, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, browser information, application numbers, referring pages, cookies, geographical locations, date/time, and other information.

This tracking can result in serious privacy issues or identity theft. At time of research, this adware was distributed using deceptive free software 'download clients', which trick users into installing Sm23mS without their consent. To avoid further damage caused by this poorly-programmed adware, computer users should eliminate this potentially unwanted application from their Internet browsers.

Sm23mS is similar to other adware, which infiltrates Internet browsers through freeware downloads. Examples include Fraven, Trust Media Viewer, Majestic Coupons, and OffersWizard. These browser extensions claim to enhance users' Internet browsing experience, however, they only diminish browser performance and cause intrusive ads.

To avoid installation of these potentially unwanted applications, express caution when downloading and installing free software since, today, most freeware download websites employ deceptive download clients to monetize their free services.

Download clients are small programs, which manage the download process of the chosen free software and offer download of advertised browser plug-ins together with the chosen freeware.

To avoid adware infections, decline installation of promoted browser extensions, and when installing downloaded free programs, choose the 'Advanced' or 'Custom' installation options - this will reveal installation of any bundled adware.

Internet users who observe ads generated by Sm23mS (including "You might enjoy reading") should use this removal guide to eliminate this potentially unwanted program from their Internet browser/s.

Sm23mS banner ads ('Brought By Sm23mS') appearing in various websites (using a virtual graphic layer over any existing web page):

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Quick menu:

• What is Sm23mS?
• STEP 1. Uninstall Sm23mS application using Control Panel.
• STEP 2. Remove Sm23mS add-on from Internet Explorer.
• STEP 3. Remove Sm23mS plugin from Google Chrome.
• STEP 4. Remove Sm23mS extension from Mozilla Firefox.
• STEP 5. Remove Sm23mS extension from Safari.
• STEP 6. Remove rogue plug-ins from Microsoft Edge.

Sm23mS adware 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 "Sm23mS", select this entry and click "Uninstall" or "Remove".

After uninstalling the potentially unwanted program (which causes Sm23mS ads), scan your computer for any remaining unwanted components or possible malware infections. To scan your computer, use recommended malware removal software.

Remove Sm23mS ads from Internet browsers:

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

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 "Sm23mS", select this entry and click "Remove".

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the sm23ms 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: "Sm23mS", select this entry and click the trash can icon.

Optional method:

If you continue to have problems with removal of the sm23ms 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 the Firefox menu (at the top right corner of the main window), select "Add-ons". Click on "Extensions", in the opened window, remove "Sm23mS".

Optional method:

Computer users who have problems with sm23ms 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 sm23ms 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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